Dallas City Park
A Japanese Garden Restored
When the garden’s central feature — a traditional Japanese bridge — succumbed to age, it might have marked the beginning of the end for the Japanese garden in Dallas City Park. Instead, it was the spark that ignited a full restoration.
![Japanese maples overarching a pond feature, Dallas City Park](/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Dallas_City_Park_6-768x576.jpg)
A Local Park with a Difference
A 35-acre oasis sits in the heart of the small town of Dallas, Oregon. Featuring a state-of-the-art, 18-hole disc golf course and an arboretum dedicated to knowledge and appreciation of native flora, the park includes many additional amenities you might expect in a city park. From horseshoe pits to picnic shelters, Dallas City Park offers a setting and services that draw visitors from the local community year-round.
In addition to its more typical features, there is a botanical gem that sets Dallas City Park apart from your typical smalltown park: a traditional Japanese Garden. Designed in the 1960’s by local businessman Art Higashi, the garden provided a picturesque backdrop for occasions like family picnics and prom photoshoots, as well as a place of tranquility to simply meander and contemplate the beauty of nature.
Unfortunately, as the decades passed, the Japanese garden lost some of its original luster. Eventually, even the footbridge, the garden’s central feature, fell victim to the passage of time and needed to be replaced. In an era where justifying the expense of such a whimsical project could be challenging, the Dallas community instead came together, not just to replace their beloved bridge, but to provide a full restoration of the entire Japanese garden.
The result? Nothing short of magical.
Individuals, Organizations, and Government Agencies all Contributed
Putting the Funding Pieces Together
It might be clichéd to say that it takes a village, but in the case of the garden restoration project, uniting with a common purpose worked miracles.
a Community Unites
As the idea of a full garden restoration gained headway, enthusiasm mounted. With that excitement, funding also grew. Oregon Parks and Recreation provided $148,000 in the form of Lottery-funded grants to help finance the restoration, but the local community stepped up as well. The Oregon Community Foundation and Dallas Community Foundation contributed funds to replace the bridge while local concrete and engineering firms donated equipment, manpower, and expertise to help with its installation.
Local Rotary clubs, garden clubs, and even walking clubs helped with the purchase of benches, plaques and torii gates to beautify the garden.
Today, it’s fair to say that most of the Dallas community feels some connection with this special place and the extensive work that went into its restoration.
Nature and Serenity
Traditional Japanese gardens typically share a number of essential elements. Stone symbolizes strength and endurance and provides structure for the landscape. Water represents life and renewal. Carefully chosen plants lend texture and a sense of tranquility. In addition, pagodas, bridges and torii gates are often included to add visual interest and character.
Hoichi Kurisu, a Japanese landscape designer originally from Hiroshima, was engaged to bring these elements together in the Dallas park’s restoration. His firm’s work honored the garden’s past and brings it into the 21st century with authenticity and beauty.
![Mr. and Mrs. Art Higashi, Dallas, Oregon](/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Dallas_City_Park_8-768x1024.jpg)
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Original Garden Designer: Art Higashi
Art Higashi and Miki Oda married in May of 1942, weeks before they (and all people of Japanese descent residing on the West Coast) were to be incarcerated in desolate internment centers for the duration of World War II. They faced an uncertain future, but they would face it together.
After their release, Art and Miki settled in Oregon’s then second largest city, Vanport, again losing everything after a flood obliterated that city in 1948.
Despite these hardships, the Higashis built a family and business, eventually settling in Dallas and opening grocery stores there. As part of their dedication to their community, Art designed the Japanese garden and its original iconic bridge in the Dallas City Park. Art’s work and vision for the garden will be commemorated on a plaque on one of the Park’s new torii gates once restoration is completed. His life, his resilience, and his contributions to the Japanese Garden will be honored and remembered.
Photo: Art & Miki Higashi, courtesy of the Higashi Family
![State Parks grants sign on fence](/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/parks_wildwood_05_2000x1500-768x768.jpg)
Supporting Oregon Parks
Since 1998, a portion of the dollars generated by the Oregon Lottery have gone to support our state and local parks. Learn more about how your lottery play makes a difference for these important places!
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