Spring 2016

You Kept It Green!

Woodlands Garden’s Campaign Chairs, Genia Cayce, Betty Blondeau and Bill Floyd, are happy to report the success of the Woodlands Garden’s capital campaign Keep It Green Indie-Catur. The Garden received over $1 million from 17 foundations and more than 250 individuals. Half of these individual gifts received were in amounts less than $100, including the purchase of over 275 Green Ribbons, demonstrating that this was truly a grassroots effort involving the entire community.

A primary goal of the campaign, the purchase of the one-acre property at 915 Clairemont Avenue, was completed on December 15, 2015, in partnership with the City of Decatur. This purchase will give Woodlands a highly visible and safe entryway, provide additional parking space, and preserve the land from future development. The community can be justly proud of our united effort in preserving this additional property as dedicated green space. This fundraising success is depictive of the support for Woodlands Garden’s mission to educate and engage the community in the natural world.

TSW, a landscape architecture firm, is working with us on the design and master planning of the Garden. The groundbreaking will take place in the fall.

Woodlands will also:

  • Complete the visitor center and add public restrooms
  • Improve parking and create a safe school bus drop-off zone
  • Enhance the site of the former Morse home, including added amenities for hosting community events

 

Additional fundraising will take place over the next year to secure sufficient funds for a children’s natural play area and pollinator gardens.