The Atascadero Sunken Gardens is considered by many to be the jewel of Atascadero.  The Sunken Gardens perfectly frames the historic City Hall building.  The Sunken Gardens is used year round for numerous community events.  Prior to its current configuration, there were no exterior or interior sidewalks - grass went right up to the street and around the fountain.  The project included the construction of sidewalks and walkways, bulbouts on El Camino Real, new lighting, planters, and decorative pavers.  Several community meetings were held to craft a vision of the downtown area, and various design elements from this project have now been implemented throughout the downtown core of Atascadero.  The Sunken Gardens was designed by Jeff van den Eikhof while he was the Deputy Director of Public Works for the City of Atascadero.