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Restoring Overfelt Gardens Park: Event #1 - A Day of Service and Cultural Immersion

October 25, 2026CommunityEvents
Restoring Overfelt Gardens Park: Event #1 - A Day of Service and Cultural Immersion

On October 25th, 37 volunteers came together for two hours to help restore and beautify Overfelt Gardens Park in San Jose, California. Led by Aiden, Annie, Jy Hung, and Naomi, volunteers worked side by side to pick up litter, sweep pathways, and remove graffiti, making the park a cleaner and more welcoming space for the community.

But the day was about more than just cleaning up. Along the way, volunteers also had the chance to explore the park's cultural landmarks and learn more about Chinese history and heritage.

Volunteers in yellow vests sweep the road beside the white stone Friendship Gate.
Volunteers in yellow vests sweep the road beside the white stone Friendship Gate.

About Overfelt Gardens Park

Overfelt Gardens is a 33-acre public park in San Jose that brings together nature and Chinese culture. With walking paths, three ponds, animals such as Canada geese, and picnic areas, it's a peaceful place for visitors to relax and enjoy the outdoors.

The park is also home to the Chinese Cultural Garden, which features several landmarks that highlight Chinese history and traditions. One of these is the Friendship Gate, a 50-by-40-foot entrance dedicated in 1977. Other highlights include the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, built with materials such as marble, bronze, and mahogany and topped with a 20-ton tile roof, as well as a 15-foot-tall bronze statue of Confucius.

The Chinese Cultural Garden has been part of the park since the 1970s, thanks to the efforts of local residents Frank and Pauline Lowe, who helped make it possible beginning in 1971.

More Than a Cleanup: Exploring Chinese Culture

While our main goal was to help restore the park, the event also gave volunteers a chance to learn more about the history and culture behind it.

During the cleanup, volunteers took time to visit the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, two important landmarks within the Chinese Cultural Garden. Exploring these sites gave everyone an opportunity to learn more about Chinese history and better understand the cultural significance of the park.

Student leaders talk at the steps of a red hall with an orange tiled roof.
Student leaders talk at the steps of a red hall with an orange tiled roof.
Volunteers pick up litter in the courtyard in front of the red hall.
Volunteers pick up litter in the courtyard in front of the red hall.

By the end of the event, volunteers had not only helped make Overfelt Gardens a cleaner and more enjoyable place but also gained a greater appreciation for the Chinese culture and heritage preserved within the park.

Our Partners

We were excited to have GR EDU Learning Center (谷雨中文学校) join us as a co-host for this event! Their support helped bring our community together for a day of service, teamwork, and cultural learning.

We're grateful for their partnership and shared commitment to giving back to the community while promoting cultural appreciation.

Thank You to Our Volunteers!

A huge thank you to all 37 volunteers who dedicated their time and energy to making Overfelt Gardens a cleaner and more beautiful place!

More than anything, this event showed how coming together as a community can make a positive impact. Along with helping care for the park, we had the opportunity to learn about its history and connect with one another.

Thank you again to everyone who participated and helped make this event possible. We look forward to seeing you at our next volunteer event!

The volunteers gather in front of the pavilion with the bags of litter they collected.
The volunteers gather in front of the pavilion with the bags of litter they collected.
All the volunteers pose for a group photo in front of the Friendship Gate.
All the volunteers pose for a group photo in front of the Friendship Gate.

We plan to host cleanup events quarterly, or four times per year, with additional events potentially taking place in between.

Photos

Volunteers sweep fallen leaves under the oak trees.
Volunteers sweep fallen leaves under the oak trees.
Three volunteers with brooms stand beside a full sack of leaves.
Three volunteers with brooms stand beside a full sack of leaves.
Students in gloves scrub graffiti off a white stone pillar of the gate.
Students in gloves scrub graffiti off a white stone pillar of the gate.
A team collects litter into a bag on a hillside.
A team collects litter into a bag on a hillside.
Volunteers with bags work along a shaded garden path.
Volunteers with bags work along a shaded garden path.
A volunteer carries a litter bag along a tree-lined path.
A volunteer carries a litter bag along a tree-lined path.
Volunteers with litter bags on a path near the pavilion.
Volunteers with litter bags on a path near the pavilion.
Students with grabbers fill a bag under a tree.
Students with grabbers fill a bag under a tree.
Two volunteers hold open a full litter bag on the path.
Two volunteers hold open a full litter bag on the path.
Volunteers spread out across the lawn picking up litter.
Volunteers spread out across the lawn picking up litter.
Volunteers clean a stone pedestal in the garden.
Volunteers clean a stone pedestal in the garden.
Two volunteers in vests pick up litter on the grass.
Two volunteers in vests pick up litter on the grass.
A young volunteer reaches into dry brush with a grabber.
A young volunteer reaches into dry brush with a grabber.
A group of volunteers with grabbers and bags pose on a path.
A group of volunteers with grabbers and bags pose on a path.

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