Although there are currently areas within the garden that cater to people in wheelchairs, the garden will be undergoing improvements to make it more compliant with standards set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The 18-acre feature attraction, which was built in 1917, is situated on a hill and has four distinct gardens and several unique structures located at different elevations. The lower levels contain a small bridge crossing a koi pond and the Cultural Exchange Center. Up some steps, visitors can walk past a small waterfall and tour more buildings, including a teahouse.

The gardens and buildings are accessed via a labyrinth of graded paths consisting of wooden steps and loose pea gravel, which make it difficult for wheelchair-bound individuals to wheel themselves, as well as for those pushing the wheelchairs. In addition, visitors tend to track gravel into the buildings, causing gradual damage to the wooden floors.

According to a study conducted by David Evans & Associates, many of the paths do not conform with the Americans with Disabilities Act standards and, in some cases, are viewed as a safety liability. Several improvements were suggested in the report, including widening pathways, leveling certain areas and installing rails along steep sections of the garden.

The first phase of a possible three-phase project will entail replacing the gravel-covered wooden steps at the main gate with granite, degrading the slope at the Madrone Mound near the stage and the Cultural Exchange Center and widening the approximately 100-foot leveled pathway connecting the parking lot to the koi pond by an additional foot or two to allow better access for visitors in wheelchairs.

"The topography is challenging to work with, but we're trying our best to enhance access for less-mobile people," said Lon Saavedra, the executive director of the Hakone Foundation. "At the same time, it's important to preserve the authenticity of a hill-and-pond garden."

First-time visitors LeRoy, Loraine and Oscar Strong said they think the garden is doing an adequate job in accommodating people in wheelchairs, such as Oscar.

"It's seems like they're doing all they can, given the unique aspects of the garden," said LeRoy. "It would be nice to have asphalt flooring instead of gravel and easier to push a wheelchair, but that would ruin the natural beauty of the garden."

However, Oscar said that adding another viewing platform would be great, since he can't view anything that is further up the hill.

Local resident Barbara Sweeney said her 80-year-old physically handicapped mother, Jean, would love to tour the entire garden. She said she and her mother have gone to the site several times, but because of the relatively tough terrain, her mother has never gone beyond the lower level.

"I'd like to take her to the upper sections of the garden," said Barbara. "The view is absolutely gorgeous."

Barbara said she would like to see some type of smooth ramp made out of concrete or dirt so that she could wheel her mother uphill.

Masako Esparragoza, the center's director of administration, said it's crucial to make these improvements, especially when so many classes are offered at the site. For example, there are four new art classes and more than 10 continuing classes.

"Our goal is to accommodate as many people as we can," she said. "We'd like to see a diverse group—young and older individuals."

The project will be handled by Design Focus, the same group that is responsible for the new playground equipment at Wildwood Park. The cost for the improvements is approximately $12,320. According to Saavedra, rails will not be included in the first phase. However, they may be part of the second phase.