The City of Auburn reports that it has completed a conservation-focused purchase of the Soos Creek Botanical Garden and Heritage Center property, a step designed to permanently protect the land from future development while keeping the garden open and accessible to the public.
The property was not listed for sale on the open market, and the transaction does not reflect a change in the financial health or mission of the Soos Creek Botanical Garden Foundation. Instead, the purchase fulfills the longtime vision of founders Morris Skagen and his late partner, Jim Daly, to ensure the garden remains protected and available for public benefit for generations to come.
“From the very beginning of the garden nearly 60 years ago, it was always our plan that one day it would become a permanent gift to the community,” Skagen said. “As this once-rural area has grown and changed, it brings us even greater satisfaction to know that current and future generations will continue to enjoy this special place, filled with mature trees, peaceful natural spaces and beautiful plants.”…