Following a delegation from the David Douglas Botanical Garden Society at yesterday’s (Monday) council meeting, Prince George City Councillors were impressed with a plan to expand the David Douglas Garden at UNBC.
The society plans to develop 23 acres of property on the UNBC campus, to expand the current two-acre David Douglas Botanical Garden.
The garden has a total cost of $5.9-million and would be the northernmost one of its kind in North America.
The presentation received plenty of positive feedback from city councillors.
“I fundamentally believe it enhances the physical and mental health of the students at the university, ” said Councillor Susan Scott.
“I know it’s a boom to our city as a focal point for tourism, an attraction, and all those things, but for the students to be able to get out and walk those trails and encounter first-hand those plants that would be there, is amazing to me.”
According to the delegation, the project is a little behind schedule, but it is an entirely volunteer-run endeavour, and they are relying on fundraising and grants.
“We were hoping to be further along than we are right now,” Said Shelley Rennick, Chair of the David Douglas Botanical Garden Expansion.
“It’s a huge undertaking and we have been trying to move it along as fast as we can.”
Rennick explained they are hoping to maintain the fundraising momentum.
“I think the hope is that it will further educate people on what a botanical garden actually is. Instead of just a pretty garden with flowers to just walk through, it’s also an educational garden.”
If everything goes well, Phase three is set for 2024, and phase 4 is for 2028.
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