Ground was broken November 7 for the Oklahoma Centennial Botanical Garden in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Mayor Kathy Taylor spoke of the positive impact the Garden will have on Tulsa and joined members of the board in the ceremonial activity.
The Garden is being developed on hills and prairie northwest of downtown Tulsa. Two hundred and fifteen acres were initially donated by Persimmon Ridge, LLC, owned by rancher/attorney Gentner Drummond and businessman Tom Atherton. It was announced during the ceremony that Persimmon Ridge has given the Garden an additional 25 acres, bringing their total donation to 240 acres.
Sixty of the acres will be developed into gardens and the remainder will be left in a natural state of Cross Timbers, an ancient forest and prairie. Designers with Marshall Tyler Rausch, who created the Garden's Master Plan, said the site is the best they have seen for a botanical garden.
Tulsa is the only city of its size in the United States without a botanical garden. Pat Woodrum, Executive Director, and other visionaries have pledged that Tulsa will have a world-class botanical garden. The Garden is projected to cost $40 million when completed.
In September, the Oklahoma Centennial Commission awarded the Garden $1 million for development of its Centennial Phase. Groundbreaking launched construction of a 7-acre lake and temporary visitor center, as well as an initial road and parking lot. In 2006 the Commission awarded the Garden $1.2 million for core drilling, surveying and other pre-construction studies, hiring of three staff members, and presentation of a Centennial Celebration. Three hundred and fifty volunteers presented and coordinated more than 100 programs, demonstrations and entertainment for the celebration weekend. One of the ceremonies was the dedication of two walking trails constructed by Boy Scouts.
Phase 1 of the garden will be a permanent visitor center, addition of terraces and gardens at the visitor center, and children's, watercolor, and pattern gardens. A main lawn will be added along lakeside. The first phase is estimated at $15 million.
Following development will include an oriental garden on an island in the lake, an amphitheater, interfaith chapel, and horticulture therapy, culture, Oklahoma, rose and fragrance, winter and demonstration gardens. Also to be added are an education center, orangery, conservatory, three-story observation tower and walking/tram paths.
The newly donated land will remain a conservation area where hiking trails will be added. Pat Woodrum, one of the "founding four" who had the vision for the Garden, said the new area will allow for more challenging trails than will be elsewhere in the Garden. "The new trails will pass towering rock boulders, cross clear-water streams and wind through prairies offering panoramic views of the tree-covered ridges miles away," she said.
In April, members of the Osage Indian Nation performed a sacred Blessing of the Land ceremony to purify the land and ward off negative influences on the garden. Private and public fundraising, as well as a membership campaign, are underway. In six months 330 people have become members.
In 2005, Tulsans approved a bond issue that will pay for extending improved water and sewer service, and improving streets leading to the garden site. With matching state and federal funds, the investment in infrastructure will be about $45 million. The Garden will ask the Oklahoma Legislature next year for $13 million to complete Phase 1. The money is being requested because of the permanence of the Garden and its economic impact ($107 million for construction alone). The Garden also will have a tremendous impact on tourism in both Tulsa and Oklahoma. Experts predict the Garden will generate residential and other development in the "forgotten" northwest corridor of Tulsa.
