GRO1000 Milestone Reached: Thousandth Garden to Connect Children With Benefits of Nature
by Lindsay LaSala, Community and Foundation Relations Manager, ScottsMiracle-Gro
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation blog
We did it.
Eight years ago, we set a goal to help create 1,000 community gardens and greenspaces and connect more people to the life-enhancing benefits of gardens and greenspaces. This May, we’ll realize that goal with the dedication of the thousandth GRO1000 garden in Columbus, Ohio.
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is a garden unlike any other in the United States. Featuring designs based on input from local children, this innovative, 2-acre garden provides hands-on, interactive experiences intended to introduce and connect young children and their families to nature.
“The Conservatory shares in ScottsMiracle-Gro’s mission of connecting more people to the benefits of our natural world,” said Bruce Harkey, President and CEO of Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. “Our hope is that the new Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden will inspire today’s children to care about nature and create a desire in them to protect it for generations to come.”
Sixteen distinct garden areas, all enhanced by local artisan-crafted elements, offer countless combinations of natural play and exploration celebrating the “ever-changing magic of the Ohio landscape.”
Some of the key features of the garden include:
ScottsMiracle-Gro executive leadership joined associates in dedicating The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Gardenon Wednesday, May 9, in a finale GRO1000 celebration.
The thousandth garden dedication does not mark the end of ScottsMiracle-Gro’s support for the development of community gardens and greenspaces. Quite the opposite. Planning is currently underway for the next iteration of garden programming, based on insights gained from the past eight years. More information on future programming will be announced later next year.
Visit here for more information on The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden.
To learn more about the GRO1000 program, visit www.GRO1000.com or follow us on Twitter at @Scotts_MGro, #GRO1000.
