THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A “PARK” AND “A BOTANIC GARDEN AND ARBORETUM” IS FOUND IN OUR MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden is to build and maintain a public botanic garden and arboretum which promotes the art, enjoyment, and knowledge of horticulture, while providing opportunities for education and research. We are committed to excellence, good management and fiscal responsibility. THE FIRST ASPECT OF OUR MISSION IS HORTICULTURE

THE ARBORETUM DEMONSTRATES THE FINEST IN HORTICULTURAL CARE AND DISPLAYS, WITH PUBLIC PROGRAMMING OPPORTUNITIES THAT SHARE THE ENJOYMENT OF HORTICULTURE. MORE ABOUT OUR NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BOTANICAL DISPLAYS

ƒ WE SAW 436,485 INDIVIDUALS LAST YEAR, WITH COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS THAT INCLUDED ADMISSION AND PARKING DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT LOCATIONS TO 15,000 INDIVIDUALS WHO COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY REGULAR ADMISSION, BUT WISHED TO SEE OUR GROUNDS.

ƒ FLORAL DISPLAYS CHANGE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

ƒ THE ARBORETUM HAS NOW BECOME AN IMPORTANT VISITOR DESTINATION DUE TO NATIONAL PUBLICITY.

ƒ 99% OF ALL VISITORS LAST YEAR RATED THE GARDEN EXPERIENCE AS EITHER “VERY GOOD” OR “EXCELLENT”

ƒ MSN RATED US ONE OF THE TOP TEN THINGS TO DO IN AMERICA DURING SPRING.

ƒ WE WERE ALSO COVERED IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, THE AOL HOMEPAGE, SOUTHWEST SPIRIT MAGAZINE (SOUTHWEST AIRLINES) AS ONE OF THE TOP THREE ARBORETUMS IN THE NATION AND IN NEWSPAPER TRAVEL SECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE NATION.

ƒ OUR FALL DISPLAY WILL BE PHOTOGRAPHED FOR SOUTHERN LIVING NEXT YEAR. OUR FESTIVALS AND YEAR-ROUND ACTIVITIES BRING THE JOY OF HORTICULTURE ALIVE WITH: DALLAS BLOOMS MAY FLOWERS ARTSCAPE

AUTUMN AT THE ARBORETUM

OUR FESTIVALS AND YEAR-ROUND ACTIVITIES BRING THE JOY OF HORTICULTURE ALIVE WITH: THE SECOND ASPECT OF OUR MISSION IS EDUCATION FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN CHILDREN’S EDUCATION

ƒ WE SEE OVER 70,000 SCHOOL CHILDREN A YEAR IN CLASSES ALL LED BY DEGREED TEACHERS.

ƒ WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN TESTING THE STUDENTS IN OUR AFTER SCHOOL SCIENCE PROGRAMS WITH OUT OF STATE EVALUATORS. THE EVALUATION ANALYSIS SHOWS AN AVERAGE GAIN OF 50 POINTS BETWEEN PRE AND POST TESTING.

ƒ WE HAVE INITIATED A GRANT FUNDED PROGRAM TO TEACH THE SCIENCE TEACHERS IN DISD. WE PAY SCIENCE TEACHERS AT PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS A $25/HOUR STIPEND TO OBSERVE AND WORK WITH OUR DEGREED TEACHERS SO THAT THEY CAN LEARN NEW AND EFFECTIVE WAYS TO TEACH HANDS-ON SCIENCE TO ALL THEIR STUDENTS.

ƒ LAST YEAR, 11,000 ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS RECEIVED FREE SCIENCE PROGRAMMING FROM THE ARBORETUM EDUCATION STAFF. ALMOST 4,000 OF THESE WERE DISD STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN OUR SCIENCE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS DELIVERED AT THEIR SCHOOLS. THE REMAINING 7,000 WERE EDUCATIONAL FIRST STEPS AND HEAD START PRESCHOOLERS WHO WERE GIVEN FREE ADMISSION AND PROGRAMS AT THE ARBORETUM AND AT THEIR CENTERS. WE ALSO BUDGETED $12,000 FOR BUS STIPENDS TO HELP LOW-INCOME STUDENTS WITH TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES TO AND FROM THE GARDEN.

ƒ WE ARE INVOLVED IN NT-STEM AND OTHER ASSOCIATIONS OF THOSE TEACHING SCIENCE IN NORTH TEXAS. ƒ WE ARE ALSO THE MOST SUCCESSFUL CHILDREN’S EDUCATION PROGRAM AMONG ALL THE NATION’S BOTANIC GARDENS.

ƒ WE WON THE PROGRAM EXCELLENCE AWARD FROM THE AMERICAN PUBLIC GARDEN ASSOCIATION FOR OUR WORK IN EDUCATION.

