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Japanese Tea Garden of the Sunken Gardens, Brackenridge Park San Antonio, Texas Chapter 1 |
 Image courtesy of the Institute of Texan Cultures |
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The San Antonio Parks Foundation, Friends of the Parks, and City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department are partnering in the restoration and repair of the water garden ponds of the Japanese Tea Garden of Sunken Gardens, a part of George Brackenridge Park. This garden was constructed in an abandoned cement quarry near downtown San Antonio in the 1920s, and was once a major tourist destination. The current restoration phase includes the repair of the lily ponds with the installation of a recirculation and filter system, the restoration of the waterfall, and a spray-on liner to seal the limestone quarry floor that contains the two large pools. On Monday, January 14, the ponds were filled with water and the start-up of the filter system began on January 15. The pool will be stocked with a few koi in February, and lily planting will begin in early April. |
 Old postcards from Edwards Aquifer.net The lower one says "one of the flowered wonders of the world" and points out that over 1400 different flowers and lilies were grown year round. |
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The ponds will be home to around 60 waterlilies and many other aquatic plants. Giant Victorias were one of the attractions of this municipal water garden in the 1930s. Early summer will see the installation of Victorias donated by Kit Knotts. < Hand-written under the photo: |
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The Japanese Tea Garden is listed on the National Register of
Historic Places. It has been an ongoing focus for the San Antonio
Parks Foundation and its affiliate organization, Friends of the
Parks. Long considered a beloved city treasure, the ravages of
time have taken a toll on the Garden. Through the leadership
of the Parks Foundation and Friends of the Park, the Garden will
be restored to its original beauty, for all to enjoy and appreciate.
The restoration of the Japanese Tea Garden is being accomplished through a public-private partnership between the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of San Antonio and the San Antonio Parks Foundation, and its affiliate organization Friends of the Parks. WGI Online will follow the progress of this project. |
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