New temporary fencing is up near the entrance to the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, and work on the long-anticipated new visitors' center is set to begin this spring. The city projects the center, which will include an exhibit hall, cafe and rental spaces, will be complete by the end of this year. Rendering courtesy of city of Overland Park website
Progress on the long-awaited new visitors center at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens will soon officially be underway.
According to the city, construction is set to begin this spring, which is why visitors will see temporary fencing going. near the entrance to the arboretum, on 179th Street just off U.S. Highway 69.
The 21,000-square foot “LongHouse” visitors center is expected to feature a range of amenities, including rental spaces, exhibits, a café and a gift shop.
The arboretum plans to offer the space for various community events, such as meetings and weddings.
Temporary fencing up near the entrance to the Overland Park Arboretum, where a new visitors center is set to be constructed beginning this spring. Image via City of Overland Park Facebook.
Outdoor plans for the visitors center include a reflecting pool and new entry gardens.
The Overland Park City Council approved preliminary plans for the visitors center at the beginning of 2020.
At that time, the project came with a proposed cost of $17 million, but the projected price tag has since risen to $19.3 milliondue to the spike in prices of construction materials that have risen amid the pandemic and were exacerbated by last winter’s storms that did major damage to Texas.
Funding for the visitors center came from the Arts & Recreation of Overland Park and the city’s Capital Improvements Program.
Completion of the project is still estimated for the end of this year, according to the city’s website.
Updates on the visitor center’s progress will be posted on the city’s website page about the project.
Our comment section is reserved for subscribers. Try a subscription today for just $1
Monthly Subscription
$1 for your first month, then just $8.50 per month thereafter. Cancel anytime.
Try for $1Annual Subscription
$1 for your first month, then just $85 per year thereafter. Cancel anytime.
Try for $1