Parks & Recreation

Sister Cities “Connections” Garden in Riverfront Park opens

Media: Fianna Dickson, 625.6297. Riverfront: 311 or 509.625.6600

Monday, September 9, 2019 at 3:37 p.m.

The Sister Cities “Connections” Garden in Riverfront Park officially opens Friday with a ceremony at 11 A.M.

The garden is a space to honor and celebrate the importance of our Sister Cities through nature and art. It’s placed at the site of the former Japanese Pavilion at the Expo ’74 World’s Fair.

Sister Cities “Connections” Garden Opening Celebration

Friday, September 13

11 – 11:45 A.M.

Location: North of the Rotary Fountain, across the orange bridge on the Howard Street Promenade (map)

Scheduled attendees: Mayor David Condon, Presidents of the Spokane Sister Cities, delegates from Nishinomiya and Limerick, and a Korean consul member

The garden has blue-green curved pathways, symbolizing connections of each of the rivers of our Sister Cities to the oceans of the world.

Art plays a key role in the garden, featuring sculptures from partnerships with Limerick, Ireland, Nishinomiya, Japan and Spokane itself. The garden also includes six concrete panels of a rock-walk reflexology path developed by youth delegates at the 2005 Sister Cities International Conference held in Spokane. Plans are underway for art from partner cities in Jilin, China; Jecheon, South Korea; and, Cagli, Italy.

The garden is a partnership between the Sister Cities Association of Spokane and their generous sponsors, and City of Spokane Parks and Recreation.

Art

Limerick, Ireland

Representing Limerick, an Irish Harp was created by the late Sister Paula Mary Turnbull before she passed. The harp includes music developed by musicians in Limerick. Sister Paula created Riverfront’s Garbage Goat for Expo ‘74.

Nishinomiya, Japan

A half-sized replica of the Imazu Lighthouse in the bay in Nishinomiya stands in the garden. The 11-foot high lighthouse, developed by Spokane architect Don Trail, is illuminated.

Native American

The five-foot-high Kokanee Steel salmon sculpture symbolizes the historical site of the river and the Salish tribes of Native Americans who met and fished at the banks of the Spokane River. It was created by Spokane artist Melissa Cole.

Jilin, China; Jecheon, South Korea; Cagli, Italy

Plans for artwork are underway representing sister cities in Jilin, China; Jecheon, South Korea; and, Cagli, Italy.