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Interim UWBG Director Appointed
Sandra Lier is the Interim Director of the University of Washington Botanic Gardens, including Washington Park Arboretum. Sandra is a much-admired veteran UW administrator. She has also served as the UW’s representative on the Arboretum and Botanical Garden Committee. The Arboretum Foundation welcomes Sandra to her new position.
More Than $1 Million Secured for Japanese Garden Gatehouse
Beginning in October 2007, a team consisting of the Japanese Garden
Advisory Council, Friends of the Japanese Garden, Seattle Parks and
Recreation, and the Arboretum Foundation worked together to raise more
than $1 million in funds for the construction of a new Japanese Garden
Entry Gatehouse.
Thanks to a major gift of $200,000 from the Tateuchi Foundation and
generous donations from many individuals and nonprofit organizations,
the fundraising team rapidly met its initial goal. A number of grant applications for enhancements to the original gatehouse design are still pending, but with the main funds secured—and a matching fund of $450,000
promised by the Pro Parks Levy—construction is scheduled to begin in
May and be completed by the end of 2008.
Echoing the architectural features of a traditional Japanese village—and
featuring a gift shop, reading room, much-needed restrooms, and more—
the new gatehouse will provide visitors to the Seattle Japanese Garden with
an enchanting and fitting introduction to one of the most beautiful public
gardens on the West Coast.
Congratulations to all the partners and donors involved in bringing this
exciting project to fruition! A special thanks to Mary Ann and Robert Wiley,
of the Friends of the Garden, who did a wonderful job contacting potential
donors, including the Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller Foundation
($100,000) and the Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation ($100,000), and
to Elizabeth Moses, who was instrumental in securing funds from the Paul
G. Allen Family Foundation ($125,000). The Japanese Garden will remain open while the gatehouse is being built. Groundbreaking information is shown below.
Japanese Garden Gatehouse Groundbreaking Ceremony
Monday, June 16, 10:00 AM
The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Japanese Garden entry gatehouse will now be held on Monday, June 16, at 10 a.m. This is a unique opportunity to view a Jichinsai or traditional Shinto ground-purification ceremony, performed to protect the construction project and its workers. The event will be held at the Japanese Garden and will also feature a taiko drum performance. For more information, call 206-684-4725.
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