Ground Broken On Park, Outdoor Classroom Geared For Children

LARGO, FL — During a ceremony Saturday, the Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation broke ground on the Majeed Discovery Garden, a new children's garden and nature-themed outdoor classroom at the botanical gardens, 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo.

"The Majeed Discovery Garden will be a place for children to learn and explore, open to residents and visitors of Pinellas County and free to the public," Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation Board President John Thomas said. "Children’s gardens are magical places where kids can interact with plants, see where food and fibers grow, and experience the role of birds, butterflies and bees in nature. This garden will not only expose youngsters to our natural Florida environment, but will also provide marvelous learning opportunities."

Situated on 2-plus acre of Florida natural pine flat woods habitat with slash pine and laurel oak as the dominant tree species and palmettos in the understory, the site is located on the northwest side of the Florida Botanical Gardens, between the Visitor Center building and along 500 feet of McKay Creek.

It is adjacent to a 1-acre unaltered wetland and native plant buffer on the east and the southern boundaries.

It will feature a 600-square-foot outdoor classroom, nature-themed play experiences, exploratory trails, planting beds and exhibits.

Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation Development Chairwoman Lisa Lombardi said the garden will allow children to focus on the care and nurture of plants and animals as they interact in creative spaces designed to stimulate all five senses.

Plans call for an area for children to play percussion instruments, estimated to cost $8,000. The "Musical Forest" will feature a variety of musical instruments, including a fog guiro, cajon and chimes. All will be life-sized, and can be enjoyed by both children and adults.

"Roots and Shoots" will be an outdoor classroom with raised planting beds that will serve as the hub of the park's educational activities. The foundation is seeking donations of $2,500 each for four square and two rectangular planting beds and 11 aluminum contour benches.

The park will also include an old-fashioned hand pump for children to use for planting projects and to wash their hands. The estimated cost is $6,500.

A sensory garden, estimated to cost $10,000, will feature multiple sensory curtains lining a short path for children to pass through for a stimulating multisensory experience. The hanging curtains will be made of bamboo, and accessible to children of all abilities.

A bamboo bridge, estimated to cost $22,000, will offer an explorative experience through an existing tall-timber bamboo grove. The bridge will act as a playful threshold from the big leaf trail to the music forest.

There will also be children's art display areas, a small honeycomb-themed outdoor stage and play equipment, picnic tables and seating for adults, 600 feet of Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant walkways, drinking fountains and cell phone-charging stations.

The Majeed Foundation has contributed $1 million toward the project and the David Berolzheimer Foundation has donated $800,000 while the Florida Botanical Garden Foundation provided $500,000 for the initial costs.

However, the foundation is still raising $700,000 to complete the $3 million project.

One way it is raising funds is through the sale of memorial pavers for a Donor Recognition Pathway in the children's garden. For $150 each, the pavers can be engraved with the names or a message with up to four lines, 14 characters per line. Click here to purchase a paver.

Groups, businesses and individuals can also donate by becoming sponsors for $10 to $500. For sponsorships, click here.

Also on hand for Saturday's groundbreaking were Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Charlie Justice, Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation Executive Director Vernon Bryant and Majeed Foundation CEO Kamal Majeed.