Grass Roots

Leo Weidenthal planted the seed for the Cleveland Cultural Gardens in 1916. The Jewish Independent editor introduced a single garden in Rockefeller Park to honor William Shakespeare on the 400th anniversary of his death. A decade later, Weidenthal helped found the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation and added a Hebrew Garden — which was laid out with a path in the shape of the Star of David — to honor his own heritage. "That's when it caught on," says Sheila Crawford, president of the federation, which oversees the 29 outdoor spaces representing various nationalities on the city's East Side. "Other nationalities prominent in Cleveland said, 'We should have one too.' " Today, the gardens — celebrating their centennial — reflect the European immigrants who came to Cleveland in the early 20th century and a second wave from the Middle East, Africa, Asia and South America. Seven more gardens are in development, and plans are in place for an additional eight. "It's an outdoor museum that's a testament to peace through understanding," Crawford says. "It illustrates our diversity and how we've worked together for 100 years."

Syrian Garden:  The garden features an eight-sided fountain, a three-step amphitheater like ones in Basra and Palmyra, and a replica of the Arch of Triumph in Palmyra — which has since been destroyed by the Islamic State. "We want to preserve our heritage," says Wael Khoury, project chair for the Syrian Garden. "Palmyra is significant in world history."