GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A space carved out for children at the Green Bay Botanical Garden is growing.
The garden held an official groundbreaking ceremony for its Carol & Bruce Bell Children’s Garden Wednesday.
First graders from Beaumont Elementary helped turn up some dirt for the occasion.
The project builds on the existing Nielsen Village which includes a slide tower, a children’s maze, koi pond and Stumpf Hobbit House.
Officials say The Bell Children’s Garden will continue to connect nature, learning, and play. The expansion will increase the garden from half an acre to 2.5 acres with a wide variety of new features to enjoy including a rain drop garden, wetland deck, lily pad splash play, tree houses, cave play, and more.
“Our kids have been under the gun the last couple of years, not being able to be in school, sitting in front of screens and learning in front of screens and we took a look at that situation a year ago and said, you know what, we’ve got to enhance the nature and the learning aspect of nature for our kids because they’re just not getting it right now,” said Susan Garot, Green Bay Bontaical Garden executive director.
Boldt Construction’s Tony Meeuwsen, director of project development, says he’s ready to get started.
“This is crazy exciting. Anyone that grows up wanting to build things, absolutely would love to build this and that’s how I feel, that’s how our crews feel, really our entire company and the community’s watching, these are just some amazing things that it’s just a humongous playground with a fantastic treehouse, so we’re really exciting to get going,” he said.
Construction of the Bell Children’s Garden is expected to be complete in May of 2023.
