Cool Gardens: A Japanese oasis in the heart of the city
Waterfall Garden Park, also known as UPS Park and UPS Waterfall Park, is a hidden gem of tranquillity in the centre of the busy US West Coast city of Seattle, in Washington state. Best of all, it’s free.
A private 60-by-80-foot pocket park, created in 1978 at the original United Parcel Service (UPS) building in Pioneer Square, it contains a monument to postal workers. We almost passed the entrance of the Waterfall Garden Park unnoticed, so watch out.
For other great parks in the US, read my reviews of Pike Place Urban Garden in Seattle, the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Boston and Strawberry Fields in Central Park, New York.
Waterfall Garden Park – A great place for lunch
It certainly packs a punch, seemingly much bigger than its tiny size. A 22-ft artificial waterfall seemingly cascades from the surrounding skyscrapers, pumping out 5,000 US gallons of water per minute.
The waterfall blocks out city noise, and it’s shady, thanks to the overhanging trees. It’s a great place to have lunch, thanks to a scattering of chairs and tables. Although classed as private, it’s open to the public during the day and closes at night.
Designed by Masao Kinoshita, it has a Japanese theme and is a tranquil spot. The Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) is especially impressive. There are lots of other oriental plants and shade lovers around.
Famed garden designer
Yoshikuni Araki, the famed garden designer and landscape architect, designed the irregular-shaped pool. The Annie E. Casey Foundation funded the park to commemorate UPS’s founder, James Casey. Enjoy it – it’s been described as ‘one of the most expensive parks per square foot ever built in the US’.
The American Nurserymen’s Association honoured the garden with its Environmental Award in 1981. It’s just down the street from other tourist locations like the Klondike Museum (free) and Occidental Square.
Address: 219 2nd Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104, USA.
For more information, visit www.pioneersquare.org.
