STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-May 8, 2023-After a long winter, it takes some additional time to work your way out of hibernation and the same is true for the Yampa River Botanic Park, which currently remains closed.
“Opening Day, which will include the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new entrances, will be announced in the next week or so,” said Executive Director Jennifer MacNeil. “The long winter has taken a toll on the park and staff has some heavy spring cleaning to do before we can welcome our first visitors or the season.”
The long winter has inflicted considerable tree damage that continues to be trimmed and cleaned up. Snow is melting making for muddy areas that hamper clean-up efforts. Park signage also suffered from the snowy off-season and is under repair. Staff and additional park volunteers are stepping up to get everything in tip top shape for when the park is ready to open.
In addition, the heavy snowpack across the park has delayed construction for the two new entrances. Contractors are back on site for the first time this spring. Installation work at both entrances is currently blocking public access.
“Even if everything else was ready to go, we can’t really open without the new entrances being completed,” continued MacNeil. “Even through it’s taking a bit longer for opening day to come, it will definitely be worth it.”
Several events are on the books for the summer including Yoga on the Green, Music on the Green, Stories in the Garden, Fairy Garden House Contest (June 9), Lulie Crawford’s Wildflowers and Watercolors (June 13), Garden Conservancy’s Open Days, and Piknik Theatre. In addition, the garden’s signature event, Passport Through the Park, is set for June 17.
Once a sprawling horse pasture, the six-acre Yampa River Botanic Park is now home to more than 60 unique gardens, thousands of plant species, animals, and hosts special events of all shapes and sizes. An innovative experiment in private/public partnerships, the Botanic Park is free and open to the public from dawn to dusk, from May through October.
For information visit www.yrbp.org, or contact the Yampa River Botanic Park via email at office@yrbp.org or 970-846-5172.
-WeServeTheCity-
Contact
Jennifer MacNeil, Executive Director, Yampa River Botanic Park, 970.846.5172 or email
Emily Hines, Marketing & Communications Coordinator, 970.871.7031 or email
Michael Lane, Communications Manager, 970.871.8220 or email