Greene County
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Supporters of Botanical Center Dedicate Site, Get Energized for Final Fundraising Push
The Friends of the Garden, Inc. and Springfield-Greene County Park Board hosted a progress announcement event and site dedication on Thursday, Oct. 23, at the future site of the Botanical Center in Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park, 2400 S. Scenic Ave.
According to organizers, the site dedication was an opportunity to show the footprint in which the center will be built, along with updating the community on fundraising.
To-date, about $1,372,942 has been raised for the $4.3 million project. A large portion of the building will be paid for by the 2006 voter-approved 1/4-cent sales tax for Springfield-Greene County Parks which will generate $3 million.
That means $256,338 is left to raise privately for this building by February 2009.
“We’re almost there, and I couldn’t be more proud and appreciative of everyone here today,” said Adams. “What we will have here, once it is completed, is a building that will remain an area landmark for 100 years or more.”
The 12,700-square foot building will be developed on the 55-acre Close Memorial Park and will overlook Drummond Lake. The building will eventually house offices for horticulture focused parks staff, specialists and staff with Greene County University of Missouri Extension and Friends of the Garden. The building will include classrooms, a multipurpose room, gardening related library, space for the Master Gardener help center and a gift shop.
The building is being designed in accordance with The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System in order to earn certification as a “green building.” Once completed, the center itself will provide a local site for hosting all types of horticulture-related classes, workshops and special events geared toward identifying, growing and caring for plants of all kinds.
“I am speaking for the employees with MU Extension in Greene County when I say we are excited to see this project getting closer to being completed,” said David Burton, civic communication specialist and interim county program director for MU Extension in Greene County. “The Greene County Commission has been very good to us by providing our current location on Boonville but this new building will open up all types of opportunities for local extension programs and especially our horticulture related programs like Master Gardeners.”
Tax deductible contributions can be made payable to the University of Missouri with “Greene County Extension/Botanical Building” in the memo portion of the check. Checks can be sent directly to the MU Extension Development Office, 109 Whitten Hall, Columbia MO 65211 or to the Greene County Extension Center, 833 Boonville, Springfield, Mo. 65802.
For more information, media contact: Susan Boswell, Friends of the Garden, (417) 882-7439 or (417) 860-1285; David Burton, University of Missouri-Extension, (417) 862-9284; or Parks Director Jodie Adams, (417) 864-1329.
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Information for this article provided by Bob Nelson, Public Information Administrator for Springfield-Greene County Parks, (417) 874-2176.
You can contribute to the effort to build and sustain a botanical center in Springfield by helping University of Missouri Extension meet its fundraising goal. Make checks payable to University of Missouri with Greene County Extension/Botanical Building in the memo portion of the check. Checks can be sent to the MU Extension Development Office, 109 Whitten Hall, Columbia MO 65211 or to the Greene County Extension Center, 833 Boonville, Springfield, Mo. 65802. Learn more by reading this informational brochure.
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Greene County University of Missouri Extension Center Site maintainer: David Burton - burtond@missouri.edu Updated 10/07/09 |
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