Garden Expansion
The Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden is in the process of an exciting expansion that includes the development of a new wetland habitat, 1.5 acres of new tropical forest and a boardwalk system with wildlife viewing areas. Planned as a three-part project, a pond has been excavated and surrounding board walk installed. This newly uncovered body of freshwater is already inhabited by tad poles, egrets and other wildlife.
The anticipated completion date of the pond and surrounding plantings is March, 2009. Please watch this site for news on the progress of this exciting project.
Click on a picture to see a slide show of the pond construction progress
June 26 to July 22
August 2 to 11
This project has been made possible by the generosity of the following:
Monroe County Tourist Development Council
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Partners for Fish and Wildlife
Florida Department of Agriculture
Florida Communities Trust
Monroe County Land Authority
Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust
South Florida Water Management District
Project Team:
Raymond Jungles, 2005 Florida Landscape Architect of the Year
George Gann, President, Institute for Regional Conservation
Phillip Huges, recovery biologist and ornithologist, US Fish & Wildlife Service
Brad Waller, Principal Hydrologist, Hydrological Association USA, Inc.
Dr. Stuart Pimm, Doris Duke Chair, Nicholas School of Earth & Sciences, Duke University. Winner, 2006 Heineken Prize for Environmental Sciences
Russell Moore, RMPK Group, Designers of the Florida Scenic Highway Master Plan
Fred Hildebrandt, Civil Engineer, Tree Hugger
We Need Your Support!
The Garden is most grateful to the Tourist Development Commission for major funding for this project. As this grant must be matched, we hope you will consider making a contribution to help support this important and timely undertaking. Please contact Rebecca Rex, General Manager, at (305) 296-1504 or rrex@kwbgs.org for more information on how you can participate by making a tax-deductible gift to this project.
Come back here to see progress, updates, and news on this project.
Construction status on July 31, 2008