Walktober 2022: Garden Tour of Washington Park with Jess Rivas

Date/Time
Date(s) - 10/23/2022
9:30 am - 11:30 am

Location
Washington Park

Category(ies)

• Outdoors

Explore beautiful home, gardens, and native landscaping with Council Member Jess Rivas in District 5, including a visit to Washington Park.

California Native plant proponent and early visionary for native plant gardens, Theodore Payne, was involved in the design of Washington Park, among others in Pasadena, as well as Descanso Gardens.

Washington Park has a lot to offer that’s mostly hidden from view at the street level. “This was one of the city’s earliest public parks, created within a three-acre vacant lot on the southeast corner of El Molino Avenue and Washington Boulevard that was purchased in 1920. In 1922, landscape architects Ralph Cornell and Theodore Payne completed a plan for the park and its “sunken gardens.” The site, a natural stream basin, had irregular terrain, which the designers leveraged with the incorporation of pathways, river rock walls, native plants, a rustic stone bridge, a tennis court and small playground. In the 1940s, the Works Progress Administration constructed a stone wall and an additional 2.1 acres were purchased, making space for a softball diamond, a new playground, and a parking lot. Basketball and handball courts and adult exercise equipment were added over time.” (source – The Cultural Landscape Foundation).

The Washington Square historic district encompasses approximately 250 homes built mainly between 1910 and 1940. On this tour you will discover many outstanding examples of native landscaping surrounding architectural styles ranging from California Craftsman, Spanish Colonial, Tudor, English Cottage to Traditional. The streets are cooled and shaded by beautiful old-growth Camphor, California Oak and Palm trees.

We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes, sunblock, a hat, and bring water.

Please register in advance to help us anticipate the number of attendees. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/garden-tour-of-washington-park-with-district-5-councilmember-jess-rivas-tickets-419103879987

This event is part of Pasadena Walktober 2022, made possible by the City of Pasadena Department of Transportation.