The State Botanical Garden of Georgia has broken ground on a major entrance renovation designed to accommodate a growing number of visitors.
The Gateway to the Garden project officially broke ground on January 23rd.
The five-million-dollar project will relocate and expand the garden’s main entrance and add new parking to support rising attendance.
When the garden opened in 1968, its entrance was built for about 50,000 visitors a year. Last year, more than 470,000 people explored its trails and garden spaces, nearly a tenfold increase.
The new entrance will also improve access for larger vehicles, including school buses that bring more than 4,000 students annually.
Funding comes from private donors and a 2.35 million dollar state appropriation. Construction is expected to wrap up in late 2026, and garden officials say visitors won’t be affected.