GREATER DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN

MORE THAN SIXTY YEARS AGO, COMMUNITY LEADERS SAW THE NEED FOR AN URBAN GARDEN IN THE HEART OF DES MOINES. AFTER YEARS OF PERSISTENCE, THEIR VISION CAME TO LIFE WITH THE OPENING OF THE BOTANICAL CENTER (AS IT WAS THEN KNOWN) IN 1979. THE ORIGINAL BOTANICAL CENTER OPERATED AS PART OF THE CITY OF DES MOINES' PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, FEATURING THE DOMED CONSERVATORY, A TROPICAL PLANT COLLECTION, AND A COUPLE OF CLASSROOMS. MUNICIPAL OVERSIGHT OF THE BOTANICAL CENTER CONTINUED THROUGH THE EARLY 2010S. AT THAT TIME, FOUR COMMUNITY LEADERS-FORMER DES MOINES MAYOR TOM URBAN, BUZ BRENTON, FRED WEITZ, AND JANIS RUAN-LED THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE BOTANICAL CENTER INTO THE GREATER DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN. THIS TRANSFORMATION INCLUDED THE CLOSURE OF ROBERT D. RAY DRIVE TO ALLOW FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF OUTDOOR GARDENS ALONG THE DES MOINES RIVER. THE GREATER DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN OPENED AS A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IN 2013 AND CONTINUES TO THRIVE THROUGH A STRONG PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF DES MOINES TODAY.MORE THAN 40 YEARS AFTER ITS ORIGINAL OPENING, TODAY'S GREATER DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN IS A VIBRANT 12-ACRE PUBLIC GARDEN-INCLUDING NEARLY FOUR ACRES OF FREE PUBLIC GARDEN SPACE-SITUATED IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN DES MOINES. THE MISSION OF THE BOTANICAL GARDEN IS TO EXPLORE, EXPLAIN, AND CELEBRATE THE WORLD OF PLANTS. AS AN INFLUENTIAL ARTS AND CULTURE DESTINATION, THE BOTANICAL GARDEN BRINGS TOGETHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TOURISTS, CHILDREN, FAMILIES, HORTICULTURISTS, AND MORE IN A UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT THAT PROMOTES EDUCATION AND ECOLOGICAL STEWARDSHIP. THROUGH THE FUSION OF ART, HORTICULTURE, AND LEARNING, WE ARE UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO STRENGTHEN CONNECTIONS BETWEEN PLANTS, PEOPLE, AND THE NATURAL WORLD FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR VISITORS FROM ACROSS THE STATE AND AROUND THE GLOBE.IN 2023, THE BOTANICAL GARDEN CELEBRATED A MAJOR MILESTONE: ONE DECADE SINCE TRANSITIONING TO AN INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT. OVER THAT DECADE, WE EXPANDED OUR PHYSICAL GARDENS TO 12 BEAUTIFULLY DEVELOPED ACRES, GREW OUR PLANT COLLECTIONS TO NEARLY 3,400 SPECIES, INCREASED OUR WORKFORCE TO MORE THAN 30 EMPLOYEES AND 400 VOLUNTEERS, AND BUILT A STRONG COMMUNITY OF MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. ANNUAL ATTENDANCE INCLUDES VISITORS FROM ALL 50 STATES AND MORE THAN 25 INTERNATIONAL LOCATIONS.IN FY2025, THE BOTANICAL GARDEN CONTINUED THIS POSITIVE TRAJECTORY, WELCOMING MORE THAN 144,000 VISITORS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. NEARLY 13,000 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED FREE ADMISSION AS PART OF OUR PINEAPPLE PROGRAM. WE ENGAGED THOUSANDS OF LEARNERS THROUGH YEAR-ROUND EDUCATION PROGRAMS, CONTINUED TO SELL OUT SUMMER CAMPS, AND SUSTAINED RECORD-BREAKING ATTENDANCE FOR THE NEW HOLIDAY LIGHT EVENT, DOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. MEMBERSHIP REMAINED STRONG, AND THE VOLUNTEER WORKFORCE GREW TO NEARLY 650, PLAYING A VITAL ROLE IN OPERATIONS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. ADDITIONALLY, THE BOTANICAL GARDEN OPERATING THE WELCOME, GATHER, GROW CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, RAISING GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE MUCH-NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FACILITY AND GROUNDS. CONSTRUCTION BEGAN AT THE END OF FY25 WITH THE FIRST OF THOSE PROJECTS SLATED TO REOPEN IN FY26.THE GREATER DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN IS MORE THAN A DOME. IT IS A CONNECTION POINT BETWEEN PLANTS, PEOPLE, AND THE NATURAL WORLD-A PLACE WHERE ANYONE CAN EXPLORE, CREATE, CONNECT, AND EMBRACE THEIR TRUE NATURE.