The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks in Fayetteville is brainstorming a $60 million expansion plan and it held an public input meeting on its proposed master plan Wednesday (April 24).
The Botanical Gardens, located near Lake Fayetteville, is a non-profit corporation with a land lease agreement with the city.
The plan includes a visitor center, community market, an amphitheater, an event pavilion, community market, arboretum and a nature education area.
Steve Meldrum, chairman of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, said this is an important project.
"I think it's going to be quite a bit bigger than what we currently have, which would serve additional kids,” Meldrum said. “They do a lot of school programs in conjunction with the Science Center, which is expanding and they feel the need an additional facility to do that."
The mission of BGSO is to provide educational, entertainment and recreational opportunities for students, residents and Garden visitors to increase their appreciation of the native and natural ecosystem of the Ozarks.
The next Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee where input is welcomed is May 6 at Fayetteville City Hall.
Meldrum said the expansion won't start until the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks raises all the money.