The Croatian Cultural Garden got its beginning in late 2008 when a small group met on a snowy November day to pick out a site. They picked the site that was originally planned as the Shakespeare Theater. New legislation would have to be passed by city council allowing this change in designation to happen. In January of 2009 an open meeting was held at the Croatian American Lodge in Eastlake to discuss ideas and to form a committee to help steer the development of the garden.  The turnout was great and the response was generally positive. Also at the meeting the landscape architect chosen to help design the Croatian Garden, Jim McKnight, was introduced.

A group of about 15 people met regularly over the next few months. There were two subcommittees formed, one for Design and the other Fundraising.  The initial meetings were mostly brainstorming sessions. People were asked to throw out ideas that they wanted to see in the garden. Slowly these ideas were pared down to a few major ideas and themes. It was also quickly decided that the garden will have to be developed in phases, over many years. Phase I would incorporate the lower level on MLK blvd. Phase II would include the hillside, and Phase III will be the upper courtyard on East Blvd.

Meanwhile the fundraising committee quickly started work on a large debut event scheduled for November 1^st to be held at the lodge and involving many different groups within the Cleveland Croatian community as entertainment.

Over the late spring and early summer months the design committee together with Jim McKnight reviewed different plans and certain items became necessary element that everyone agreed. The statue of “Immigrant Mother” by Joseph Turkaly was selected to be a focal point on the lower level as well as a water feature. The hill side was deemed a perfect spot for a waterfall to represent the famous Krka falls in Croatia. Steps would be essential to link to lower and upper gardens. On the top section, a courtyard for large gathering and performances will be accented by busts of famous Croatian Cultural figures and the baptismal font, representing the Croatians accepting Christianity.

Jim McKnight took these ideas and made some preliminary drawings and cost breakouts. Fine tuning the design is still in progress at the end of 2009. In October, the Croatians were proud to be finally present as a garden for One World Day.

Funds came in slowly over the summer months but the November 1^st event was great success. Over 250 people attend the Sunday afternoon concert which featured six Croatian cultural dance and singing groups, helping to raise over $16,000 in that afternoon alone. Since then funds have been coming in from around the country.

At the end of the year the Croatian garden committee is still waiting on the city to official change the designation of the site. However, they are still working hard to raise funds and fine tune its design.

Branka Malinar

Croatian Cultural Garden Delegate