Support Us Button Widget

Two big projects planned for Washington Park Arboretum

The Japanese Garden and the Woodland Meadow are getting upgrades.

A rendering that shows a pavilion in the Japanese Garden at the Washington Park Arboretum

There’s a new pavilion proposed for the Japanese Garden that can host year-round events.

Rendering via Hoshide Wanzer Architects

A little too chilly for frolicking? Well, we’re daydreaming anyway about prancing through the Washington Park Arboretum with two major projects starting to bloom.

Seattle Parks and Recreation, UW Botanic Gardens, and the Arboretum Foundation want public feedback for pending upgrades to gathering areas at the Japanese Garden and the Woodland Meadow. The projects are part of the Arboretum’s Master Plan that was formulated in 2001 to enhance Seattle’s popular park.

Proposals for each location seek to transform these spaces for many years to come and make it easier to host events. Let’s take a closer look at the seeds of change.

Tending to the garden

The Japanese Garden was developed by famed designers Kiyoshi Inoshita and Juki Iida decades ago. But when it opened to the public in 1960, some design elements — including a gathering space at the north end of the pond — were left out due to costs + logistical challenges. These improvements to the North Wall align with the original vision:

  • A new pavilion that can house all-weather cultural + education programs
  • Terraces and expanded garden views
  • Replacement of the walls and connecting stairs with hand-crafted granite masonry

Woodland Meadow’s glow up

Also known as the Crabapple Meadow, the former field nursery for the Arboretum has a wide open lawn that gets damp outside the summer months, making it impossible to chill out without getting your pants soggy. The plan to fix that includes:

  • Hardscaping (fences, benches, etc.) designed for year-round events like fundraisers, weddings + receptions, and concerts
  • Improved drainage
  • A new bandshell and stage

Head to Wisteria Hall at the Graham Visitors Center (2300 Arboretum Dr. E.) on Thursday, November 16, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. to weigh in on the Japanese Garden project and Thursday, Dec. 7 from 4 to 6 p.m. for a discussion about the Woodland Meadow.

More from SEAtoday
Grind still going well after the sun goes down? These late-night studying spots in Seattle provide a comfy place to get cracking on your project.
Here are a few creative ways to get rid of your Halloween pumpkins and fallen leaves instead of tossing them in the garbage can.
A mysterious aerobics bike at Gas Works Park converted into a secret photo booth — it doesn’t get more Seattle than that.
After a few different plans to fix a $91.5 million budget gap, Seattle Public Schools has announced the four schools it officially intends to close in the 2025-26 school year.
Give Seattle’s vast culinary options a taste test with specially crafted menus at 200+ local restaurants.
Grab your biggest buckets — these Seattle neighborhoods offer the best treats, no tricks needed.
Equipped with a marine-themed playground, tree grove, fountain, and plaza, Pier 58’s rebuild is bringing a whole new community gathering space to Seattle’s Waterfront.
Each of the projects receiving support from the Park CommUNITY Fund were suggested and voted on by locals in Seattle — from new basketball courts and exercise equipment to access improvements and water bottle refill stations.
From bike tours to cheese + wine tastings, Walla Walla has something for every traveler’s palate.
On this day in Seattle history — a local inventor filed a patent application, Seattle Public Library completed a $3 million expansion project, and Pearl Jam icons debuted.