Designing a Place That Feels Welcoming to All

Over the past several weeks, observers of the future home of the Monroe Botanical Garden have seen some significant changes. Several of the aging structures that once occupied the property have now been removed, opening up the site and allowing us to begin envisioning its future in a whole new way.

The buildings that remain will stay and be incorporated into the garden's future plans. With this phase of site preparation now complete, we are entering an exciting new chapter. We are moving from demolition to design.

This is one of the most important stages of the entire project, even though much of the work is happening behind the scenes. While there are no gardens blooming yet and no pathways winding through the landscape, countless conversations, sketches, ideas, and decisions are helping shape what this place will become.

As part of the design process, Cathy Hauck and I met up with Abbie Moilen of Saiki Design, for a “behind the scenes” tour of the Allen Centennial Garden in Madison.  Our purpose for this visit was to get practical hints and tips to help us avoid future challenges.  It was definitely wonderful to learn so much about the ins and outs of running a botanical garden from experienced people.  What I didn’t expect was to hear the laughter and joy of many children as they visited the garden and in particular the gold fish. This was a wonderful reminder that how the garden feels to visitors is the most important element in the design.

Our goal is not simply to create a beautiful place. We are creating a place that people will return to again and again. A place where families build traditions, friends gather, visitors find inspiration, and community members discover a sense of belonging. Creating that kind of space requires much more than selecting plants and drawing maps. It requires careful thought about how people will feel when they arrive, how they move through the garden, and what experiences they carry home with them.

Allen Centennial Garden

As we work with our design teams, we often find ourselves discussing things that may seem difficult to define. Some beautiful spaces unintentionally create barriers to entry. Visitors wonder if they are allowed to enter, whether they belong there, or if they are somehow "doing it wrong." We want the Monroe Botanical Garden to feel exactly the opposite.

We want people to feel comfortable walking through for the first time. We want families with young children to feel welcome. We want someone stopping by on their lunch break to feel just as at home as a visitor attending a special event. We want the garden to feel elegant without feeling exclusive and beautiful without feeling intimidating.

The challenge, of course, is that many of the qualities we hope to create seem almost contradictory. We want the garden to feel peaceful, yet full of life. Serene, yet playful. Energetic, yet calming. We want it to be a place where someone might enjoy a quiet moment alone while, at the same time, serving as a gathering place for community events, educational programs, and celebrations. We want it to feel appropriate for a business meeting, a family outing, a senior picture, or an afternoon spent reading a book.

Perhaps most importantly, we want the garden to offer a sense of discovery. A winding path, the sound of moving water, a hidden seating area, an unexpected view, a sculpture tucked among the plants, or a seasonal display that changes throughout the year all encourage visitors to explore. We hope that each visit to the Monroe Botanical Garden offers new details to notice and new experiences to enjoy.

As we continue through the design process, we want everyone to know that we are carefully considering how people will experience the garden, how they will move through it, how it will serve different generations, and how it can become a place that strengthens the connections between people and the community around them.

We are not simply designing a collection of plants and trees. We are creating a space where people can rest, explore, learn, celebrate, connect, and simply enjoy being together. Our hope is that, when the Monroe Botanical Garden opens, every person who visits will feel that it was designed with them in mind.

We are eagerly awaiting the part of the process where we will bring the design concepts for the community to see and feel.  This is expected within a few weeks where we will reveal some more details about the garden for you and also provide a community update.  I hope you will be able to join us at this community reveal event.  Your interest and support continues to drive this project forward.