Peace Crane Garden Trails
Providing a place of peace in the heart of beautiful Soldotna, Alaska.
About
The Peace Crane Garden & Trails is a public park located in Soldotna, Alaska. It is a beautiful place to visit, with a variety of flowers, trees, and other plants, as well as a network of trails that offer a great opportunity for hiking, walking, reflection, or simply enjoying the natural beauty of the area.
The garden trails is home to a 6 ft large bronze crane statue designed by Alaskan artist Christina Demetro. The crane was created by Demetro and local schoolchildren and other members of the community as part of a project to promote peace and understanding.
The Gates
Kenai Peninsula Peace Crane Garden Trails welcomes you into our meditative space through the Munamon Gate and Myojin Torii. This path marks the transition from the everyday into the sacred, inviting visitors to leave behind the weight of daily stress and enter a space of reflection, peace, and connection.
In Japanese culture, Munamon gates are traditional garden gates symbolizing the entrance to a place of beauty and contemplation. Myojin Torii gates are iconic Shinto structures that signify the passage from the ordinary world into a spiritual realm, reminding us to approach nature and life with reverence.
The installation of these gates—and the creation of the garden as a whole—represents our continued commitment to peace, resilience, and unity. The garden’s journey began with a profound gift: a seed from a tree that survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, shared with us by Kenai’s sister city of Akita, Japan. From that seed, we have nurtured a living symbol of hope, remembrance, and friendship between cultures.
We invite you to walk the trails, rest in the quiet spaces, and let these gates open your heart to peace and renewal.
Munamon Gate Constructed By: David Lama
Torii Gate Constructed By: Richard Hogan, Metal Work: Chelline Larsen, Adam Hoyt
