February 8, 2008

County grants funding for construction of Imperial Gate at Vietnamese Cultural Gardens

This week, the County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors granted funding, in the amount of $50,000, to the Viet Heritage Society (VHS) for the construction of the Imperial Gate at the Vietnamese Cultural Gardens. Located in Kelley Park at Roberts Avenue and Saraband Way in San Jose, the construction of the Imperial Gate will bring the first phase of the Vietnamese Cultural Gardens project closer to its end.

“The Viet Heritage Gardens project is a dream coming true for the Vietnamese-American community,” said Supervisor Blanca Alvarado, District 2. “I am proud that the State of California, the City of San Jose and our County are working with our local Vietnamese community to build the first Viet Heritage Gardens of its kind in the whole nation.”

The allocation of the funding was approved by the Supervisors in June 2007. The grant comes from the County Park Charter Capital Improvement Project Funds. The Viet Heritage Gardens project is also funded by: $1.3 million from the California Cultural and Historical Endowment; $1.58 million from the City of San Jose.

The first phase of the Viet Heritage Gardens project is expected to be completed in Spring 2008. At completion, visitors also will be able to see a cherry grove, a flag monument, a lotus pond, a one-pillar pagoda and meditation gardens. The Imperial Gate will be constructed next to the Coyote Creek Trail.

The second phase of the project will include a 7,000 square-foot museum and a 4,500 square-foot exhibition center, and is expected to be finished in 2011. Long-term planning for the Vietnamese Gardens project also includes a community center.

Once completed, the Vietnamese Gardens will be the only site in the State where expression of the Vietnamese experience, culture, traditions and contributions to California is accessible to the public.

“The Vietnamese-American population is one of the largest ethnic communities in our county,” said Supervisor Pete McHugh, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “I have taken classes in Conversational Vietnamese and am looking forward to visiting the Vietnamese Heritage Gardens to learn more about the rich culture, traditions and history of Vietnam.”