ƒ WE TEACH OVER 50 DIFFERENT LIFE AND EARTH SCIENCE CLASSES FOR CHILDREN IN THE NORTH TEXAS AREA AS WELL AS 27 SUMMER CAMPS. ADULT EDUCATION

ƒ WE CURRENTLY TEACH 102 DIFFERENT CLASSES TO ADULTS ALL YEAR LONG.

ƒ EACH SATURDAY WE ARE BROADCAST ON KRLD’S NEIL SPERRY SHOW.

ƒ WE ARE WRITING HUNDREDS OF ARTICLES YEARLY FOR WEBSITES AND MAGAZINES IN THE HORTICULTURE INDUSTRY. THE THIRD ASPECT OF OUR MISSION IS RESEARCH

ƒ THE ARBORETUM CONDUCTS PLANT TRIALS YEAR ROUND IN WHICH WE TEST FOR PLANT BREEDERS WORLD WIDE. (CHINA, RUSSIA, AUSTRALIA, THE UNITED KINGDOM, SOUTH AMERICA, AND THE UNITED STATES)

ƒ THE ARBORETUM TESTS ONE OF THE LARGEST NUMBERS OF PLANT VARITIES FOR THE GREATEST NUMBER OF NATIONWIDE PLANT BREEDERS AND IS RECOGNIZED TO BE THE TOP TESTING SITE FOR PLANT HEAT TOLERANCE IN THE NATION.

ƒ WE ARE ON A CONSTANT SEARCH FOR THE BEST PLANT MATERIALS AND WE TRIAL OVER 3000 PLANTS EVERY YEAR TO IDENTIFY THE BEST PLANTS FOR NORTH TEXAS AND FOR USE IN AREAS WITH HIGH HEAT NATIONWIDE.

ƒ OUR “FIELD DAY” IS OFFERED IN THE SPRING TO PROFESSIONALS IN THE LANDSCAPE AND NURSERY INDUSTRY AND ALWAYS SELLS OUT.

ƒ A SPECIAL WEBSITE SUPORTS ALL THIS WORK AND THE MOST EXCITING PLANTS IDENTIFIED ARE SHOWCASED AT THE ARBORETUM THE FOLLOWING YEAR. THE LAST PART OF OUR MISSION IS THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE, GOOD MANAGEMENT, AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY WE HAVE DIVERSIFIED OUR FUNDING BASE SO THAT …

25.0% COMES FROM ADMISSIONS 21.0% COMES FROM CONTRIBUTIONS 18.0% COMES FROM MEMBERSHIP 15.0% COMES FROM RENTALS 8.0% COMES FROM THE GIFT SHOP 5.0 % COMES FROM THE CITY OF DALLAS 4.0% COMES FROM EDUCATIONAL CLASSES 4.0% COMES FROM MISCELLANEOUS SOURCES

WE HAVE A $7.3 MILLION DOLLAR OPERATING BUDGET AND HAVE RECEIVED $342,000 FROM THE CITY OF DALLAS IN ADDITION TO PAYING OUR UTILITY COSTS. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

ƒ WE ARE WORKING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 25 YEAR MASTER PLAN AS PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND PARK BOARD IN 2001.

ƒ IN THE NEXT YEAR WE WILL COMPLETE THE PLANTINGS IN PHASE II OF A WOMAN’S GARDEN – USING $500,000 FUNDED BY OUR WOMEN’S COUNCIL AUXILIARY WITH MAINTENANCE COVERED BY THEIR FUTURE ENDOWMENT. THE CONCERT LAWN WILL BE COMPLETED IN 2010 WITH A RED MAPLE RILL TO THE LEFT OF THIS LAWN. THIS IS BEING FUNDED AND EVENTUALLY ENDOWED BY PRIVATE DONORS AND THE WOMEN’S AUXILIARY OF THE ARBORETUM. ƒ PLANS ARE IN PLACE TO BUILD A FRUIT, HERB AND VEGETABLE DISPLAY GARDEN TO THE LEFT OF THE VISITOR PAVILLION. ALTHOUGH THE PROGRAM DOCUMENT IS JUST NOW BEING COMPLETED, IT WILL HAVE RAISED BEDS, EXAMPLES OF HOW THIS TYPE OF GARDENING CAN BE DONE IN COMPACT SPACES FOR THOSE WITHOUT LARGE GARDEN AREAS AND CONTAIN AN OUTDOOR STOVE/OVEN FOR DEMONSTRATIONS. ORGANIC GARDENING AND GROWING YOUR OWN PRODUCE ARE THE FASTEST GROWING AREAS OF HORTICULTURAL INTEREST IN THE COUNTRY.

