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The central beds, however, were completed in 2016. This revision has given the new beds the peaceful,
<br />contemplative feel that was historically intended.
<br />As you know, the Sunken Garden is comprised of "outer" beds in three, concentric half -circles; on
<br />either side of the former reflecting pool area. When we first observed the "pool area" in early 2015, we
<br />saw that it was horribly overgrown with weeds and grass, and all kinds of debris. At some point in the
<br />relatively recent past, a "weed barrier" had been installed. But, instead of keeping weeds out, it simply
<br />became a new platform for new weeds, and a collector of a variety of stray plants and pieces of ground
<br />covers, and other noxious weeds.
<br />In Phase Two, the volunteers remedied all of those ills. We removed the existing soil and weeds, and
<br />other noxious growth. We removed the recalcitrant weed "barrier," and added fifteen yards of new soil
<br />and compost. We defined new beds with metal edging, and added walkways of crushed limestone. We
<br />planted the new beds, on both sides of the new walkways, with appropriate plant materials, designed
<br />for the spring, summer and fall seasons, to add diversity and color throughout the seasons. (Roses, three
<br />varieties of iris, several varieties of day lily, additional annuals, and floral and foliage plants.)
<br />These new "reflecting pool" beds were made possible by private donations, and separate grants from
<br />the South Bend Awesome Fund, and from the South Bend Brew Werks. This work has re-established
<br />the open-air, connected concept of the original "Kessler" feel of the Garden, with it's "walk-through"
<br />design; and it now mimics the originally intended "circular, connected" pathways of the historic
<br />Sunken Gardens.
<br />Now, visitors don't just look from afar ..... they are now able to walk "through" and "among" the plants
<br />of the new Sunken Garden.
<br />Advancing on the idea of "connectivity," and the open-air concept of the Kessler plan; RESURRECT
<br />THE ROSES proposes to further solidify these ideas into this PHASE THREE for the Sunken Garden:
<br />The Sunken Garden is currently Dis-Connected from Michigan Street itself; and even more Dis-
<br />connected from the western half of Leeper Park by an expanse of lawn between the Garden and the
<br />Boulevard. This proposal intends to begin to re- CONNECT these pieces, in line with the original
<br />Kessler concepts of connectivity, and the circular, open-air, "walk-through" design.
<br />PHASE THREE: This new phase calls for connecting the existing, lower part of the
<br />Sunken Garden to the street level by creating a narrow walkway between the two areas, which would
<br />then be bound by new beds, adjacent to the new walkway.
<br />Presently, an eight foot wide concrete staircase leads into and out of the Sunken Garden, on the western
<br />edge of the Garden. To access the Garden, a visitor crosses from the Michigan Blvd. Sidewalk, over a
<br />grassy area, approximately 50 feet deep. For Phase Three, the volunteers propose to Connect the
<br />sidewalk parallel to Michigan Boulevard with the Garden by creating a new walkway and beds,
<br />leading up to the existing stairway, and down into the Sunken Garden.
<br />At the top of the existing staircase, an eight foot wide walkway of crushed limestone (the same that
<br />was used in the viewing pond beds) would be bounded by two, forty two inch wide flower beds, and
<br />planted with similar materials as are used in the lower viewing pond beds, to create a connectivity, and
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