Bellevue Botanical Garden is a 53-acre public garden on Main Street east of downtown Bellevue that grew from a 7.5-acre land gift by the Shorts family in 1981 into a larger park opened in 1992, then expanded again in 2006. Planned as a collection of distinct landscapes, it includes themed areas such as the Perennial Border, Yao Garden, Native Discovery Garden, trails, and meadows. The garden reflects Bellevue’s ties with Yao, Japan, highlights Pacific Northwest native plants, and depends on strong volunteer and partner support. Free admission, educational programs, events, and volunteer stewardship have made it both a horticultural destination and a community institution.