Tucked into downtown Santa Barbara is a garden well loved by residents and visitors alike. The Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens are beautifully tended and feature a pond, a gazebo, and a large botanical collection of low water plants.
Alice Keck Park is a beautiful memorial garden on a square block of land in downtown Santa Barbara. The site was originally the location of the El Mirasol Hotel and was purchased and donated to the city in 1975. Five years later, the park was dedicated, and now provides close up views of beautiful plants and a man made pond stocked with turtle and koi.
The garden has many different parts to it and one of the most appealing is the looping path system that allows guests to wander. Specialized planting beds are filled with low water species chosen because of their ability to grow well in Santa Barbara’s drier climate. As walkers meander through the park there are beautiful ornamental plants scattered among native varieties, with everything planted with an eye towards textural balance and harmonious use of color.
Another favorite aspect of the park is the pond. Stocked with koi and turtles, there is almost always a group of children at the central gazebo, gazing into the water and tracing the paths of the enormous orange and gold fish. The design of the pond merges seamlessly with the pathways, allowing a stroll around the banks to become an exercise in beauty and peace.
The park also has a section set aside for a sensory garden. While every group of plants stimulates the senses, designers can plant with a particular sense in mind and select plants and other design elements with the idea of providing specific sensory experiences. The sensory area in the park is designed to utilize senses other than sight, providing varied textures and strong fragrances. Interpretive Braille signs are placed along the path and the sounds of the water and birds add to the experience.
It’s easy to see why Alice Keck Park is called the gem of Santa Barbara parks. One square city block has been transformed into an oasis of curving walkways leading through exquisite plantings, with the pond providing the gentle presence and sounds of water. From the low water plants that show that beauty is available with minimum watering to the sensory area that allows guests to close their eyes and let their other senses run free, the many aspects of the park combine into a peaceful, lovely experience for everyone.