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NATIONAL BONSAI & PENJING MUSEUM
COURTYARD PROJECT
In 2001 the National Bonsai Foundation and the U.S. National Arboretum began work on The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum Courtyard Project. The purpose of this undertaking was to make the entire inner courtyard of the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum accessible to all visitors.
Prior to this time, and dating back to the opening of the Museum in 1976, the outdoor walkways of the complex, including the paths of the Japanese and North American Pavilions, were laid with gravel. This surface, while inexpensive, is neither aesthetically pleasing nor easy to maintain. More importantly, the gravel paths made it difficult for visitors with strollers or in wheel chairs to move safely and comfortably around the Museum.
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It is the goal of the Arboretum, as a federal facility, and the goal of NBF, as the support organization of the Museum, to provide every visitor with the opportunity to view the tree collections and learn about the art of bonsai and penjing. To achieve this goal the Museum must display its collections in an environment that accounts for the well being of every visitor. Therefore the decision was made to pave and grade the walk areas of the entire complex so that everyone could move unimpeded within the Museum.
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The Alexandria, Virginia landscape architectural firm of Rhodeside and Harwell designed the project so that the installation would take place in three phases. Phase One included the paving of the Cryptomeria Entrance Walk and the Upper Courtyard in front of the Mary E. Mrose International Pavilion, as well as the installation of a pool and display plinths for trees. Major donations for the project came to NBF from Howard Vanzant in memory of his wife, Maria Rivero Vanzant, and from contributions to the Merritt Fund in honor of former NBF Director, H. William Merritt. The Maria Rivero Vanzant Upper Courtyard and the H. William Merritt Gate were dedicated in 2002.
The amount contributed by NBF for this phase was $250,000.
Work on Phase Two began in the autumn of 2004 and it was completed in time for the 5th World Bonsai Convention in May 2005. This part of the project involved the paving of the lower Courtyard outside the Dr. Yee sun-Wu Chinese Pavilion and the Yuji Yoshimura Education Center, as well as the installation of an Arbor and Gardens. Significant donations were made by NBF Director Deborah Rose for the Rose Family Garden and contributions from the Melba Tucker Fund were used for the construction of the Melba Tucker Arbor.
NBF contributed $280,000 to this part of the project.
Fund raising for the Final Phase of the Project is now underway. This final aspect of the project will pave the path through the Kato Family Stroll Garden and pave the walkways of the Japanese Pavilion and the John Y. Naka North American Pavilion. In addition, the George Yamaguchi Garden will be redesigned to accommodate a different path between the two pavilions. A new gate and restroom facilities are also included in the plans.
The cost for completing the work of making the Museum completely accessible is estimated to be $800,000. NBF is committed to raising at least 50% of the funds needed. If you are interested in making a contribution, of any amount, to this important project please click here: Gift Opportunities.
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