Hunt underway for future home of Lake Champlain Botanical Garden

WESTPORT | The hunt is now underway for the future home of the Lake Champlain Botanical Garden (LCBG), as a team of motivated individuals is searching for roughly a 100-acre land parcel in town. The idea to create this unique, world-class horticultural destination originated in late fall 2023. When Tena Perrelli and Pat Troyan were on the hunt for the future home of the Westport Lilac Garden, they jokingly speculated that it might be easier to find 100 acres instead of just 1 acre in town. That joke blossomed into an idea that will eventually become a major year-round destination in the Champlain Valley, attracting thousands of visitors annually throughout the four seasons. Last year, the LCBG received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and a grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program. The goal is to open the LCBG sometime by 2034. "The vision that we have for the garden will continue to evolve and be refined as we zero in on its location," as stated on the website. "What will remain constant are the [...] ideas that are driving this project, and the impact that the garden will have on our community." A botanical garden is more than just a collection of plants; it is essentially a living museum, a center for scientific discovery, and a vibrant community anchor, featuring everything from themed gardens with vibrant native blooms and rare global species to protected natural habitats and various educational/visitor facilities. Cornell University Landscape Design students from a spring 2024 studio class developed potential renderings of what the LCBG could look like in the future. One design showcased a living roof — a roof partially or completely covered with vegetation, designed to improve energy efficiency, manage stormwater runoff, and provide habitat for wildlife. Underneath the living roof is an event space surrounded by annual beds and an organic lawn. Another rendering showcased a meadow filled with pollinator plantings, a butterfly house, a honeycomb farm, and educational signage to help visitors learn more about the wildlife that lives there. The LCBG plans to offer plenty of interactive opportunities, including a children's meadow, educational planting beds, various workshops, concert series, and more. There will also be themed programs centered on topics, such as Earth Month, bird watching, light, camping, and lilacs. The botanical garden will be designed to operate year-round and shift its programming to specific themes depending on the season, such as maple sugaring in spring, harvest-themed activities in autumn, and cross-country skiing in winter. Although the team is currently searching for a 100-acre parcel, whatever the final size of the property ends up being, only about 25 acres of land will be developed with garden features and buildings: the remaining acreage will serve as a natural buffer, a "green belt" that will provide natural privacy and sound absorption for neighbors. The team hopes to secure a location by the end of this year, whether that be in Westport or another nearby community. "We're hopeful that the location of the garden will result in a significant economic benefit to Westport," Perrelli said. "Regardless of the actual site however, a major destination like this will have a regional economic impact to all of Essex County." For more information or updates, visit lakechamplainbotanicalgarden.org.

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Hunt underway for future home of Lake Champlain Botanical Garden

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