Fence wrong for Manito site

Due to ongoing vandalism, the beautiful bamboo fence at the Japanese Garden at Manito Park is being replaced by a rope and post fence. Unfortunately, the replacement fence is more suited to a farm setting.

I learned of the Park Department’s replacement plan when I offered to donate the production jig that I constructed to make a bamboo fence for our own garden. Although my production jig is no longer available, Japanese fences that are inexpensive, attractive and simple to repair can easily be made.

We understand that the Park Department must make tough decisions when mindless trashing of a Spokane treasure affects their budget. However, replacing a Cadillac with a Yugo simply compounds the tragedy.

The rope and post replacement already snakes along a path on the west end of the garden and has crept around the corner to the north side and now is headed east. Please check it out. It is my hope that if enough people who care about the Japanese Garden express their dissatisfaction, the Park Department will select a more appropriate fence design.

Roger S. Schuyler

Spokane