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The Future of Adkins Arboretum

The Arboretum strives to improve its programs and facilities to ensure that visitors have a quality educational experience and to reach beyond its borders to help the region’s residents protect and restore our native landscape. The Arboretum sees itself as important an institution to the community as a library or school.

Model of the new Arboretum Center

In order to broaden the Arboretum’s educational offerings and research initiatives, and to serve a growing membership and visitorship, the Arboretum has adopted plans for a new Arboretum Center designed by Lake/Flato Architects of San Antonio, TX that will serve as the gateway to the Arboretum. The new Center will orient visitors to the Arboretum’s programs, gardens, exhibits, and natural areas. It will include dedicated space for children’s and adult education programs, and provide visitor amenities, an expanded library, exhibition and community meeting space. In addition, the Arboretum is working with Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates of Cambridge, MA to design enhancements for the Arboretum grounds, new gardens and paths, environmentally sensitively designed parking area and entrance, and boardwalks to improve access to the entire site.

For more information about the Arboretum's expansion plans, contact Ellie Altman, Executive Director at or 410-634-2847, extension 22.