Expect some changes to Beacon Hill Park next spring, thanks to a big donation from a City of Victoria resident.
City parks crews are in the process of relocating the rose garden from a bed near the cricket grounds to a drier bed on the park’s north side.
“The rose garden was failing where it was, it was way too wet for roses,” said Kate Friars, parks director.
The rose garden was originally located where the sun dial now stands and moved to its current location in the 1980s. But the wet and isolated area has always been problematic for roses, said Doug DeMarzo, parks manager.
“The rose garden was kind of lost out there near the cricket pitch,” he said. “So now we’ve moved it to be a self-anchor to the ornamental area.”
Work is largely being funded by a local donor who may reveal his or her identify when the changes are complete.
Crews will also install various ornamental trees below the rose garden, as well as a deer fence before the roses are in place.
The cordoned off area near the cricket grounds will reopen for public use before Christmas, DeMarzo said.
