Construction begins soon to revitalize Cedar Rapids’ Shakespeare Garden

CEDAR RAPIDS — Construction soon will begin on the multiyear revitalization of the Shakespeare Garden in Cedar Rapids’ Ellis Park, a space that honors the works of English playwright and poet William Shakespeare.

The project secured funding from both local governments as of Wednesday, with the Linn County Board of Supervisors committing $15,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars. The city of Cedar Rapids also has given $15,000 to the roughly $600,000 project

This revitalization effort will bring enhanced structures and natural preservation elements to the garden. Those spearheading the garden’s transformation hope to partner with the city as well as local artists and entertainers to offer classes, concerts, shows and event space so visitors can connect with nature and Shakespeare’s works.

The nearly 100-year-old garden is a collection of some of the 175 plants mentioned in Shakespeare’s writing. Only about three dozen such gardens are known to exist worldwide. In the United States, these themed gardens were designed to show solidarity with British allies during World War I.

But much of the Cedar Rapids garden was destroyed in the 2008 flood. The bust of the bard and some benches survived.

In the years after the flood, the Wednesday Shakespeare Club — a group that formed in 1895 and still meets to read and discuss Shakespeare’s works — looked to restore the garden.

Eventually, Friends of Shakespeare Garden formed in 2019 to revitalize the garden in collaboration with a variety of groups including the Northwest Neighbors Neighborhood Association, Wednesday Shakespeare Club and the Cedar Rapids Garden Club.

Al Pierson, president of the Northwest Neighbors Neighborhood Association, said the group has raised about $500,000 so far out of the overall approximately $600,000 project. The whole project is anticipated to be complete around 2026.

First phase beginning

Work will start this summer on the first phase, Pierson said, as the city will put that phase out for bid later this month.

“Friends of Shakespeare Gardens have been the driving force for the project, putting together the majority of the funding through donations, and working with Parks and Recreation Department staff,” said Steve Krug, Cedar Rapids’ landscape architect.

Early work will include removal of the existing concrete flatwork, small trees and shrubs, Krug said. There will be areas with annuals, perennials, shrub and trees. As needed, new sections of irrigation will be installed into the existing system. Pierson said ImOn Communications awarded a grant to purchase 40-inch self-watering pots, which will be installed in this initial phase.

As part of the first phase, there will be curved wooden benches and decorative pavings around two “woodland gazebos.” A stage patio will be marked with a sunburst pattern and a steel canopy structure overhead. A reproduction of Shakespeare’s bust will be relocated and housed in a Shakespeare Sanctuary.

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In the second phase, stone seat walls will offer views of a restored stream. The 8,000-square-foot lawn will be complete with limestone edging. Signage will educate visitors of the garden’s historical, ecological and cultural elements.

Bioswale plantings will slow and treat rainwater and pollinator gardens will fuel native insects. Tree plantings will be done in coordination with Cedar Rapids’ ReLeaf effort to replenish the tree canopy downed in the 2020 derecho.

Existing boundary walls to the gardens along Ellis Boulevard NW and the entry to Ellis Park will remain, Krug said.

Fundraising remains

To fill the remaining funding gap, the group explored other options for funding and will seek a Community Attraction and Tourism grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority, Pierson said. The Friends group hopes the IEDA will allocate $50,000 toward the project later in the fall or next spring.

Pending fundraising, Pierson said construction on the second phase will begin in 2025 and possibly go into 2026. The project has received support from local businesses, individuals and corporations such as UFG, he said.

“It really makes us feel good that they’re supporting this 97-year old Shakespeare Garden,” Pierson told The Gazette. “ … It is a special place now. It’s going to be even more special when we get structures up and get it relandscaped.”

Pierson said the garden again will host the Five Seasons Chamber Music Festival on June 30, bringing Grammy-award winning musicians who perform different genres. Actors will perform a section of a Shakespeare play during the event.

“This is a project I’m proud to be part of and support,” said Supervisor Chair Kirsten Running-Marquardt, whose district encompasses the west side of the Cedar River. “I look forward to watching a play on the flood-proof stage.”

Comments: (319) 398-8494; marissa.payne@thegazette.com