The Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens in Arlington has received the largest grant in its 16-year history, a $1 million gift from the Ponte Vedra Beach-based River Branch Foundation .
“This grant represents a turning point … and we are incredibly grateful,” Executive Director Dana Doody said. “With this crucial funding, we are well-positioned to become a leader in environmental education and to serve as a family-friendly green space for all Jacksonville residents to enjoy.”
Meanwhile, designs for an $8 million children’s garden announced in 2023 are being finalized, with fundraising to begin afterward. The children’s garden is the first phase of the arboretum’s new master development plan.
“Because it is such a huge undertaking and we want to ensure that each aspect of the garden will be a good fit based on the location, we have been carefully taking the time to work through the design amongst our staff, board, and designers,” Doody said.
The source of the new grant, the River Branch Foundation , has donated to many area environmental groups. In 2021, a particularly crucial gift helped the North Florida Land Trust buy a chain of Intracoastal Waterway islands near Butler Boulevard for conservation.