Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden

	History of the Park
	This garden of 4.6 acres was once one of the City of Santa Barbara's original Plaza Alameda blocks. In 1868 the City conveyed it to a private owner, and it remained vacant until 1904 when it was purchased by Mrs. Christian Herter who built on it a handsome Italianate style house facing Micheltorena Street. On her death in 1913, her son and daughter-in-law, Albert and Adele Herter, converted the house into the main unit of a hotel and built guest cottages along three sides of the block, thus enclosing a large central garden. As "El Mirasol" it became an important hotel frequented by a distinguished and international clientele. In 1969 all the structures were demolished by a new owner and the property was offered for sale. After various schemes had been proposed for multiple development of the property, it was acquired in 1970 by the Santa Barbara Museum of Art as a site for its expanding institution. Practical considerations later persuaded the Museum to remain on State Street, and the property was again put on the market. In 1975 Alice Keck Park purchased it from the Museum and gave it to the City as a park in perpetuity. She provided funds for its development, stipulating that it should be a park, rural in feeling, and that the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden select a landscape architect to make such a plan and be in charge of the execution of this plan. On May 13, 1980, the Trustees for Alice Keck Park presented this Memorial Garden to the City of Santa Barbara.

	Design of the Park
	This garden was designed in accordance with the wishes of its donor, Alice Keck Park, as an informal and rural park. It is a horticultural garden with an emphasis on the diverse plant materials of Santa Barbara. Planting areas are separated according to cultural and watering requirements ranging from boggy to arid. A procession of color, an important element of the overall design, presents drifts of flowering trees echoing or contrasting the hues of the surrounding shrubs, vines, and groundcovers. The ever-changing combinations of color and texture shift from one area to another in seasonal succession. Water in the garden reflects the light, shadow, and color of the plantings. The slightest changes in weather or time of day are delightfully exaggerated in the pond's reflections. The gurgling streams help one forget the traffic noise and city bustle. Winding pathways invite strolling, always with a burst of color or an interesting object ahead as a magnet. The knoll and gazebo provide open vantage points for viewing the garden in contrast to the small sheltered forest area. With the years, the garden will evolve toward its envisioned mature state. This park has been designed for your enjoyment. Please visit it often and share in its beauty and serenity.

Items of Interest...