Many of the city's arts and entertainment venues are reopening, including the Portland Japanese Garden.

The garden, at 811 N.W. Kingston Ave. in Washington Park, welcomed visitors and members earlier this month.

Closed since March 19 due to COVID-19, reopening came at the right time, garden organizers said.

"We were established specifically to cultivate inner peace as well as peace between peoples and cultures" CEO Steve Bloom said. "We stand as a place where every single person in our community is welcome, and our role is to be a place where anyone can come to center, reset and heal."

Using guidelines for outdoor recreation areas issued by federal and state health authorities, Portland Japanese Garden leadership said it is following best practices for guest and employee safety.

Among the precautionary adjustments are timed entry admissions, one-way routes through the garden, and limiting the number of people in spaces. Visitors are asked to wear face masks. Cash is not accepted and plexiglass has been installed at the gift shop checkout.

The nonprofit organization temporarily laid off nearly 90% of its staff while it was unable to earn revenue from ticket sales.

"Portland is an incredible city, and places like Portland Japanese Garden are what make it so special," Bloom said.

Hours are 8-10 a.m. Tuesdays-Sundays for members, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays, and noon-7 p.m. Mondays for the public. Adult admission is $18.95. For more: japanesegarden.org/reopening/.