Although the designers at Slater never met Mattie Stepanek, every person on the design team connected to him through his words. In Mattie's Heartsongs, we read phrases such as "Concentric Circles of Support", "Mosaic of Life", and "River of Kindness".

We chose Concentric Circles of Support as the main design theme of the Peace Garden. We incorporated Concentric Circles for the main plaza space and repeated this form throughout the park. The circular main plaza, plaza entrance, and seating areas are wound through and connected by his River of Kindness (walkways). We included chess tables in the main plaza because of Mattie's love of Chess, and his conviction that "Peace is possible... it can begin simply over a game of chess and a cup of tea." This quote appears on the stone wall which encloses one side of the garden, making it a more intimate space.

Benches sponsored by donors feature plaques engraved with other quotes from Mattie's books. Sound recordings of Mattie reading his poetry can be heard at soundpost stations located throughout the park. An interpretive panel at the plaza entrance explains the park and Mattie's story. Memorial pavers engraved with messages surround base of the interpretive panel, inviting guests to read them as they enter the garden. The main plaza showcases Jimilu Mason's statue of Mattie and his guide dog Micah. Mason worked extensively with Jeni Stepanek to develop Mattie's likeness. "I thought the sculpture did a great job capturing his physical essence, but an even better job capturing his spiritual essence," Oprah said after the unveiling.