ATHENS, Ga. — The State Botanical Garden of Georgia recently broke ground on its long-planned Gateway to the Garden entrance project. The multi-million dollar project is a major upgrade designed to meet soaring visitor demand at the University of Georgia-based facility in Athens.
State legislators, UGA administrators, donors and garden staff gathered for the ceremony on Jan. 23. It marked the start of a multiphase project that will relocate and expand the garden’s entrance, add parking, and improve trail and pedestrian access.
When the botanical garden opened in 1968, its entrance was built to serve about 50,000 visitors a year. Last year, more than 470,000 people explored its gardens and trails — nearly 10 times the original projection.
UGA President Jere Morehead called the groundbreaking a “tremendous milestone” as the Garden continues to expand its offerings to visitors from across the state and beyond.
“The State Botanical Garden of Georgia plays an essential role in the university’s land-grant mission, serving as a living laboratory for research, conservation and hands-on learning,” said Benjamin Ayers, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “This project will allow even more people to visit and learn in the garden, and it will bring more people to participate in programs and conservation activities that help to preserve natural resources across the state.”
Construction cost and completion date
The new entrance will be relocated further south on Milledge Avenue and designed to better accommodate larger vehicles, including school buses that bring more than 4,000 children to the garden each year for field trips. The project also includes expanded parking, improved trail access and enhanced pedestrian infrastructure.
Garden director Jenny Cruse-Sanders said, “We could not have reached this milestone without the support of many individuals, organizations and especially our board of advisors for helping us bring this project to fruition.”
The $5 million project is being funded through private donations and a $2.35 million state appropriation.
Athens-based Koons Environmental Design is designing the project in partnership with the Office of University Architects, and Grahl Construction is overseeing construction, which is expected to be completed in late 2026. Garden operations will not be impacted during the project.
