Kubota Garden Improvements

Spring 2019

Kubota Garden Master Plan Update

Kubota Garden is a public American-Japanese garden in South Seattle that started as a beautiful vision of Fujitaro Kubota, a Japanese emigrant. You are invited to learn more about Fujitaro's story and share your ideas about proposed changes to this beloved 'hidden gem' to better meet the needs of the community.

Thank you to everyone who came out and provided input at the October 13 meeting. And thank you to everyone who provided additional comments via the post meeting online survey. Survey results and documents from the meeting are available below.
View the Preferred Concept Plan created by our designers with your input.

How can I provide input on the future of Kubota Garden? 

• Participate in the Master Plan Update process. Kubota Garden has seen many changes in the years since its Master Plan was put in place. Consequently, a Master Plan Update is being developed to guide garden development programs and maintenance over the next 20 to 30 years. Master Plan Update will preserve the garden and passive recreation use, while defining future improvements, such as  buildings, parking, pathways, and security, as well as assessment and recommendations for protecting the garden's existing creek, vegetation and wildlife.
• Kubota Garden Master Plan Update Workshop Sessions Summary
  (May 7-9, 2018)
• Kubota Garden Master Plan Update Schedule 
  (July 16, 2018)

Thank you to everyone who attended the June 2018 Open Houses and provided input on proposed future improvements for Kubota Garden. The design team of Jones & Jones Architects and Landscape Architects and Hoshide Wanzer Architects will use this public input as they develop ideas for the garden, which they will present to the public in early fall.

For questions or more information about the Master Plan Update please contact:
Karimah Edwards
206-233-0063
Karimah.Edwards@seattle.gov

Kubota Garden Perimeter Wall

Additionally, as a community-initiated project, the Seattle Park District Major Projects Challenge Fund provides matched funding for design/construction of an expansion to the existing ornamental wall.

Why is this wall being built?

• The ornamental wall currently being constructed continues the wall built (primarily by volunteers) over the course of the past 15 years. When complete, the current construction will be the same height and have the same beautiful roof and stucco finish as the wall of the entry gate. The additional wall will help secure and protect this Kubota Garden while enhancing the experience of the more than 65,000 people who visit this urban sanctuary each year.

Will the City begin charging admission to get into Kubota Garden?

• It's crucial that Kubota Garden remains accessible to the public. If at some point in the future the City decides to charge admission, we will work with the community on that transition.

Construction of the perimeter wall was completed in early July 2018. The new wall matches the existing wall extending north of the main entry and closing at the 55th Ave entrance. Additional landscaping was brought up to the walls foundation and new plantings will be planted in front of the wall this spring. In addition to the wall, the exit gate roof was lowered to make it more architecturally proportionate. New stone pavers were also added to this exit. We have been working on fabrication of a maintenance gate and exit gate which will be installed later this spring.

Thank you to the Kubota Garden Foundation for fundraising and moving this ornamental wall and gates project forward. Seattle Parks and Recreation and the contractor hired for the project are working to minimize impact to the neighborhood.

For questions or more information about the Perimeter Wall please contact:
Katie Bang
206-684-9286
Katie.Bang@seattle.gov