The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky, is pleased to provide an important update regarding the Dorotha Smith Oatts Visitor Center renovation and expansion project, and our fundraising efforts to make this plan a reality.  

As of March 27, 2024, we have received gifts from almost 700 different donors to the campaign, totaling $2,916,471. This amount includes a $500,000 contribution from the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG), UK’s partner organization.

We are getting ever closer to our $3.5 million goal, with $583,529 left to raise. We are grateful to each and every donor, and we welcome and encourage additional gifts to help us reach our goal! 

We have re-engaged with the firm Lord Aeck Sargent (LAS). LAS completed Schematic Design documents for the project in spring 2020 but we are aware that prices for materials and labor have escalated in the intervening years. We have asked LAS to confirm their cost estimates so that we can move forward as expeditiously as possible toward completing design and construction phases in 2024 to realize this long-desired project.  

We are also pleased to provide an update on the artist Laura Mentor’s efforts. Thanks to the generous support of a donor family, Ms. Mentor was commissioned to create a suite of four stained-glass windows that will be displayed in the renovated Dorotha Smith Oatts Visitor Center. She has completed two windows and is hard at work on the remaining two pieces. Ms. Mentor graciously agreed to facilitate Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (M-G CAFE) recording specialists to film her in her studio.

Your financial support of The Arboretum and the Visitor Center project is more important than ever, and any amount is appreciated. You can support the effort by making a gift online.