As random as it may feel, in the middle of Des Moines is an Asian inspired park known as the Robert D Ray Asian Gardens. Given how small the actual space is, the term "garden" might be more accurate, but it never the less gives the city an added touch of culture and a true nod to diversity.
Unveiled to the city in 2009, the Chinese Cultural Center of American donated the Pavilion and Gardens to the city and the name was to honor Robert Ray, a former governor who was famous for welcoming over 40,000 Southeast Asian refugees during the height of the Vietnam war.
Aside from the main pagoda, which was designed in China, there is a large pond that cascades into the Des Moines River with a series of waterfalls. The Asian garden’s flowing lyrical ambience transports the strolling visitor to a picturesque Far Eastern paradise. The Character Garden features six large granite boulders arranged in a circle, each carved with Chinese characters representing responsibility, citizenship, fairness, respect, caring, and trustworthiness. Complemented by bonsai-like evergreens, the character boulders symbolize and extol the six enduring moral values that transcend time, nationality and culture.
The garden is located in a really quiet part of the city and is a nice place to pass the time, take a stroll, and is a good spot for a photo session.
