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THE PACIFIC CONNECTIONS GARDEN
Project Overview
The Pacific Connections Garden is one of the key components of the Washington Park Arboretum’s 20-year Master Plan for renewal and marks the first major new exhibit in the Arboretum in almost 50 years. The 12-acre garden will be located at the south end of the Arboretum and feature five eco-geographic immersion forests surrounding a central welcoming meadow and a series of stunning entry gardens. The forests will be comprised of temperate-climate plant communities from Australia, New Zealand, China, Chile, and Cascadia. An intricate network of walking trails will allow visitors to enjoy the forest habitats and marvel at the diversity of plants that can thrive in the Pacific Northwest. Trail signage and an interpretative shelter will profile the Pacific Rim regions represented in the new garden, highlight their horticultural connections, and illustrate the vital importance of plants in different societies and ecosystems. Construction of the garden began in fall 2007. Phase I will be complete by late summer 2008.
Map Courtesy Seattle P-I |
THE CAMPAIGN
Phase 1 (2005—2007)
Commitment: $2.2 million
Includes welcoming meadow, interpretive shelter, and entry gardens.
Fundraising for Phase 1 of the project is complete. Groundbreaking occurred in October 2007 following a $2.2 million gift from the Arboretum Foundation to Seattle Parks and Recreation, which is overseeing project construction. Phase 1 of the Pacific Connections Garden includes the creation of the central welcoming meadow; an open-walled interpretive shelter with green roof; five entry gardens leading to the main forest gardens; and the grading, pathways, and retaining walls for the Cascadia forest. It is scheduled to be completed by late summer 2008. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place in early fall.
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels (center right) and other dignitaries at the Pacific Connections groundbreaking
in October of 2007. |
Phase II (2008—2015)
Includes the planting of the five Pacific Rim forest gardens, beginning with Cascadia and New Zealand forests, and the endowment of $1 million for future maintenance.
Fundraising for Phase II of Pacific Connections Garden is now underway. This phase includes completion of the Cascadia forest; installation of the remaining four Pacific Rim forest gardens; creation of 10 new walking trails; and the endowment of funds to ensure sustained maintenance of the exhibit for generations to come. The new forest gardens will be created as funding is secured, beginning with the planting of Cascadia during the 2009-10 season, and following ideally with the installation of one forest garden per year thereafter. Artist's rendition of the New Zealand immersion forest, courtesy Berger Partnership.
How You Can Help
Contributions to the Pacific Connections Campaign can be made by calling the Arboretum Foundation at 206-325-4510, or by making a secure online donation. For more information about the campaign, contact:
Julia Maywald, Director of Major Gifts Initiatives
Arboretum Foundation, 2300 Arboretum Drive East, Seattle, WA 98112
Phone: 206-325-4510; Fax: 206-325-8893; or email.
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More Information
Learn much more about the plants and design of the Pacific Connections Garden in the following articles reprinted from the Washington Park Arboretum Bulletin.
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