This is a beautifully landscaped park in the middle of Santa Barbara, with over 75 species of plants (many of which are flowering), a large pond filled with turtles, numerous curvilinear paths, a butterfly and moth garden, a sensory garden, picnic areas, a gazebo, abundant open and shaded places, and birds. There is also a low water-use demonstration garden. Alice Keck offers something to delight everyone no matter what season of the year.
Colorful, peaceful and varied, this public garden provides a beautiful urban refuge.1500 Santa Barbara St., SB
City of Santa Barbara
9.9 mi (biking)
Birdwatching, Picnicking, Playing on Grass Activities, Relaxing, Studying/Reading, Viewing (plants, flowers), Walking
Formerly the site of a hotel, this land was purchased by Alice Keck and donated to the city in 1975 for a public park to be designed by the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. Alice chose Elizabeth Kellam de Forest, who had worked for the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden for more than 30 years, to be the supervising landscape architect. Many consider it a visionary landscape filled with color and motion. The history of this public garden is inspiring.
For a walking tour map and additional information, click here.
After enjoying Alice Keck Memorial Garden, you can just walk across Micheltorena St and visit Alameda Park. One of Santa Barbara’s oldest parks, Alameda has a lot of open/grassy areas, rare trees, picnic sites, a large playground, a bandstand, and is the site for the annual Earth Day Festival, which is sponsored by the Community Environmental Center.
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