Palos Verdes Peninsula, Calif. – South Coast Botanic Garden hosted the official groundbreaking for its new 3.5-acre children and family garden, providing a first look at plans for this new multi-million dollar project and marking the kick-off to the Cultivate the Future campaign, the largest fundraising campaign in the Garden’s 62-year history.
The ceremony was held Wednesday, March 15, and featured the Garden’s Chief Executive Officer Adrienne Nakashima announcing an extraordinary $3 million philanthropic gift from the Long Family Foundation – the largest private gift in the Garden’s history. Nakashima also announced the official name of the new area – the Marilyn and John Long Children and Family Garden – which will include a canopy walk over the Banyan Grove, a marine fossil dig, a plant maze, and more. The new space was designed by Russell Mills Studios and construction is being handled by Sperber.
“This is a monumental moment in the Garden’s history for many reasons,” says Nakashima. “The Marilyn and John Long Children and Family Garden will bring a new dimension to South Coast Botanic Garden and will bring in families and visitors from throughout the L.A. area and beyond. The space will have features never before seen in children’s gardens, and we have the Long Family Foundation to thank for that, particularly Marilyn and John Long for their gracious support.”
