August 4, 2015 Cooperative Extension Division. Extension Demonstration ‘Exploration Gardens’ Commercial and residential classes & tours often include.

August 4, 2015

Cooperative Extension Division

Extension Demonstration ‘Exploration Gardens’

• Commercial and residential classes & tours often include a “learning by doing/seeing” experience in our 5 acre demonstration area.

• Two (2) teaching pavilions, water & electric, in original architectural plans (2007, Dao Consultants) were left out due to the recession.

• Understood that smaller projects could be completed later using the Tree Replacement Trust Fund.

Extension Demonstration ‘Exploration Gardens’

• Cooperative Extension is the County’s lead agency for tree education for proper variety selection, installation and maintenance of our urban and rural forest canopy.

• 3 Extension Agents (certified arborists) conducted 81 classes since 2012, attended by 3,605 participants.

• Florida Chapter International Society of Arboriculture and Florida Urban Forestry Council hold meetings and classes on site.

Extension Demonstration ‘Exploration Gardens’

• Tree Replacement Trust Fund allows expenditures for “educational programs which promote the objectives” of the County’s landscape code.

• Smaller projects funded by TRTF include irrigation, tree installation and maintenance and greenhouse for garden propagation.

• We currently have 253 trees on property which are used in our educational programs.

Exploration Gardens Teaching Pavilion

• Currently insufficient shade structures to hold outdoor class sessions or tour groups for extended periods in May thru September.

• Currently no electricity or drinking water.

• 10,800 Exploration Garden visitors in 2014.

Exploration Gardens Teaching Pavilion

• Action requested: Approval to spend up to $80,000 to construct a teaching pavilion at the Extension Exploration Gardens and to install a handicapped accessible boardwalk to the entrance of the pavilion.

August 4, 2015

Cooperative Extension Division