By Khalida Sarwari
The city is inviting residents to weigh in at a community workshop on Feb. 10 on the development of a master plan for Hakone Gardens that includes the construction of two new buildings.
The workshop will be an opportunity for anyone interested in the project to participate in the creation of a master plan from its inception. The master plan will serve as a guide for restoring and enhancing the buildings and structures throughout the historic Japanese gardens and in the surrounding natural park area of the 18-acre land parcel.
Consultants will use the master plan as a technical and aesthetic guideline as they attempt to renovate the gardens and add a new retreat center, tearoom and gift shop. Hakone leaders have indicated the additional buildings would make Hakone a year-round destination.
There would be other benefits. The tearoom would allow Hakone to serve light refreshments year-round in a dedicated indoor area. Currently, Hakone shares space with other groups that rent the facility. The retreat center would allow large groups, such as wedding parties, to be indoors instead of outdoors in the evening, which sometimes results in complaints from neighbors about noise.
Last year, the Saratoga City Council agreed to foot some of the bill for the development of the master plan. The council entered into an agreement with the Hakone Foundation to provide matching funds to the foundation’s $150,000 appropriation from its reserve fund. The preparation of the final engineering design and construction will be funded 75 percent from the foundation and 25 percent by the city, which has agreed to allocate only up to $250,000.
“The development of a master plan will help to clarify and refine Hakone’s future direction,” said Mayor Howard Miller. “I’m hopeful that every citizen will participate and have a voice in helping to preserve this unique Saratoga treasure for generations to come.”
The workshop will include a question-and-answer session with city staff, Hakone Foundation members and the Portico Group, a consultant group hired by the city to oversee the development of the master plan. During the workshop, attendees will be divided into small working groups and asked to discuss their vision and goals for the master plan.
Designated the oldest Japanese and Asian estate garden in the Western hemisphere, Hakone was originally designed and built by Isabel and Oliver Stone. In 1966, the property was sold to Saratoga and has since been operated and maintained by the nonprofit Hakone Foundation.
The workshop will take place at the Hakone Gardens, 21000 Big Basin Way, from 5 to 7 p.m.
For more information about the Hakone Gardens master plan, visitsaratoga.ca.us/hakonemasterplan.
Link: Community workshop to develop master plan for Hakone Gardens
