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Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens, Santa Barbara

4.8
#9 of 28 in Parks in Santa Barbara
Garden · Hidden Gem · Park
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Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden is a park located in Santa Barbara, California. It consists of one entire city block, bounded by Santa Barbara, Micheltorena, Garden and Arrellaga Streets. It is across Santa Barbara Street from the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara, and across Micheltorena Street from Alameda Park.
The property, formerly the site of artist Albert Herter's El Mirasol Hotel (demolished 1960s), was purchased and donated to the city in 1975. The anonymous gift included funds for the land's conversion into gardens, and an endowment for their maintenance. The donor's identity remained a mystery until her death, two years later, when it was revealed to have been Alice Keck Park (1918–1977). Park was the daughter of William Myron Keck, the founder of Superior Oil Company. Park had a family connection to the Herters and the site – W. M. Keck's sister Caroline (Alice's aunt) had been the widow of Herter's son Everit, who died in World War I. The City dedicated the gardens in 1980, and named them in Park's honor.

The garden features a man-made pond stocked with turtles and koi, as well as a gazebo and many meandering walkways and paths. All the plants in the garden, some native and some ornamental, are chosen specifically to be tolerant of the low-water nature of the Santa Barbara climate. In addition, there is an area regarded as a sensory garden for the visually impaired.

The Arbor Area of Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden is a popular venue for weddings. It is beautifully maintained and also public property, making it one of the best valued, budget-conscious wedding venues in Santa Barbara.
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Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
84 reviews
Google
4.8
TripAdvisor
  • A great park just one block off crazy, crowded State Street, Alice Keck is a perfect place to decompress and sit awhile. It covers an entire city block and offers serenity and relative quiet. 
    A great park just one block off crazy, crowded State Street, Alice Keck is a perfect place to decompress and sit awhile. It covers an entire city block and offers serenity and relative quiet.  more »
  • Love this park. It used to be better maintained, perhaps it was an off week. The turtles and ducks provide such entertainment. It is quiet and beautiful. 
    Love this park. It used to be better maintained, perhaps it was an off week. The turtles and ducks provide such entertainment. It is quiet and beautiful.  more »
Google
  • This park is great for people of all ages. The large wooden structure playground is so much fun for children. There are many beautiful gardens and a duck pond. The paths are easy to walk and it is just a very enjoyable experience. There are green patches where are you can stretch out and have a picnic and watch the money pollinators landing on the flowers. I highly recommend this for a stop, especially if you have children that need to get out some energy.
  • Alice Keck Memorial Park is beautiful and well maintained. It has lots of curvy walkways, beautiful plants and trees, some of which predated the construction of the park, and a stream and pond. The stream and the pond are artificial, but the ducks and the turtles don't seem to care. If you come to Santa Barbara, you should visit this park.

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