On May 20, Royal Botanical Gardens will re-open its rock garden, now named the David Braley and Nancy Gordon Rock Garden, following a $7-million Ontario investment and $7-million federal investment to support the rejuvenation of the historic attraction.
The new rock garden features accessibility improvements, enhancements to the landscape and interior renovations to the site’s historic tea house. Royal Botanical Gardens will also showcase its new visitors’ centre, which it staged a $6-million capital campaign to fund.
Eleanor McMahon, MPP for Burlington, was on hand to celebrate the re-opening of the rock garden. “Royal Botanical Gardens is the heart of our community,” she said, in a press release. “With this grand re-opening, I am confident that this national historic site will continue to be a must-see attraction and a source of pride for all Ontarians.”
The rock garden was first established in 1931 on the site of a former gravel pit located between Hamilton and Burlington. Royal Botanical Gardens, the largest botanical garden in Canada, is a national historic site and a registered charitable organization.
“After more than 80 years, the time had come to bring the rock garden back to the forefront of our community,” said Mark Runciman, CEO of Royal Botanical Gardens. “We are grateful to the federal and provincial governments, along with lead donors David Braley and Nancy Gordon, for helping to make this dream a reality.”
