New Peace Bridge Dedicated
The Peace Garden was originally named the Rock Garden for its light-colored and irregularly-shaped ancient rocks that create a perfect micro-climate for alpine plants and dwarf conifers.
The garden features The Spirit of Peace, a bronze sculpture by local artist Caprice Glaser, dedicated in 2006.The sculpture portrays the ancient craft of origami and illustrates the folding of a peace crane. The walking path around the sculpture has origami paper and information plaques on peace stones that depict the steps in making a peace crane enabling visitors to create their own. Words of peace in 23 languages are engraved on stones at the base. The sculpture represents the international tradition honoring Sadako Saski, a girl who developed cancer as a result of radiation released by the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Told of a Japanese legend that people who fold a thousand paper cranes will be granted a wish, she folded over one thousand cranes before her death at age 12.
Other garden features are:
• A peace pole designating the garden as an official International Peace Site that lists the word ‘peace’ in multiple languages;
• Pathway to Peace, a series of seven stone sculptures connecting the East Harriet neighborhood with the Peace Garden, each with words representing the community’s feelings about the meaning of peace;
• Relic stones from Hiroshima and Nagasaki;
• A Hibakuska tree, which is the term used to refer to victims of the bombings.
Rock Geology Information
Peak Display Time: Peak spring bloom time is usually April l5-to June l. The bloom period often begins in late-March and continues until frost.
The garden is a beautiful setting for weddings.
The Peace Garden is located on Roseway Road, 1 block east of Lake Harriet Parkway adjacent to the Thomas Sadler Roberts Bird Sanctuary.
Historical Profile: More information about this and other parks is included in Parks, Lakes, Trails and So Much More, a richly detailed account of the histories of Minneapolis’ renown recreational system. (See Lyndale Park section.)
