Novelty, Ohio – With a pledge of $100,000 toward the construction costs, The Pattie Group recently designed and installed a $1 million public garden at Cleveland Botanical Garnden’s (CBG) location in University Circle – the result of a unique collaboration between CBG and Northeast Ohio’s Commercial Green Industry. As the new space serves as the entrance garden to the CBG’s Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glasshouse, all visitors will get to experience The Pattie Group’s artistry and talent.
“The public garden will be an extension of Cleveland Botanical Garden’s mission to sensitize people to the importance of plants in their lives,” said Brian Holley, director of CBG. “It will be a great place to enjoy a quiet moment in the midst of beautifully landscaped gardens, have lunch or experience exhibits and live performances. The Pattie Group has done an extremely thoughtful job of selecting the plantings and designing the space so that it showcases, rather than hides, the exceptional work of architect Graham Gund who designed the plans for Cleveland Botanical Garden renovation and expansion.”
Opened to the public in July 2003, the two-acre public garden is the first of several public spaces contemplated in the master plan for University Circle designed to improve public accessibility, encourage pedestrian and bicycle traffic and provide a catalytic impact to foster a rebirth of housing and retain development in the area. The space features mature plantings indigenous to the region, pedestrian walkways and thoroughfares, a water feature and a plaza suitable for public gatherings and events. Plants were selected with a special emphasis on year-round aesthetics and regional hardiness.
“Our goal is to produce one of the most significant urban public space projects in Northeast Ohio since John D. Rockefeller, Jr. donated Forest Hills Park for community use in 1938,” noted Steve Pattie, CEO of The Pattie Group.
The Pattie Group conceived the project to add value to the community by maximizing the special synergies between Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, the Wade Oval and Cleveland Botanical Garden. The new design is intended to contribute to the safety, stability and vitality of the overall University Circle community.
“Overwhelmingly, people who live in urban districts regard access to public space as among the most important factors in their well-being and the vitality of their neighborhoods,” Pattie explained.
This article appeared originally in a recent issue of The Growing Concern.