These guys appreciate the Japanese gardens at Kidd Springs. Photo by Jessica Turner
Since 1971, a Japanese garden, whose history has only in recent years come to light, has been tucked into a thicket overlooking Kidd Springs, its artifacts, trickling ornamental waterfall, mahogany-lacquered footbridge in various stages of despair and renewal.
It is a peaceful place to stroll, sit on a bench, brush up on sumo wrestling — if you are there often, you know there is an actual Buddhist Monk who loops the pond most days. I do not know him aside from our “hellos” and head nods. I think it would be a bad look to bother or photograph him. People do their thing in peace there, mostly.
Since the 70s, some of the amenities deteriorated, and later private funding allowed for upgrades including the addition of landscaping elements such as river boulders and Japanese lanterns, but bigger upgrades will soon be underway. The Dallas City Council Wednesday approved a construction services contract with Phillips/ May Corporation for a little over $1 million. They’ll be upgrading water features and the walkway, according to the council package.
The contract is funded by the City’s 2017-approved, $1.025 billion bond program, which includes a minimum $1.6 million allocation per district for neighborhood and city parks.
