Hopelands Gardens, Rye Patch continue improvements

Members of the Friends of Hopelands and Rye Patch Inc., have put together a long range plan of renovations and improvements to be made at Hopelands Gardens and Rye Patch over the next 10 years.

The plan was announced at the group's annual meeting, which was held at Rye Patch on Sunday afternoon.

"This is more of a 10-year look to the future," Dr. Joe Spencer, president of Friends, said in his description on the plan. "Hopelands and Rye Patch are a very important asset to our city."

Spencer said most of the components of the plan will require work with the City to develop a timeline for the projects.

As a part of their vision for Hopelands, Friends are looking at a number of renovations.

Among them are improvements on the Gardens' reflecting pool and deck area, working to have the utility lines along Whiskey Road buried, putting down bricks on bare pathways and updating the property's Master Garden Plan by adding a camellia garden.

With the recent addition of the Roland H. Windham Jr. Performing Arts stage, Friends has plans for improvements to the City's annual summer concert series, as well by enlarging the concert seating area, upgrading the sound system and sponsoring about two to four special concerts each year. Friends was very instrumental in providing funding as well as consultation for the new stage.

Although Rye Patch has already undergone several improvements, the group looks to continue with structural repairs on the interior and facility, create a landscape plan and repair or replace some of the furnishings.

Parking at Rye Patch and Hopelands is also a part of the long-range plan.

The group intends to have work done on the pebble roads at Rye Patch, as well as having a parking area engineered near the rose garden.

The development of a long-term lease for parking at the Green Boundary Club for summer concert series was also listed as a goal for the group.

The 10-year plan also outlines future plans for the Doll House, the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame, the Carriage Museum and the guest cottage at Rye Patch.

Spencer said the improvements would be ranked by priority, determined with the help of City officials.

Friends of Hopelands and Rye Patch was established in 1971 to ensure the upkeep of Hopelands Gardens was consistent with what Hope Goddard Iselin had envisioned for the property when she left the property to the City in her will. The focus of the group expanded to include Rye Patch in 1982 after the facility was willed to the City by Dorothy Knox Goodyear Rogers.

While Spencer said there have been many improvements at Hopelands and Rye Patch over the years, there is still more work to be done.

"A partnership between the Friends and City is of critical importance in ensuring continued enhancement," he said.