Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark

Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark History

Wegerzyn Gardens MetroParks resides along the Stillwater River where Siebenthaler Avenue crosses the river. The gardens incurred their early start in 1963 as the result of a grassroots effort between two garden clubs and the City of Dayton which sought the development of DeWeese Park. Complementing the volunteer fundraising efforts was the generosity of Benjamin Wegerzyn who was a philanthropist who loved gardening. A Dayton Daily News article shares that he was a Wayne Township resident and US Veteran. He reportedly funded the initial portion by selling 1,000 shares of Xerox Stock valued at $361,000. The article also shares that Mr. Wegerzyn “disliked being in the spotlight, so he specifically asked that the announcement of his gift be made while he was out of town.” In 1973, the park began as the Benjamin Wegerzyn Horticultural Center. In 1995, the park became part of the Five Rivers MetroPark district. Although the gardens are part of the park district, the Wegerzyn Gardens Foundation oversees the educational programs as well as the park’s continued development.

Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark Features

The park consists of a series of eight gardens that feature pavilions, pergolas, arbors, and urns adorned with an array of interesting and colorful flowers.

Garden Green: The central feature of the gardens lies in a lawn with an allée made from Shawnee Brave Bald Cypress Trees. It’s a favored composition for long sightlines.
North and South Plazas: The Garden Green connects the North and South Plazas and is designated with majestic urns where the staff continually changes the flower arrangements.
Memory Garden: A quiet part of the gardens that’s dedicated to members of the Garden Club Federation. For me, I like capturing the bench and flower arrangements.
English Garden: This garden features a large structure that is a mix of an arbor, trellis, and pergola. My favored composition entails shooting into the light and in the evening golden light.
English Garden:
Federal Garden: I am a fan of the topiaries cut into the garden shrubs and the precision that keeps them looking sharp. But most interesting is shooting through the European Beech that has been formed into an arch over time.
Arbor Garden: When you can catch it empty of visitors, it’s a fun garden to explore as the light plays through the arbor and I find the most fascinating macrophotography compositions here.

Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark Art Prints

This garden has produced many of my popular Gardenscape prints. The park’s intimate gardens produce peaceful compositions that adorn many Miami Valley healthcare facilities and patient rooms. Art prints from this park serve as a key part of my approach to evidence-based design in healthcare art.

This park is one of a string of awesome parks that lie adjacent to each other as the Great Miami River flows through the Gem City. Be sure to check out these adjacent scenic points of interest!