Title
Informational Presentation from Staff Regarding Planning for the future of Olbrich Botanical Gardens with the completion of a comprehensive master plan.
Body
In 2024, the Olbrich Botanical Society Board of Directors approved $250,000 for the purpose of completing a comprehensive master plan for Olbrich Botanical Gardens and requested that the City of Madison accept private funding from OBS for the completion of a comprehensive master plan for the Gardens. The Parks Division’s 2025 Adopted Capital Budget authorizes funding for the comprehensive master plan update, and following a competitive Request for Qualifications process, a consultant team has been chosen. Pending authorization from Council and Finance Committee, the consultant will begin this work in the summer of 2025.
The Comprehensive Master Plan for Olbrich Botanical Gardens will outline the path for strategically maintaining the Garden’s current facilities while exploring potential for new gardens and capacity to meet the needs of the growing community. This plan will include significant public engagement throughout the process. The final plan will be the steering document for the next twenty-five years for Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Staff will provide an informational overview of the process to complete the comprehensive plan and answer any questions that the Board of Park Commissioners may have.