ƒ WITH THE HELP OF THE CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER, PARK BOARD AND THE VOTERS IN THE LAST BOND ELECTION, THE ARBORETUM WILL BE STARTING ON A PARKING STRUCTURE FOR THE NORTH END NEXT YEAR. SINCE THE FOUNDING DAYS OF THE ARBORETUM, THIS HAS BEEN OUR GREATEST CHALLENGE AND WITH MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WANTING TO VISIT EACH YEAR, THE NEED IS CRITICAL. WE ARE ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL WHO SUPPORTED OUR EFFORTS, AND RON NATINSKY, ED OAKLEY,GARY GRIFFITH AND OTHERS THAT WORKED ESPECIALLY LONG HOURS TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION FOR US, THAT COULD HELP THE MOST. OUR MOST EXCITING FUTURE PROJECT IS THE CHILDREN’S ADVENTURE GARDEN. THE GROUND WILL BE BROKEN FOR THIS PROJECT IN 2010 WITH CONSTRUCTION TO BE COMPLETE IN 2012. ALL CITY COUNCIL AND PARK BOARD MEMBERS HAVE BEEN INVITED TO A DINNER ON OCTOBER 20TH TO ANNOUNCE THE NAMING GIFT. THE CHILDREN’S ADVENTURE GARDEN MODEL WHY DO WE NEED A GARDEN SUCH AS THIS?

ƒ THERE IS A DESPERATE NEED FOR CHILDREN’S SCIENCE EDUCATION IN GRADES K- 6. IN THIS GARDEN CHILDREN WILL LEARN ABOUT THE NATURAL SCIENCES IN NATURE AND ALSO LEARN PRINCIPLES OF SCIENTIFIC THINKING AND SCIENCE PROCESS SKILLS.

ƒ SCIENCE TEST SCORES IN THE STATE AND IN DISD ARE THE LOWEST OF ANY ACADEMIC AREA TESTED.

ƒ OUR TEACHING EXPERIENCE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS POSITION THE ARBORETUM TO BE INSTRUMENTAL IN ENRICHING SCHOOL CURRICULUM IN A MANNER NOT POSSIBLE IN A CLASSROOM SETTING.

ƒ OUR PROGRAM DOCUMENT FOR THIS GARDEN WAS PREPARED BASED ON NATIONAL SCIENCE STANDARDS AND THE SCIENCE CURRICULUM MANDATED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS. ƒ IT WILL PROVIDE AN ENGAGING, EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY IN A FUN AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

ƒ IT WILL PROVIDE A WAY TO SHOW OUR URBAN SCHOOL CHILDREN AND VISITING FAMILIES THAT THEY ARE A PART OF NATURE, TO APPRECIATE NATURE AND REALIZE THEY HAVE AN IMPACT ON IT.

ƒ IT WILL HELP TO RAISE THE LEVEL OF SCIENCE LEARNING IN THE CRITICAL, FORMATIVE SCHOOL GRADES SO THAT CHILDREN LEARN THE SCIENCE VOCABULARY, UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPTS, AND WANT TO LEARN MORE. WHAT WILL IT BE?

