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"...beautiful, useful, good and enduring"
The idea for an "inspiration" park was conceived in 1997 to fulfill a need for an adult park where one could find a quiet introspective place away from the constant onslaught of vendors and other annoyances. In addition to serving as an environmentally "clean tourist" attraction the park addresses a number of local needs, providing employment, as well as a funding source for much needed but always struggling programs such as trash disposal.
The park design employs tried and true principles such as the "magic rectangle" dimension used in the construction of the Parthenon and the Acropolis. Also stones and other objects are grouped in twos and threes as is done in Japanese gardens, an arrangement considered to be especially soothing. The design is intended to soothe all the senses. There is a color wall of magenta, which because of its balance of red and blue is the most emotionally balancing of all colors, and a wall of jasmine flowers, whose aroma is considered to be the scent, which humans can most easily remember. Sound is provided by a carefully designed waterfall. Also designed into the final production are feeders to encourage songbirds, as well as miniature conifers and important local plants.
The park is completely enclosed and supervised at all times as well as being monitored as to the number of visitors inside. A palapa is provided outside the entrance allows venders to sell their wares for a small daily/monthly space rental with certain restrictions for noise. Drinks and snacks would be available at the kiosk but not be permitted inside the park. The park's unique flavor would be shaped by the ongoing selection of unusual rocks, plants, rocks, logs, animals, and other items.
On the practical side, funding for the park on ongoing basis would come from the following sources:
- entrance fees
- kiosk sales of refreshments and souveniers, including a claim check service
- rental of the facility (with a sturdy damage deposit and supervision) for:
- weddings
- family reunions
- periodic art and cultural shows
- classes of certain appropriate types
- occasional fund raising events
- rental fees from the crafts palapa
- a well designed donation station within the park, with jade name plaques with gold lettering for special donors performance arts presentations in the ampitheater (poetry, music, speakers) holiday gift and jewelry shows.
Several of the unique features of the park are designed to create a state of relaxed awareness. For example, at the entrance the visitor is invited to break continuity with the outside world by rinsing the hands under a bamboo drip enclosed in a basil garden, with a plaque in several languages inviting one to "wash away the world". Nearby is a white sand garden, which is raked into patterns each morning. An observation "bridge" extends out over the water in a 1/2 circle from one side of the pond, surrounded by white flowers, making an ideal spot for a small wedding ceremony.
The rain shelter near the waterfall has a walkway made of pea gravel to make a pleasant crunching sound under foot, and has two large circular openings framing the blue bamboo stems growing behind it, which creates a living painting when stirred by breezes. Other features such as a Mayan stellae and two adjoining shelters with fireplaces for reunions help to add to the multi-cultural, multi-use flavor of the park.
A small semi-circular ampitheater is included adjoining the park, which can serve as crafts market during the day and can also provide for performance arts presentations that require a small intimate venue.
James Easter