Cancel

Open app

Search

Diversity Mural

5.0 (1 review)

Diversity Mural Photos

Recommended Reviews - Diversity Mural

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

4 years ago

Helpful 19
Thanks 0
Love this 18
Oh no 0

Verify this business for free

Get access to customer & competitor insights.

Verify this business

Hayward Japanese Gardens - Hayward Area Rec. & Park District - Japanese Maple

Hayward Japanese Gardens - Hayward Area Rec. & Park District

(399 reviews)

Five stars because it costs no yen…read more As far as Japanese gardens go, this one is my least favorite because it is rectangular, with a visible metal fence perimeter, with ugly trash and graffiti visible from across the creek and no opportunities to feed the koi fish. Three things, though, that make it special is that they have memorial plaques, stray cats, and blowtorched wood for an aged and weather-resistant finish. From 1913-1962, the site was a practice site for farming and raising livestock for Hayward Union High. It became a garden by the late 1970s, and when dedicated in 1980, focusing on botany (with plants donated by local Japanese-American nurseries) rather than religion. Every first Saturday at 1pm there's a free lecture/tour. It's not especially beautiful or big (3.5 acres) or exciting (the few people I saw there were on their phones), but it's a peaceful, clean area. I think informational displays could help people enjoy it more. Or phone chargers. Information like, many of the wooden connections (including the main entry gate) have notches instead of notches to fit together like puzzle pieces. This more authentic approach prevents rust. Or, the garden uses the Shakkei technique: when you can stand at the highest point, the surrounding trees are meant to look like distant mountains, with specific plants blended with the Japanese maples and native Oaks to make the garden feel ten timers larger than its actual 3.5 acres. Or, the hand-selected granite boulders from the Sierra Nevadas are buried one-third into the ground so it looks like they are growing, which is why I don't manicure myself often. .

I did not know this place existed until my partner found this and brought his family here…read more It's a nice, serene and scenic short walk with plenty of nice photo spots and benches to sit and take in the greenery. I loved seeing all the koi, bansai and various plants they had in the area. It is well worth a visit to come check it out!

Hayward Downtown mural - Mural

Hayward Downtown mural

(3 reviews)

This Hayward streetscape painting is a lovely colorful display of the city, completed in 2009…read more Images include the market, art studio, movie theater, shops, restaurants, animals, musicians, first responders, and ordinary people from all walks of life portrayed beautifully in a playful and harmonious community representing downtown Hayward. According to the artist, Suzanne Gayle, the mural aims to encourage passersby to blend in with the art. It's certainly a great opportunity for photo ops, or just a little amusement for theatre-goers as they trek to and from the cinema along the alleyway off of B Street, near the theater entrance and box office, and adjacent to Rockit Char Grill. The paint is more cracked and faded toward the back end of the alley, but overall, the mural is in good condition (as of Jan 2024), and is a nice feature in this otherwise dull and uninspiring walkway.

Big mural in downtown Hayward. I think what prevents it from being a five star review is the…read morereasoning behind the murals - its not a love for art - it is to try to stop graffiti - and ultimately to save money. If you've ever listened to Hayward city council meetings you quickly see how planning commissioners and city council members think. Planning commissioners are obsessed with art and investors often sweet talk them with their artistic visions. I'd love to see art because of a love for art. That is not what this is here. Its sort of like a person wearing expensive brands that are of cheap quality. All about an image and not about character. Hayward does try to improve things and they mean well. The council members are always listening and quick to give a call back. Downtown is their darling and luckily that is where I live - so my neighborhood gets all the attention. If you ever need help with sleeping - let me invite you to listen to Hayward city council meetings on Youtube. I love to watch the city manager and mayor in action.

Diversity Mural - publicart - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...