diff --git a/lib/map.js b/lib/map.js
index de3673a..6902237 100755
--- a/lib/map.js
+++ b/lib/map.js
@@ -911,6 +911,21 @@ function makeHighResolutionCityRows() {
   const garden = (x, y, w, h) => {
     fill(x, y, w, h, ';')
     border(x, y, w, h)
+    // Four open approaches keep the flowerbeds reachable instead of becoming
+    // another sealed compound (#5), the same idea civicSquare() applies to the
+    // plaza. Gates are two cells wide so the wide hero sprite reads cleanly
+    // while passing through, and they are carved in cobble to blend with the
+    // garden paths; the hedge stays continuous everywhere else.
+    const cxg = x + Math.floor(w / 2)
+    const cyg = y + Math.floor(h / 2)
+    set(cxg, y, ';')
+    set(cxg - 1, y, ';')
+    set(cxg, y + h - 1, ';')
+    set(cxg - 1, y + h - 1, ';')
+    set(x, cyg, ';')
+    set(x, cyg - 1, ';')
+    set(x + w - 1, cyg, ';')
+    set(x + w - 1, cyg - 1, ';')
     for (let row = y + 3; row < y + h - 3; row += 5) {
       for (let col = x + 4; col < x + w - 4; col += 7) set(col, row, (row + col) % 2 ? '*' : '"')
     }
diff --git a/test/index.js b/test/index.js
index 478ca41..1789897 100644
--- a/test/index.js
+++ b/test/index.js
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ const {
 const render = require('../lib/render.js')
 
 require('./sage.test.js')
+require('./open-city-gardens.test.js')
 
 function press(game, name) {
   return game.onKey({ type: 'key', is: (...keys) => keys.includes(name) })
diff --git a/test/open-city-gardens.test.js b/test/open-city-gardens.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fc58e3b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/open-city-gardens.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+const { test } = require('brittle')
+const M = require('../lib/map.js')
+
+function walkableComponentFromSpawn(city) {
+  const seen = new Set()
+  const queue = [[city.spawn.x, city.spawn.y]]
+  while (queue.length) {
+    const [x, y] = queue.pop()
+    const key = x + ',' + y
+    if (seen.has(key)) continue
+    if (x < 0 || y < 0 || x >= city.width || y >= city.height) continue
+    if (M.isSolid(city, x, y)) continue
+    seen.add(key)
+    queue.push([x + 1, y], [x - 1, y], [x, y + 1], [x, y - 1])
+  }
+  return seen
+}
+
+test('both city gardens open into the main walkable component (#5)', (t) => {
+  const city = M.MAPS.city
+  const reached = walkableComponentFromSpawn(city)
+
+  // The exact compounds the issue measured as sealed: interiors of
+  // garden(5, 5, 65, 43) and garden(250, 5, 65, 43).
+  const gardens = [
+    { x: 5, y: 5, w: 65, h: 43 },
+    { x: 250, y: 5, w: 65, h: 43 }
+  ]
+
+  for (const g of gardens) {
+    let reachedInside = 0
+    for (let y = g.y + 1; y < g.y + g.h - 1; y++) {
+      for (let x = g.x + 1; x < g.x + g.w - 1; x++) {
+        if (!M.isSolid(city, x, y) && reached.has(x + ',' + y)) reachedInside++
+      }
+    }
+    t.ok(
+      reachedInside > 1000,
+      `interior of garden at ${g.x},${g.y} joins the city (${reachedInside} cells reached)`
+    )
+  }
+})
+
+test('every garden side has a carved gate in the hedge (#5)', (t) => {
+  const city = M.MAPS.city
+  for (const gx of [5, 250]) {
+    const cxg = gx + 32
+    const cyg = 5 + 21
+    t.is(M.isSolid(city, cxg, 5), false, 'north gate open')
+    t.is(M.isSolid(city, cxg - 1, 5), false)
+    t.is(M.isSolid(city, cxg, 47), false, 'south gate open')
+    t.is(M.isSolid(city, gx, cyg), false, 'west gate open')
+    t.is(M.isSolid(city, gx + 64, cyg), false, 'east gate open')
+  }
+})
\ No newline at end of file