This Quaint Garden based on Euclid Beach Theme Park in Cleveland, OH evokes nostalgia for more than model railroad buffs...

The classic era of great amusement parks gave rise to the everpopular, old-fashioned Euclid Beach Park, which was enjoyed by children and adults alike until its doors were sadly closed in 1969 during a period of racial unrest and hard times. Host to numerous political rallies as well, including the Democratic Party's infamous "Steer Roast," the Park historically welcomed J.F. Kennedy, Hubert Humphrey and Lyndon B. Johnson. Miniature bonsai and other plants lend detail to the landscape in a tiny scale reproduction of the famous amusement park and model train garden. Replications of two of the park's major rollercoasters, (the "Thriller" and "Over the Falls,") the Sleepy Hollow Railway, and carousel memorabilia fill this garden with memories until it practically bursts with nostalgia. As the memories of the look, atmosphere, and the very tone of the park it represents are unforgettable for many Ohioans, landscape designers at Carolina Landscapes were anxious to create a garden not easy to find anywhere else.

Cushioned by many trees, including the ever-present Sycamore, the original buildings and rides of the Park were well-integrated into their surroundings. The Humphrey family owners continuously introduced more trees to heighten the Park's look of a peaceful grove. To generate an impression that the Park was as substantial as the trees on its property, the buildings were painted with a variety of muted greens to blend with the trees. Yet against this tranquil backdrop was posed adventurous rides and rollicking, roller-coaster fun. In Jim Kelly's garden design, a whole array of dwarf conifers, Japanese maples, boxwood, Irish moss, and so many more miniature plant materials replicated the quaint charm of Euclid Beach.

Sporting an artistic model of the eighty-foot sign that once welcomed visitors to the park, this garden's entranceway included a full-sized ticket booth and reprinted tickets when it was demonstrated at Floralscape 1996. The garden's patio, furnished with one of the park's original park benches surrounded by blue holly, featured a carousel horse in a bed of pink begonia. Kelly, landscape designer and contractor, feels that if the park had lasted six more years, it would have survived the strife. Indeed, after he had the pleasure of handing out tickets modeled after the originals during the Floralscape demonstration, he states proudly: "Without exception they brought a smile to each person we handed one to!"