Mehan Garden Manila

Manila, Philippines, Philippines

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Mehan Garden is an open public space and historic park located along Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila, Philippines, bounded by Taft Avenue, the LRT Central Terminal, the Metropolitan Theater, and Manila City Hall, across from the Philippine Post Office Main Building. Established in 1858 by Spanish colonial authorities under Governor General Fernando Norzagaray as the Jardín Botánico, it was the first botanical garden in Asia and was located outside the walled city of Intramuros. It was originally the site of the Parian, where Spanish authorities designated living quarters for Manila's Chinese population. When the Americans arrived in Manila, they deemed the site unsuitable for a botanical garden and transformed it into a public park, renaming it in 1913 after John C. Mehan, the Park Superintendent in charge of Manila's parks and sanitation. The garden was declared a historical site by the National Historical Institute in 1934, served as a functioning public park until the 1960s before falling into neglect and decay, and underwent major renovation from 2015 to 2016 under Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso to create a garden of love and tranquil oasis for city dwellers.