McKinley Park, in Sacramento on McKinley Blvd. is a 36 acre community park. Within this park is the Frederick Evans Memorial Rose Garden. The rose garden in the park is listed as one of Sacramento’s historical landmarks.
In 1928 Mr. Evans was Sacramento’s first parks superintendent as well as a known landscape architect for this park. In 1946 after his death the Sacramento City Council renamed the rose garden in his honor.
This garden is set up like a maze and is over 80 years old and was in need of some renovation which was started in 2010. The roses are group by type and color, this gives this garden a modern look, yet it’s kept elements of its historical style. One bed is ablaze with several rose bushes in oranges, pinks, and red all on the same bush. It was 'Disneyland' and it is blooming in all its glory. Another bed has the rose 'Hot Cocoa' . The bud starts out deep red as it ages it goes to a dark almost reddish brown. Looking at all these beds, you can’t help but be amazed at the wonderful color they all give. Metal archways covered with climbing roses, large old trees that shade areas of the park, plus stone benches to relax in.
There is still much work that is needed, right now the walkways are turf this makes it hard for the physically challenges to get around the garden, so the plan is to make these walkways accessible for all by changing the turf to a hard surface material.
It’s a wonderful park for people who are artistic. Two were there painting the day we were there, but you don’t need to be an artist to appreciate the beauty of this rose garden.
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