Maintenance Project Extended for Pond at Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens

Maintenance work on the pond at Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden is extended through July 6, 2018.

About the Project

The original project began on June 11, and was estimated to be finished on June 24. This project will repair the pond liner and remove debris from the pond, which will improve water quality, make the pond a more pleasant place for park visitors, and create a more hospitable environment for the many wildlife species that live in the pond area.

During the initial draining and sediment removal phases, staff discovered an unexpectedly large volume of sediment. The pond at Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden had not been drained to allow for sediment removal in 40 years. In recent years, there has been a significant decline in water quality at the pond, making the planned maintenance project a necessity. As of June 27, 2018, 270 cubic yards (60%) of the sediment had been removed. Given the need to address the remaining sediment and the opportunity to optimize pond health, the project timeline has been extended through July 6.

The project goals remain the same now that the project has been extended. The park will remain open as usual. Certain areas may be closed intermittently to allow access for our workers.

What about the Animals?

The many species of wildlife that live in Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden’s pond area will be protected during this project work. The koi fish and turtles have been relocated to Chase Palm Park and are being closely monitored and cared for by Parks Division staff.

Please do not disturb or feed any of the animals. Remember, it is harmful to the pond animals to feed them bread or any other food. Feeding pond animals also increases pond bacteria, pollutes the pond, and decreases the oxygen supply in the water.

The City of Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department will be doing maintenance work on the pond at Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden from June 11 – 24, 2018. This maintenance work will repair the pond liner and remove debris from the pond, which will improve water quality, make the pond a more pleasant place for park visitors, and create a more hospitable environment for the many wildlife species—such as turtles, ducks, and koi fish—that live in the pond area. The park will remain open as usual during our work on the pond, but certain areas may be closed intermittently to allow access for our workers.

What Will the Pond Project Involve?

The pond at Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden was last drained ten years ago. In recent years, there has been a significant decline in water quality at the pond, making the planned maintenance project a necessity.

In order to get to the pond liner, the water level in the pond must be lowered. The pond will be dry for one to two days during the project. This will allow for the removal of pond debris, sediment, organic matter, and trash to improve water quality and reduce unpleasant odors. These maintenance repairs will help make the pond area of Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden a more appealing place to visit, and will improve the look of the park. All work on this project will be performed or supervised under contract by Parks Division staff.

What about the Animals?

The many species of wildlife that live in Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden’s pond area will be protected during all upcoming pond maintenance work. For example, the koi fish will be transported temporarily to the pond at Chase Palm Park, and the turtles will be sheltered on site in areas where work is not scheduled.

Questions

For more information on this project, please contact Parks Superintendent Ken Brown at (805) 564-5457 or KBrown@SantaBarbaraCA.gov.

About Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden

Park History

In 1975, local resident Alice Keck Park purchased the plot of land—formerly home to the El Mirasol Hotel—now known as Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden. When Ms. Park donated the land to the City of Santa Barbara, she envisioned an informal horticultural garden and natural retreat for people of all ages and interests. Architect Grant Castleberg began the design of the park in 1977, and the park was dedicated in 1980. Since that time, the park has become a favorite for locals and tourists.

Protecting Wildlife

Please do not abandon unwanted pets in the park or feed the park wildlife. Parks Division staff feeds an appropriate diet to the turtles and koi fish in the pond. Feeding bread or other food to turtles or other park wildlife damages the animals’ health. Feeding inappropriate foods to pond animals also increases pond bacteria, pollutes the pond, and decreases the oxygen supply in the water.

Past Articles

 June 10, 2018 – What Happened to Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens?