by Bonnie & Bill Neely
While we were visiting Shreveport, LA, we discovered a lovely, peaceful garden which touched our hearts at an area most people have avoided in Downtown but is now transformed to a revered and appreciated place to seek in the hustle and bustle of life. These serene and lovely gardens provide a quiet rest in the beauty of nature at 800 Texas, Ave. where you can sit, relax, and enjoy the beautiful Aseana Asian Gardens, established by immigrants from Asia. In the last decade news broadcasts of all the immigrant unrest and white supremacist organizations and leadership promoting hatred, have haunted and shamed many caring US citizens. We were deeply moved and filled with joy as you take time to revel in the quiet beauty so generously and lovingly created and given by immigrants to show their desire to honor the United States, their adopted homeland.
Originally from the Philippines, Mary Grace de Joya Vea, a retired cardiovascular pathologist, and her husband Dr. Romulo Vea then connected with the Interventional Radiology of Louisiana State University (LSU) Hospital of New Orleans were displaced together with their young daughter Isabelle to Shreveport by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In Shreveport, through a common friend, Mary Grace met Lumen Tindell, a Shreveport long timer originally also from the Philippines. They visited this neglected and overgrown place then known as Municipal Park Plaza in downtown Shreveport. Mary Grace and Lumen envisioned it as a place that echoes the Asian gardens they miss. They agreed to adopt this park and create an Asian Garden reminiscent of the ones in Asia, open for everyone to enjoy. Mary Grace discovered the original Dedication Plaque of the park underneath debris and overgrowths. The plaque reads:
“Dedicated to the Creator. October 21, 1995. When a remnant of His children of Diversified Ancestry and culture gathered together in this place to reconcile themselves to God their Father and to each other.’ Amen.
… And the leaves of the tree shall be as a healing to the nations.’ Revelations 22:2b’
This was a deeply touching moment of affirmation that indeed the plan to create an Asian Garden to highlight Diverse Ancestry and Culture was even laid down long ago when the plaque was posted in 1995 and then forgotten by time and neglect.
Meeting together with other immigrants from Asia (Japan, Philippines, India, Cambodia) and an African American, this visionary small group of “diversified culture and ancestry” worked together with dedication to create the Asian Gardens.
This was a section of Shreveport be avoided then. But with their artistic imagination, open hearts, and personal funds, they envisioned this area could be transformed into a place of inspiration, peace, and welcome for anyone who wished to rest in the tranquility of nature, as a respite in the midst of this busy city.
They formed the ASEANA Foundation as a nonprofit organization and began to transform this unsightly and dangerous area to a place of peace and thereby beautify their adopted city. Members from many of these Asian countries gave of their money, time, and physical labor in creating these gardens.
The Shreveport Public Assembly and Recreation (SPAR) and Neighborhood Incentive Program (NIP) of the Community Development and the Downtown Development Authority together with friends and volunteers helped the ASEANA board members’ dream turn into reality and the ASEANA Asian Gardens of Shreveport opened in 2006.
All the other members have since moved out of state or into other things. Of the original Founding Board Members, Mary Grace De Joya Vea and her daughter Isabelle De Joya Vea continue the work and are the current President and Vice President respectively. Other board members include licensed landscaper, Rayonia Colbert, an African American who has shown her expert vision and talent in working with members Leah Pineda (Philippines, nurse), Alex Cheung
(Malaysia, laboratory scientist), Tessa Cang (Philippines, nurse), Daniel Sanchez (Mexico, nurse), Emmie Reynier (Philippines, accountant), John Selloriquez (Philippines, architect), and Vien Wheeler (Vietnam, pharmacist.)
The ASEANA Asian Gardens of Shreveport is the only public Asian Gardens in the state of Louisiana. Their annual Free Admissions Asian Festivals have presented Asian dances, art, craft, displays, music, songs, ice carving demonstration, Japanese Tea Ceremony, Philippine Tinikling Bamboo Dance, Indian Diwali Festival of Lights, Lion and Dragon Dances, Korean Music, Suzuki concerts, Flores De Mayo Santa Cruzan Philippine Parade, Bollywood dances, Korean Fashion Show, belly Mediterranean dancers, Ballet, Tai Chi, Fencing Demonstration, Martial Arts, Sword fights demonstration, Tae kwon do, Bonsai demonstration, fireworks, lantern display, kimchi making, food demonstrations, all free to the public. Guests and visitors also get to enjoy the very popular authentic Asian cuisine, souvenirs, arts, local artists, crafts, attires, and much more available at cost.
These events are all set in an array of exuberant color and ambiance of the Asian gardens. Visitors enjoy the sculptures and symbolic items, bridges and statues, and the Asian Gardens Stage Garden, Southwest Garden, and the Corner Stone Marker garden interspersed among plants, trees, and flowers representative of the members 15 homelands, which include Philippines, Japan, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Korea, Malaysia, India These generous immigrants provided this inspiring place of peace and beauty as a gift to their adopted homeland in the USA. The name ASEANA is an acronym for Association of South East Asia and North America.
Annually this park is a lively, thriving, happy of beautiful celebrations including Asian dances, costumes, food, and music. Make plans now to attend next spring the 14th Asian Spring Festival April 6, 2024. These are very popular events and bring many tourists to Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana, so make your reservations early for these beautiful, fun, and educational events.
Editor’s Note: Every reader and traveler will enjoy more adventures and travels in Bonnie Burgess Neely’s new travel book Real Ventures: Did We Really Do That?!! The true stories that will make you gasp and laugh as you enjoy reading about their adventures with family, friends, and pets through nine countries in various RVs holidays during 47 years. With five stars everywhere be sure to order yours today!
If You Go: https://www.facebook.com/AsianGardenofShreveport/,
https://www.shreveport-bossier.org/listing/aseana-festival/1718/,
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