Toledo Botanical Garden officials laid the groundwork for soliciting city money yesterday in presenting plans to four Toledo councilmen for a $7 million children's garden they hope to build on the 60-acre property.
Margaret Creutz, botanical garden board president, told council's Youth, Parks, and Recreation Committee - which convened at the botanical garden site in West Toledo - that the project would need city support, although she declined to pinpoint a funding source or amount.
"We are looking to the city, and there are resources it might have," Mrs. Creutz said. "Think about the jobs that will be created, so this is something that could be done, even with the economy."
Botanical garden Executive Director Janet Schroeder said $875,000 has already been raised through donations for the four-acre children's garden, which would be adjacent to the Bancroft Street entrance.
In July, botanical garden officials unveiled a master plan for $40 million in design - laying out a 20-year vision for expanding the garden's amenities with the intent of greatly increasing attendance.
The master plan also calls for a glass-enclosed conservatory, new visitors and events centers, a learning village near the new Hawkins Elementary School, and the children's garden - which would be constructed on what is now a grassy field.
Ms. Schroeder said the $7 million price tag includes $1.3 million for infrastructure such as sewers that would serve the entire southern development.
"We plan to aggressively seek funding to support this endeavor," she said.
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how does a childrens garden create jobs?
i believe the job creation comes in the form of construction jobs to build out the new space
Out in the community gardens by Toledo GROWS!
These people do not watch the news and realize the city is in a financial crunch. But perhaps if Carty can find money for other types of flowers and shrubs they think they have a chance too.
The city should bulldoze all of TBG down and let it revert back to natural woods and save the taxpayers $7 million. If more "green" is better, then all "green" is best.
Anyone who is so desperate to look at gardens can go on over to Schedel Gardens in Elmore, or Hidden Lake Gardens near Brooklyn, MI. where it's pay per visit -- $8 and $3 respectively, or if people want to save money on gas, they can just drive down Reynolds or the AWT or visit some of the community gardens.