Fernwood Botanical Gardens opens new education center for community

NILES, Mich. -- After years of planning and fundraising, Fernwood Botanical Gardens is expanding its educational resources with a new education center. 

The nonprofit will host a grand opening of the building, called the Sims Education Center, on Sunday, October 14 from 2 - 5 p.m. The public is invited to the grand opening to view the new 5,500 square foot facility. 

"This will double our space for education," said Carol Line, executive director of Fernwood Botanical Gardens. "I see on any given day a youth nature class in one wing while we have a maybe three day adult art class going on in this wing. I just want it to be a very fluid building where we can showcase all that we do here, all of the components, and bring the community in."

Line says she hopes the education center can provide a unique resource to the community. 

"Being able to add programming like that that they may not be able to find elsewhere, and to be able to incorporate those pieces together I think makes us very unique," she said. 

The building includes two wings and an adult and children's library. It's the first completed project in Fernwood's 10 to 15 year master plan, which includes several expansions and improvements to the property. 

The education center will be open to the public during Fernwood's regular hours.