The Inspiration Garden is a 7 1/3-acre demonstration garden developed by the OSU Polk County Master Gardeners (PCMGs) in partnership with the City of Independence. Located within Mt. Fir Park, the garden borders the South Fork of Ash Creek and has an additional entrance from G Street. The city has paved the main path, making the garden accessible to all. Visitors can explore secondary paths to examine plants closely, enjoy the tranquil creek views from benches, birdwatch, converse with Master Gardeners often working on-site, or simply pass through for exercise. Dogs on leashes are welcome, making it a space for everyone to enjoy.

The garden offers a diverse array of features, including specimen trees, pollinator-attracting plants, an oak savannah re-creation, an Asian garden, roses, fruit trees, vegetables, and more. One garden is designed especially for children, featuring spaces to play, explore, and even pick up a book from the little book house. The newest addition is the Peace Garden, located near the G Street entrance, which centers around a special ginkgo tree grown from a seed that survived the bombing of Hiroshima. This tree was gifted to Independence as part of a statewide effort to honor peace and resilience.

The Inspiration Garden is a long-term project of the Polk County chapter of OSU Master Gardeners. Since 2013, members have transformed the southern portion of Mt. Fir Park—originally part of the Mt. Fir Lumber Mill land donated to the city in the 1990s—into a series of beautiful and educational garden areas.

What was once overgrown and neglected has been carefully cleared, enhanced with topsoil, thoughtfully planned, and planted with irrigation to create a space that both beautifies the area and fulfills the Master Gardener mission of educating visitors.

You can read more about the history of the Mt. Fir and Inspiration Garden by visiting the park today!