Myriad Gardens to Close Soon for Renovations

A big part of downtown is about to be off limits. The Myriad Botanical Gardens will undergo a $35 million upgrade. The drawback is that it will close for an entire year while the work is being done.

Thursday, April 8th 2010, 10:14 pm

By: News 9


By Charles Bassett, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A big part of downtown is about to be off limits. The Myriad Botanical Gardens will undergo a $35 million upgrade. The drawback is that it will close for an entire year while the work is being done.

The park has never been closed this long since it opened 22 years ago. This is just the latest in a number of projects what will change the face of downtown.

"I bought some flowers for my window; I bought some things to do down by a stream that runs in our backyard," shopper Carol Wilson said.

Inside the Botanical Gardens the plants are not only for show, some are now for sell.

"I heard the advertisement and knew that these plants were going to be the best taken care of plants, so I figure I better get over here and get me some before they're all gone," Wilson said.

The sale is just one step to prepare for the overhaul of the gardens.

Following the upcoming arts festival the crystal bridge at the gardens will be the first thing closed down.

"It's all going to start with a repainting and re-glazing of a new plastic cover for the crystal bridge," Myriad Gardens Manager Allan Storjohann said.

New clear glass will be installed to replace the old glass that is covered and cracked in some spots.

"I'm kind of excited about the renovation because what I'm looking at is on the other side of the renovation," Williams said.

Outside, the grounds of the garden will be shut down in May and made over as well. Work crews are already preparing. A restaurant and an ice rink will be added. The landscaping will change, as well.

"About four times more special plantings will be in here with places for entertainment, a lot more educational and fun places for people to enjoy themselves in the garden," Storjohann said.

The gardens sit in the shadow of the planned Devon Tower which is under construction. Part of the park project is funded by the tax money generated from the Tower.

There is no doubt the two together will be a draw once they're finished, but garden managers hope it will be enough to get back the one million tourists a year it will lose while the work is underway.

"It's going to be well worth the wait once it's completed," Storjohann said.

The plants inside the crystal bridge and many on the grounds will be protected while the work is done.

The plant sale continues Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

logo

Get The Daily Update!

Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News on 6 delivered right to your inbox!

More Like This

April 8th, 2010

March 14th, 2024

December 4th, 2023

September 25th, 2023

Top Headlines

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024