Even though The Arbor at Delray in Delray Beach, Florida, doesn’t open until later this year, the senior living community has fostered a relationship with the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, one of Palm Beach County’s most treasured cultural attractions.
The Arbor at Delray is located at 6595 Morikami Park Road — just steps from the Morikami. When it’s completed, The Arbor at Delray will offer 89 independent living, 76 assisted living, and 22 memory-care apartments. The community is slated to open in December 2022, but the Arbor team has already developed a strong partnership with the museum.
“The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens are a big part of the local community, and we see our partnership as a great opportunity for our future residents, for Morikami, and for the entire Delray community,” said Eric Francese, executive director at The Arbor at Delray.
Arbor supported Morikami in March as a key sponsor of the Morikami’s “Year of the Tiger” annual fundraising gala. Members of the Arbor team also attended the event and invited several partners from the community to join them.
“We’ve had an organic relationship with Morikami since we broke ground, and we expect it will continue to grow,” said Jarrett Liebman, director of sales at The Arbor at Delray. “It’s been great for our visibility. Many of our visitors have stopped by on their way to or from the Morikami.”
Since opening in 1977, Morikami has been a center for Japanese arts and culture in South Florida. The Morikami Collections house more than 7,000 Japanese art objects and artifacts, including a 500-piece collection of tea ceremony items, more than 200 textile pieces, and fine art acquisitions. The Morikami offers rotating exhibitions, tea ceremonies, educational outreach programs, and Japanese traditional events, all of which Arbor residents will be able to enjoy.
“Our mission at Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is to engage a diverse audience by presenting Japanese cultural experiences that educate and inspire,” said Sharyn Samuels, interim director of development and membership at Morikami. “Our connection with The Arbor at Delray will give us new ways to do that. We look forward to welcoming the residents and inviting them to enjoy those experiences at Morikami.”
The relationship is part of The Arbor Company’s commitment to the local communities in which it operates. Months before The Arbor Company opens a new senior living community, the Arbor team begins making connections with neighbors and with local leaders.
Francese added that he expects future residents will take advantage of Morikami’s many cultural offerings, including classes, performances, exhibits, and more. The museum is within walking distance, but transportation will also be available, one of many amenities offered at Arbor communities.
Morikami’s wide range of unique events includes “Sunset Strolls” held in April, July, and September. There are demonstrations of Japanese Sumi-e, ink painting, and ikebana flower arranging. Many Arbor residents will have the opportunity for learning and enrichment; studies show that lifelong learning is a key contributor to healthy aging.
“We’re going to think outside the box and try to make the most of that connection while supporting the museum and gardens, which are such an important landmark for the local community,” said Francese.
Morikami strives to spread appreciation for the living culture of Japan and celebrates a more than century-old connection between Japan and South Florida. In the early 1900s, a group of young Japanese farmers arrived in what is now northern Boca Raton and formed an agricultural colony they called Yamato, an ancient name for Japan.
The museum’s present location with 200 acres belonged to George Sukeji Morikami, who donated his land to Palm Beach County. Expansive Japanese gardens with strolling paths, resting areas, a world-class bonsai collection, and lakes teeming with koi and other wildlife occupy the 16-acre garden area. The wider 200-acre park features nature trails, pine forests, and picnic areas.
Another benefit of the proximity of Morikami: Arbor residents will have an additional, nearby option for exercise, fresh air, and a chance to simply enjoy nature. According to the American Psychological Association, a growing body of research suggests that nature offers benefits for both physical and psychological well being. Walking in a natural setting, for example, can boost a person’s mood and contribute to happiness. Similarly, a University of Chicago review concluded that spending time in nature can act as “a balm for our busy brains,” improving working memory, cognitive flexibility, and attentional control.
Liebman adds that Arbor’s Morikami Park Road address makes prospective residents take notice. “There’s a level of prestige to that address, and it’s a bit unique, because there are no other businesses on the street, which helps people remember it,” he said.
