After Thomas Child’s death in 1963, Gilgal Garden passed into the hands of new private owners. Friends of Gilgal Garden (FOGG) was organized in 1997 to prevent development on the site and insure its preservation for public enjoyment. Working closely with the Trust for Public Land and Salt Lake City Corporation, FOGG purchased Gilgal Garden in 2000 and the garden became a Salt Lake City park. The generous support of Salt Lake County, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Foundation, The George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation, and many private donors made the purchase possible.
FOGG now serves as the curator of Gilgal Garden and is responsible for conserving Gilgal’s art and enhancing the garden. Since 2000, FOGG has undertaken a variety of projects to stabilize and improve the garden, including creating a formal entrance, installing security fencing, constructing a 110-foot long retaining wall, restoring the bowery in the northeast corner of the garden, and creating an attractive new seating area.
FOGG has also worked to restore the garden’s sculptures and engraved stones. Over the years, weather, unchecked plant growth, and vandalism have damaged most of the art in the garden. Based on the recommendations of professional conservators, FOGG has employed expert craftspeople to gently repair the stones and replace missing elements of the art. By addressing the needs of the garden now, we can prevent further damage and the irreparable loss of Gilgal’s artistic treasures.