May 26, 2026 - News
First look: Botanical Garden's temporary entrance
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A $1 million-plus temporary entrance to the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden will be built in the coming months.
Why it matters: It will allow the garden to remain open during the construction of the larger components of a more than $9 million capital campaign for improvements.
The intrigue: The temporary entrance includes a 1,920-square-foot addition, which will be converted into permanent administrative offices once the larger lobby project is complete.
- The dual-purpose approach maximizes investment to meet both immediate and long-term facility needs, CEO Kim Perez tells Axios.
Zoom in: It'll be constructed east of the current entrance and by the Rose Garden.
Bonus: A colorful archway over Robert D. Ray Drive is still in the works, with Perez telling us to stay tuned for updates.
