Up Date For July 10, 2009

*The visitor center column bases were formed and poured.

*The block work on the Maintenance Building was completed.

*Underground raceways for the electric needs required by the M.I.S. security and data were completed at the visitor center building.

*The cells in the visitor center stem wall were pumped with concrete.

*The down cells in the maintenance building were pumped with concrete, inspected and approved.

*All underground conduit and chase pipes in visitor center was inspected and approved.

*Catch basin #11 was installed.

*The sewer grinder station was installed.

*Florida Power & Light Company was on site to install a meter for temporary power.

*The visitor center building pad was backfilled and compacted in anticipation of being sprayed for termites on Monday.

*Parks & Recreation staff joined City Councilman Cooper at Heathcote Botanical Gardens in Ft. Pierce, to provide comments to the consultant preparing the master plan for Heathcote Gardens.

*The contractor submitted additional Requests for Information to the design team.

Photos from July 8, 2009

Maintenance building July 8, 2009

Maintenance building block walls July 6, 2009

Maintenance building pad poured Friday July 3rd using 62 yards of concrete.

Looking towards the east. In two weeks the band platform will be formed in the water.

Nature center footers. Concrete to be poured at the end of the week of July 6th and block to follow.

Fill on old western roadway. Elevation in the north west area is very low. Berm to be completed on the west side to keep run off from entering the mangroves and the river. This area will become the special events green space.

GARDENS GROUNDBREAKING, Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Wednesday March 4th marked the groundbreaking for the Port St Lucie Botanical Gardens. Under mostly sunny skies some 100 plus people gathered for the turning of the shovels with the council, city manger and the contractor for the project. The day was marked with opening remarks from Brad Keen of the cities Parks and Recreation Department, followed by Mayor Christensen's remarks and finished up by thoughts from Christopher Cooper, City Councilman and President of the Friends of the Port St Lucie Botanical Gardens. The event, with parks staff and Friends staff, hosted the one hour event with questions and answers, music, drinks and snacks. Following the event guests and members walked the property and enjoyed the river views and future botanical gardens site.

We hope that you will continue to be involved in the project and are scheduled to have an official grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony at the end of November. Please check the web site occasionally for updated photos on the progress of the construction. Photos of the groundbreaking can be viewed larger by clicking on the photo under "Groundbreaking Photos" on the right column. Click on construction photos to enlargen those as well.

City of Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens

The Gardens

The City of Port St Lucie is currently building a botanical garden on 19.71 acres of property on the west side of Westmoreland Blvd., just south of Port St Lucie Blvd. The property was acquired through a joint effort of the City of Port St Lucie, St Lucie County and the Florida Trust for Public Lands. The site will have a pond, paved public paths, beautiful gardens, a special place for weddings, public parking, maintenance building and a nature center. Just south of the property is a proposed boat launch, public park and restaurant site that, along with the gardens, will sit on the banks of the north fork of the St Lucie River. The 12.87 acres south of the boat launch/park/restaurant site will be maintained as undisturbed Florida wetlands, subject only to the removal of exotics and maintenance of a walking trail.

Who We Are

The Gardens will be operated by the Friends of the Port St Lucie Botanical Gardens (“Friends of the Gardens”), a non-profit organization that was founded to help support the daily operations of the gardens. The Friends of the Gardens will provide an on site presence to answer questions and give tours. Also, the organization will operate the nature center, gift shop and help with the daily maintenance of the gardens. We hope that you will become involved in the gardens and/or become a member of the Friends of the Gardens.

The Gardens will be open seven days a week and will host weddings, art shows and other special seasonal events, such as Easter, Christmas, and Mother’s Day. Small office parties, family gatherings and corporate events will also be hosted at reasonable rates.

Meetings

Friends of the Gardens meet the second Monday of the month at 5:30 pm at the city’s community center on Airoso Blvd., just north of Port St Lucie Blvd across from City Hall. When the gardens open, the meetings will take place at the nature center. We encourage other nature and outdoor organizations to join the Friends of the Gardens, which will provide them with the opportunity to use the center for their meetings and educational seminars.

*Note, there is no meeting for the months of July and August.

Become a Member

Your tax deductible contribution is always appreciated, and the Friends of the Gardens accepts corporate donations, which entitles the contributing organization to attend an annual appreciation party. Individuals who contribute to the gardens automatically become members of the Friends of the Gardens. Individual memberships cost $20 per year and family memberships are $35 per year. Lifetime memberships are available for $200. Please contact the Friends of the Gardens for corporate membership rates and for information concerning naming rights.

Expedia Cruiseship Centers

Marty Horn

Phone 772-618-0151

http://www.martyhorn.cruiseshipcenters.com/