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This urban Chinese garden would be a place of beauty for quiet meditation and admiration of the juxtaposition of the natural beauty of rock, water, and man's constructs, as well as the horticulturist's art.
There would be flora from areas of China that have similar climate to the north-central Alabama area, planted to highlight and compliment design features that allow unique viewing of artistic vistas throughout the garden.
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The Birmingham Chinese Garden is envisioned as having an area appropriate for weddings and receptions, rooms furnished for visitor's rest and meditation, a teashop serving refreshments, and several large meeting rooms for special events.
The entire garden would be sheltered from the outside by a partially windowed wall having only two gates.
The proposed site of the Birmingham Classical Chinese Garden and Birmingham International Friendship and World Peace Plaza is on that southern-most portion of George Ward Park (separated from the rest of the park by Green Springs Avenue South, which serves as the northern boundary), bounded on the east by Fourth Place South, on the south by Cedars Avenue (old Green Springs Avenue), and on the west by Cedars Drive.
Typical Classical Garden Design
Garden Functions
- Present a place of beauty and quiet meditation that promotes wellness in Birmingham's urban setting
- Offer a location for special events: weddings, receptions, festivals, artistic readings and musical presentations
- Conduct horticultural research and educational programs
- Make available a public venue to memorialize local Chinese and non-Chinese citizens, and celebrate Chinese-American friendship and world peace
- Present visitors with a sophisticated and international view of Birmingham
- Provide a teahouse for light refreshments
- Provide a gift shop for tourists
Garden Funding
- Funding for the initial capital required to construct the garden will be sought from private, governmental, corporate, and foundation sources
- Support for ongoing operations would come from:
. Garden entrance fees
. Horticultural research grants
. Public donations/memorials and Garden Association membership fees
Fees for weddings, receptions, and meetings
. Teashop and gift shop profits
. Interest from an endowed maintenance trust fund included in the initial capital project
Garden Administration
- The non-profit Birminghan Chinese Garden - Asian Cultural Center Foundation will raise funds, approve design of, and construct the Birmingham Chinese Garden
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- A non-profit Birmingham Classical Chinese Garden Association shall then be incorporated and its Board (which shall include four memebers from the Foundation Board) shall oversee garden operations
- The Association Board shall hire an Executive Director to hire staff and manage day to day garden operations
- The Birmingham Classical Chinese Garden is anticipated to be self supporting within 5 years (based upon data from similar gardens in other states)
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Picture from Portland Classical Chinese Garden |
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