BROOKINGS Christmas came early to McCrory Gardens this year when amidst the backdrop of the holiday Garden Glow festival the state transportation department awarded the facility a $600,000 improvement grant.
We got the word that all the paperwork has been signed and approved, Lisa Marotz, director of operations for McCrory Gardens, said. We applied for a transportation alternative grant in February of 2023 The proposal we submitted was to have a 2.5K loop permanent path installed through the arboretum. And it can (not) only be used for walking, it can be used for biking. Its to be 8 feet wide, and it needs to be either concrete or asphalt. So were going to go with the asphalt, and then were probably going to put another 3 foot side on it of crushed aggregate.
The plan also calls for new water features in the arboretum.
The vision there is to actually make two or three different ponds of different depths, Marotz said. We could have fish. Wed be interested to see what waterfowl would be coming our way then. All sorts of things could be learned by this outdoor laboratory, which is something that going through the history of McCrory in the mid 80s, it was on the wish list back then to have a living laboratory for wildlife and fisheries.
Stormwater improvements are also planned.
So much of the citys stormwater comes north our way towards campus and even already overflows some of the streams, Marotz said. So we are working with the City of Brookings and their stormwater management program to get involved with that. Im pretty certain that theyll be. The grant is a matching grant, and Im pretty certain that they will be a part of that match.
Theyre also coordinating with SDSU to integrate this with the campus master plan. The total cost of the arboretum upgrade is $1,413,749.50 which means a local match of $813,749.50 is needed. Marotz said they will probably announce a fundraising drive next year.
I would say we need to, because this is a big deal. This is something that is going to help so many entities. Were that corner of campus and community that we are meant to be here for everyone, she said. There are lots of people supportive of the idea. Sometimes I consider us to be the Dakota Nature Park north. We have our own audience around here.
She said the project could benefit all of Brookings.
One of the grant application things that I really valued was it asked how will this grant help the community? And I loved being able to think through well, this path would give safe transport, walking or biking, from maybe campus proper to Walmart. Theres a lot of people who go back and forth, Marotz said. The other part of this is that were going to be expanding the campus disc golf course. Its currently nine holes; itll be expanded to 18. So itll be a completely full disc golf course. And with that, I think about how the state often looks to Brookings could there be a state disc golf tournament here? That could help hotels, that could mean dining in our restaurants.
This marks the latest in a string of improvements at McCrory Gardens, which was founded in 1965. The arboretum north of the floral gardens was added in 1988. The Education & Visitor Center was built in 2012, fencing was installed around the perimeter of the floral gardens in 2015 and the inaugural Garden Glow festival was held later that winter. This years Garden Glow runs nightly through Jan. 6. Tickets are available at the McCrory Gardens website.
The tickets are $10 for anyone who is 6 years or older, 5 and younger are free, SDSU students are free and our members get free tickets, Marotz said. Last year we had over 14,000 people and close to 6,000 were free.
She said the fencing allows them to host events like this without fear of vandalism.
I know theres a hardship that came when the protection of the fence came, but theres no way wed have Garden Glow if there wasnt that protection, Marotz said. People have been able to confidently give gifts for new sculptures or new benches. Weve been able to remodel the cottage. Theres no way we wouldve ventured to even try a remodel because that was constantly broken into, and it was spray-painted. So were in a good place now.
Admission to the unfenced 45 acre arboretum remains free. Entrance to the 25-acre floral garden is $6 for ages 16 and up, $4 for ages 6-15 and free to visitors 5 and under. Parking is free, and yearly membership packages start at $35.
Its been almost three years now with the benefit that all SDSU employees have free admission to the gardens, and they can bring up to six guests, Marotz said. One of the first persons that really started utilizing that benefit for being an SDSU employee, he came back in and said, Lisa, I just stared at a butterfly for 45 minutes. Congratulations was what I said. Break free.
She invites everyone to come and enjoy similar experiences.
It sounds so simple, and I think thats whats kind of mind boggling sometimes just go be, Marotz said. I get so excited to have those who havent worked here before see what Garden Glow is and see people enjoy it. The same with the gardens, too. We value just as much hearing somebody say, I didnt know that grew in South Dakota. Its just the opportunity to teach people, the opportunity to offer up this most beautiful place. This is like the dream home.
Contact Jay Roe at [email protected].
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