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This is phase two of District Grad D-2087 This is phase two. We would be utilizing this years grant to complete the project that we began in 2018-2019 (see below). The task force has been put together and is working on securing the location and that is expected any day. We are waiting on the request to be agreed on by the Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor. Upon his approval we will begin prepping the land and building the garden and spreading the message that Rotary Connects the World and spreads the message of Peace.
Club members attended the first Rotary Presidential Peace Conference on environmental sustainability and peace, where Steve Yoshida, PDG District 5010, presented us with two Hiroshima survivor seeds. Soldotna's sister city is Akita, Japan and the idea was born to create a Japanese garden to honor this relationship, promote the idea of peace with these survivor seeds, and create a space for the community and visitors to utilize. This would be the only Japanese garden in Alaska.
This project is designed to complete the planning and site preparation for the garden, as this is expected to be a multi-year project. We are working with local government agencies to vet a proper site for the garden, and a task force has been created that includes local designers, aqua culturist, horticulturists, and others prominent in their fields as well as local Rotarians.
The funding would be utilized for the needs identified by the task force members and other subject matter experts including items such as preparatory landscaping, obtaining and placing suitable soils, procuring both native Alaskan and Japanese trees and vegetation, as well as other landscape features. Local Rotarians will assist with the project by donating time, labor, and other expertise in cooperation with the task force.
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