Visitors to Overfelt Gardens/Chinese Cultural Gardens will enjoy natural wildlife sanctuaries amid a peaceful pond setting surrounded by beautiful trees, shrubs, and flowering plants, and accented by cultural points of interest.

The site is a different kind of community park; instead of playgrounds and ball fields, it is a natural sanctuary devoted to the search for peace, reflection, solitude, and cultural education and understanding.

Our location is: 368 Educational Park Drive zip: 95133, Cross-street and intersection info: McKee Road, dead-ends at park on McKee/Jose Figueres

Bus Route: #81 Stop: McKee Road From 101: Take McKee Road exit east. Go to Jose Figueres and make a u-turn heading west on McKee Road. Go one block and turn right at Educational Park Drive. The entrance gate is on the right. From 280/680: Take McKee Road exit west. Turn right at Educational Park Drive. The entrance gate is on the right.  

History

The Gardens offers the perfect setting for walking, reading, nature photography,writing, drawing and painting, or just relaxing. There is a Fragrance Garden for visually impaired, an amphitheater and a natural wildlife sanctuary. Overfelt Gardens is also a beautiful location for wedding ceremonies and picnics. Educational tours are available for school groups at a nominal fee. Open from 10:00am to sunset. Call 408-251- 3323 for more information.

Park Features & Wildlife

Gardens has a diverse array of permanent residents and temporary lodgers from several branches of the animal kingdom. Birds that may be spotted in the park include: herons, egrets, Canada Geese, mallard ducks, and hawks. Some of Overfelt’s underwater guests are red-eared slider turtles, carp, crayfish, and bullfrogs. Other amphibians and reptiles sometimes seen in the park include snakes, lizards and toads. In addition, mammals such as opossums, the occasional raccoon, and ground and tree squirrels may be seen visiting the park.

Hiking Trails and Pathways

The California Wild area is a 1.6 acre wildlife sanctuary composed of a dirt trail winding around a hill covered in native trees, brush, wildflowers and grasses. A paved walking trail meanders around the remainder of the park over gently sloping hills, around a reflection pond emptying into a small stream, past cultural points of interest and around three percolation ponds. The current park map shows these trails as thick white lines.

Reservable Space

The Palm Grove: This reservable wedding ceremony site is complemented by a canopy of palms and a carpet of lush grass set in the shade. Eighteen redwood benches for guest seating border the central grass area to the left and right. This area is available for reservations any day the park is open, excluding holidays. Please note: paper runners, flowers, ribbons, arches and pedestals, and solo musicians are allowed. However, groups of musicians, amplified sound, alcohol, outside chairs, and vehicles on park pathways are forbidden.

Commercial photography requires a photo permit (Additional fees for photo permits apply).

Name: Brookside: This picnic area is located in the center of the park, adjacent to the restrooms, with 12 picnic tables encircling two free-standing tables. The maximum capacity is 120. Cost $160-Resident; $190-Non-resident

Name: Redwood Glen: This picnic area is nestled under the redwood trees, across from Crocker Fountain, and it is relatively close to the restrooms. It has five picnic benches, with a maximum capacity of 35. Cost $60-Resident; $70-Non-resident All other picnic sites are single picnic tables scattered throughout the park, although there are two areas where at least two picnic tables are grouped closely (one just south of Pond A, and one just east of the Redwood Glen picnic area). All of the single non-reservable (first come, first serve) tables are suitable for a maximum of six people each, and almost all of them are under shade for the greater part of the day

VISITOR CENTER/INTERPRETIVE CENTER

Phone Number (408) 251-3323
Ranger on duty - Live animals - Souvenirs - Interpretive signage -Maps -Snacks

The newly renovated Overfelt House serves as the visitor center for park, while the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall serves as an interpretive/cultural center. The Overfelt House is located in the northwest side of the park, just west of the California Wilds area, less than an eighth of a mile from the Educational Park Drive parking lot entrance. It features interpretive signage on park history, a restroom and park maps and information. The Overfelt House also contains the park staff and park ranger offices.

The Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall is located in the southeast side of the park, less than half a mile east of the McKee Road entrance. The Memorial Hall can be seen from the front of the Overfelt House, across the percolation pond. The Hall is staffed by volunteers on the weekends, and they are available to lead drop-in tours of the Chinese Cultural Gardens. Special park events are often held in and around the Memorial Hall throughout the year. Free souvenir crafts are often available for children as well.

Both locations are subject to staffing and volunteer availability. Please contact a park ranger for current information.

Interpretive Programs FAQ

If I bring my class to the park, can someone give us a short talk or walk around?

Yes. The current interpretive program at Overfelt Gardens include: "Under Heaven, One Family." (Tour of the Chinese Cultural Gardens conducted by volunteers). Overfelt Gardens also offers craft activities and special tours for senior citizens by special arrangement. Besides the formal interpretive programs, weekend tours of the Chinese Cultural Gardens are available on a drop-in basis for individuals at the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall. All programs are subject to availability. Please contact a park ranger for more information and scheduling of interpretive tours."Under Heaven, One Family" is a guided journey through the Chinese Cultural Gardens, including insights into ancient Chinese philosophy and culture, a closer look at some of the underlying themes in Chinese architecture, and the stories behind the monuments and statues of the Gardens. This tour is ideal for all ages, lasts for approximately 1 hour and can accommodate classes of up to 30 students. Please note that one adult leader is required for every ten students.

WATER FEATURES (Lake and Pond)

Three large, interconnected percolation ponds rise and shrink throughout the year, providing habitat for birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and fish year-round. A large statue of the famous Chinese philosopher Confucius overlooks a shallow reflection pond that, when full, spills into a narrow streambed.

Overfelt Gardens is closed Mondays until further notice. No public entry is allowed; vehicles, pedestrians, equestrians, etc. are prohibited.