Last updated: January 25, 2023
Place
Merritt Park
Quick Facts
Location:
northern part of Manzanar tour road
Amenities
2 listed
Benches/Seating, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits
Merritt Park was an oasis of beauty and solitude for a crowded, confined community. Meandering paths and waterways, bridges, lawns, and flower gardens filled its 1.5 acres, delighting the senses and lifting the spirits of many who came here. Incarceree landscape designer Kuichiro Nishi created the park in 1943, together with floriculturist Tak Muto and a crew of incarcerate workers, all employed by the War Relocation Authority.
Below a waterfall at the pond’s west end a large “turtle” rock represented longevity. A gazebo built of locust wood stood on a concrete foundation nearby, and two upright stones marked the park’s southern corners. On one, Nishi dedicated his work “To the memory of fellow Japanese immigrants, who although ushered to this place with the breaking of friendly relations between two countries, have come to enjoy this quiet, peaceful place.”
First called Rose Park, then Pleasure Park, it was finally renamed Merritt Park, in honor of Project Director Ralph Merritt. Japanese Americans and camp staff alike enjoyed Merritt Park. Once cameras were allowed, the park’s beauty became a favorite backdrop for photographs of special occasions.
To hear Ikuo Henry Nakagawa talk about his memories of Merritt Park, click here.