THE CHILDREN’S ADVENTURE GARDEN WILL BE 6 ½ ACRES OF A TOTAL 11 ACRE NORTHEND DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARBORETUM PROPERTY. IT WILL HAVE ONE MAJOR BUILDING, A 6800 SF DISCOVERY CENTER BUILT INTO THE HILL WITH A GREEN SPACE ABOVE IT. TREE TOP WALKS, WET LANDS, MAZES, AND ACTIVITIES FOR EVERY AGE AND AT EVERY LEVEL ARE INCLUDED ON A HILL WITH A 28 FT DROP. PICTURED BELOW IS THE FIRST ADVENTURE AREA FOR TODDLERS COMING TO THE GARDEN WITH THEIR FAMILIES IT WILL INCLUDE AN INCREDIBLE EDIBLE GARDEN WHICH IS A PICNIC AREA THAT WILL ALSO TEACH THAT FOOD COMES FROM PLANTS AND THAT FOOD IS PART OF OUR ECONOMY AS WELL AS ESSENTIAL TO OUR SURVIVAL. IT WILL INCLUDE A CIRCULAR ENTRY PLAZA THAT CAN BE USED AS AN AMPHITHEATER FOR GATHERING GROUPS BEFORE THEY GO INTO THE GARDEN. THIS WILL INCLUDE A WILD WETLAND WALK WHERE CHILDREN WILL LEARN ABOUT PLANT AND ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS, ECOSYSTEMS AND THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE, PLANTS AND ANIMALS. WATER IS THE INTEGRATING THEME IN THE GARDEN. IT BEGINS AT THE ENTRY WITH A SEVEN FOOT WATERFALL. VISITORS CAN WALK UNDER THE WATERFALL AND SIT IN THE GROTTO BEHIND IT WHERE THERE WILL BE ADDITION INTERPRETATION. PLANTS ARE ALIVE – YOU CAN’T REALLY UNDERSTAND PLANT PARTS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS UNLESS YOU CAN SEE THEM. IN A “HONEY I SHRUNK THE KIDS” FORMAT, ALL PARTS ARE VISIBLE AND THE CHILDREN ARE ENGAGED AND THEY UNDERSTAND. THE HABITAT WHICH IS THE AREA UNDERNEATH THE TREES AND SKY WALK, IS SO IMPORTANT FOR DISCOVERING WHAT THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS ARE FOR THE SURVIVAL OF LIVING THINGS. THE OASIS, WHICH IS A “GREEN” GARDEN ON THE TOP OF THE DISCOVERY CENTER, WILL BE AN AREA FOR CLASSES TO CONGREGATE AROUND DISCOVERY CARTS TO STUDY SEASONAL TOPICS. THE AREA WILL ALSO PROVIDE A DEMONSTRATION OF THE BEST ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES, THE FIRST INTERPRETATION FOR THE OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS SEEN BEYOND AND THE ENTRY TO THE TEXAS SKY WALK. THE TEXAS SKYWALK – IT’S HARD TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT A TREE UNLESS YOU’RE IN IT. IN THIS TREE TOP WALKWAY YOU’LL SEE ALL THE PARTS OF THE TREE CANOPY AND THE MORE ADVENTRIOUS CAN TAKE A “WALK IN THE CLOUDS” VIA A NETTING STRUNG AMONG THE TREE TOPS. THE DISCOVERY CENTER IS WHERE TECHNOLOGY’S USE IN SAVING AND FUTHER UNDERSTANDING OUR WORLD, COMES ALIVE. WITH COOPERATION FROM SMU, NEW EVALUATION MECHANISMS WILL BE ADDED TO THE GAMES PLAYED TO DETERMINE LEARNING LEVELS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION AND AT THE END. OVER 6800 SF IN SIZE, ITS FLEXIBLE DESIGN ALLOWS FOR CHANGES AS NEW TECHNOLOGY IS INTRODUCED. FOUR OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS WHICH WILL BE FILLED WITH ACTIVITIES TO MAKE EARTH CYCLES, LIVING CYCLES, PURE ENERGY AND PATTERNS, SHAPES AND STRUCTURES COME ALIVE. THE IMAGINATION IN THE TEN-TWELVE EXHIBITS PER AREA IS AMAZING, FOR THE DALLAS ARBORETUM HAS HIRED THE DESIGN TEAM OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE CHILDREN’S GARDEN IN THE WORLD, TO DO OUR GARDEN. THE ARBORETUM CAN SHOW THROUGH NATURAL SOURCES THE POWER, DESIGN AND PRECISION THAT NATURE GIVES US AND THE REPETITIVE CYCLES OF NATURE THAT KEEP US ALIVE. PATERNS SHAPES AND STRUCTURES CLASSROOM

LIVING AND EARTH CYCLES CLASSROOMS SOME GARDENS HAVE MAZES, BUT WE WILL HAVE OUR OWN AMAZING ONE DESIGNED TO HAVE CHANGEABLE OUTCOMES AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF VISITATION. THERE ARE QUESTIONS TO ANSWER AND PUZZLES TO SOLVE TO GET YOU TO THE NEXT CROSSROADS, AND ULTIMATELY TO THE AMAZING SECRET GARDEN. LASTLY, IT WILL ALSO HAVE AN ENDOWMENT TO REPAIR BROKEN DISPLAYS AND REPLACE THEM QUICKLY; TO ADD NEW EXHIBITS TO THE GARDEN TO PROVIDE A FRESHNESS AND VITALITY TO THE EXHIBIT; NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR THE DISCOVERY CENTER AND EVALUATION EFFORTS; AND THE “GLADE” AN UNPROGRAMMED SPACE FOR TOURING EXHIBITS OR ENHANCED LEARNING ON A TOPIC OF IMPORTANCE. THE COSTS

ƒ THE NORTH END DEVELOPMENT OF THE GARDEN IS ESTIMATED TO BE $85 MILLION, INCLUDING ENDOWMENT. IN ADDITION TO THE CHILDREN’S GARDEN THIS WILL INCLUDE A PARKING GARAGE, HORTICULTURE SUPPORT AREAS, CLASSROOMS, OFFICES AND VISITOR SERVICES.

ƒ WE HAVE DIVIDED THIS INTO TWO PHASES. PHASE I WILL BREAK GROUND IN 2010. THE TOTAL COST FOR THIS PHASE WILL BE $48 MILLION INCLUDING ENDOWMENT.

ƒ PHASE II WILL BE COMPLETED IN SECTIONS, FIVE YEARS AFTER PHASE I IS COMPLETED