GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — After about a year of construction, the new Bell Children’s Garden was revealed Monday at the Green Bay Botanical Garden.
Members of the community, donors, and students all gathered for the ribbon cutting.
Students from Heritage Elementary School were the first to enter the the new Bell Children’s Garden.
With 465 donors, and $13.3 million, this project had the most money raised in the history of the Botanical Garden.
“As you can see all around us the original Gertrude B. Nielsen Children’s Garden has been completely transformed, our vision has become a reality, the original half acre is now two and a half acres,” says Green Bay Botanical Garden Board Member, Terri Trantow.
Members of Boldt Construction say the group was working on the garden up until 15 minutes before the ribbon cutting.
“To take it from what it looked like on paper from what it is now is really impressive…One of the best parts about the garden is that you can go every 30 feet and you’re in a different experience,” says Boldt Construction Project Manager, Tony Meeuwsen.
Boldt still has a few final touches to add, including adding the donor signs, and finishing surface materials.
The Bell Children’s Garden offers lots of new interactive learning opportunities to allow kids to deepen their understanding of nature.
“We have lots of water features we’ve got a raindrop garden that has a with runnel with running water, we have a splash play area that represents the Northern Great Lakes Region, our wetland deck focuses on the wetlands and the importance of caring for the wetlands,” says President and CEO of Green Bay Botanical Garden, Susan Garot.
There is also a mushroom play area with slides and trampolines.
Garot says there will be around 4,000 kids coming to the garden on field trips in the next six weeks.
“So we spent the last year developing curriculum around environmental education topics, so kids will come out with their classes they will have hands on experiences,” says Garot.
Garot says people of all ages will enjoy spending time here.
“Grandparents with their grandchildren, parents with their children, even adults can come out here and learn and play and enjoy nature,” says Garot.
This Friday, the garden will be officially open to the public and will be free for the day.
