Manito Koi Pond Project Complete, Japanese Garden Re-Opens

Parks & Recreation: 311 or 509.755.2489


Tuesday, July 20, 2021 at 12:11 p.m.


SPOKANE – A project to save millions of gallons of water a year at the Koi Pond in Manito Park’s famous Nishinomiya Tsutakawa Japanese Garden is complete.

Summer 2021 hours of operation will be:

  • Monday – Friday, 10 A.M. until 30 minutes before dusk
  • Saturday – Sunday, 8 A.M. until 30 minutes before dusk

The project will improve pond quality while conserving 16-18 millions of gallons of water annually. It included replacing and upgrading all existing pond pumps, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical equipment. New UV and sand filters were added, along with recirculating jets, and pond skimmers to improve pond health.

“It’s a wonderful example of the City collaborating to make improvements. The Utilities and Parks divisions came together to invest in water-saving improvements that also improve the wildlife and visitor experiences,” said Garrett Jones, director of Parks & Recreation for the City of Spokane.

The Koi Pond project is part of a broader effort to conserve water across the entire Parks organization, and pairs with recent irrigation improvements at City golf courses and turf reduction in key park locations. These projects are also saving millions of gallons of water every year.

The koi remained in the pond for the majority of the project, except for a short time when they were taken to a koi specialist for a health inspection. Existing plantings and landscape within the garden were also protected, so visitors will experience the same garden with an improved pond.

The project budget was $287,000, funded by the City Utilities Division. Work began in March, and was completed on schedule and on budget. The garden was closed due to COVID staffing shortages in spring 2020.

Learn more about park water conservation at spokaneparks.org/parkhealth.

 

About City of Spokane Parks & Recreation

City of Spokane Parks and Recreation stewards nearly 120 properties across 4,000 acres of park land, including manicured parks, natural lands, aquatic centers, golf courses, sports complexes, and an arboretum. We also offer hundreds of recreation opportunities for all ages and abilities to improve the health and quality of life for our community. Enjoy all your city has to offer by visiting spokaneparks.org. Follow us @SpokaneParks on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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