Historic local Japanese Garden restored, 17th century art revealed

Following a long-awaited fund-raising effort, a $1 million restoration project of the Japanese Garden at Kidd Springs Park was unveiled at the recent ribbon cutting ceremony attended by Consul-General Hirofumi Murabayashi of Houston, and Sam Shichijo who serves as the Honorary Consul of Japan in Dallas.

The Japanese Garden was first opened in 1971 but fell into disrepair over the years. A 2015 grant from the Office of Art and Culture opened a historical dig into the park’s history, igniting restoration efforts. It was discovered that the statues featured in the garden date back to the 17th century and are the oldest works in Dallas’ public art collection.

Private funds and funding from a 2017 bond program fueled the $1 million effort to upgrade the water features and ADA-compliant walkways.

Take a leisurely stroll through the Japanese garden which is open to the public and free. A parking lot on West Canty Street just past the aquatic center leads directly to the garden.

Catch a glimpse of the art of Sumo on Wednesday mornings!