The Gardens on Spring Creek Five-acre Expansion (and Why We Can’t Stop Talking About It)

Oct 29, 2018 | In The Community | 0 comments

For more than a decade, The Gardens on Spring Creek has been a special place where people of all ages can visit, explore, and learn – connecting with plants and with each other in the heart of Fort Collins. For those of us at Associates in Family Medicine, we love having a place right in our NoCo neighborhood that’s committed to nature, growing healthy foods, and promoting the positive impact those things have on people’s lives. Now, this botanical oasis is on the verge of completing a transformational expansion, one that will enrich individual lives and our larger NoCo community.

As a longtime partner and supporter of The Gardens, our team at AFM is counting down the days to the culmination of this amazing project! In the meantime, we’ll fill you in on the details around this blossoming local destination.

“The Gardens’ completion will add a vibrant new layer to Northern Colorado – building upon a rich quality of life in Fort Collins that is sustained by our community’s engagement,” Korrie says. “And it’s this ongoing, meaningful engagement that will be vital to our future growth.”

Exciting growth is on the way

The Gardens on Spring Creek has been a vision in the making since before the doors even opened in 2004. That vision, one of a place that serves and honors both people and nature, is now being fulfilled through the implementation of the Master Plan – a project that includes five acres of breathtaking new gardens.

“The completion of our Master Plan expansion is a monumental milestone in the evolution of the Gardens on Spring Creek, bringing what was a dream for over twenty years into reality,” says Korrie Johnston, Fundraising and Marketing Coordinator for The Gardens. “This protected space has been built and will be maintained to appeal to all ages and invite the creation of meaningful experiences with nature.”

New additions to The Gardens’ lush landscape include the Undaunted Garden, the Prairie Garden, the Foothills Garden, and several other educational and themed gardens. A Great Lawn and stage are also in the works to create a multi-use venue that seats up to 1,500 people for everything from concerts and plays to community festivals and weddings.

“This central outdoor arts and culture venue, complete with an amphitheater, stage, and lawn gathering space, will offer opportunities to engage with performing arts and concerts in a natural setting,” says Korrie. “Residents and visitors alike will be able to travel to The Gardens to visit the displays and future exhibits, plus attend events, summer concerts, and other attractions.”

As the final phase of the expansion, a brand-new Conservatory Butterfly House, a meeting room, and a larger single entrance and lobby will double the square footage of the existing Visitor’s Center and help welcome an estimated 125,000 guests to The Gardens every year!

We’ve marked our calendars at AFM for the soft opening of the new gardens, slated for spring 2019. And we anxiously await the grand opening, which is anticipated to take place later in the year.

Cultivating community

Over the years, one of The Gardens on Spring Creek enduring values has been “Cultivating community through a passion for horticulture.” Through fun events with local partners, a wide range of learning opportunities, and stunning natural beauty, The Gardens has consistently met the mark – offering a unique gathering place where people can be united and inspired by nature all year long.

According to Korrie, The Gardens’ Master Plan will only enhance this continued commitment to community. “Following the completion of our expansion, cultivating community in Fort Collins and Northern Colorado will grow at The Gardens through new engagement opportunities, inspiring garden spaces, experiential educational programs, and community driven events.”

Chelsea Cloutier, our Marketing Manager at AFM, shares how much this project means to us, to our ongoing partnership with The Gardens, and to the area we call home. “The Gardens on Spring Creek is a local paradise,” she says. “Everyone can benefit from spending a little more time in nature. We are so excited for The Gardens’ expansion and the additional beauty and experiences it will bring to our community!”

With more space to grow and more ways to inspire, The Gardens on Spring Creek can undoubtedly broaden its impact on residents, visitors, Northern Colorado, and beyond.

“The Gardens’ completion will add a vibrant new layer to Northern Colorado – building upon a rich quality of life in Fort Collins that is sustained by our community’s engagement,” Korrie says. “And it’s this ongoing, meaningful engagement that will be vital to our future growth.”

AFM at The Gardens on Spring Creek

Halloween Enchanted Garden

We just wrapped up a mesmerizing Halloween event at The Gardens! On October 27, kids and grownups alike donned their costumes to partake in the magical amusement of this super sweet (and candy-free) event. Our AFM volunteers enjoyed an enchanting day of Halloween hilarity, helping kiddos with a festive craft and taking free family photos to capture the fantastic costumes and fun.
See the full gallery on Facebook, and check out a few highlights below!

Garden of Lights

December 1, 2018 – January 1, 2019

Open every evening (including holidays), from 5-9p.m. Join AFM for one of Fort Collins’ brightest holiday traditions! Wander through a wonderland of gleaming holiday light displays, including giant flowers, perennial flower beds, a sparkling blue pond, and even a Primordial Forest complete with dinosaurs. Sip warm drinks, hum to seasonal tunes, and get your free picture with Santa on Sunday, December 9th and Sunday, December 16th, 6-8p.m. (compliments of AFM).

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