Visitors to Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary (Garden) and adjacent areas of Theodore Wirth Regional Park in the last two weeks may have noticed work on the fencing that surrounds the Garden.
Thanks to a generous donation from the Friends of the Wildflower Garden (Friends) this work in 2024 follows fencing upgrades funded by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) in 2022.
The fencing upgrades for both years are part of a broader, ongoing improvements project at the Garden. In the map below, gray dashed lines indicate the general location for the upgraded fencing, which expands the Garden by about one acre; the heavy blue dashed lines indicate sections being installed this fall along the Garden’s north and east sides.
The areas between the old and new fencing include woodland and meadow habitat that is being restored by MPRB staff and volunteers, in partnership with the Friends; as well as areas with unofficial trails developed over time by pedestrians in Theodore Wirth Regional Park. These areas will also be restored once they are incorporated into the Garden.
Meanwhile, an official natural-surface trail is soon to be installed on a nearby hillside to serve pedestrians in this area of Theodore Wirth Park. In preparation, the hillside has been cleared of invasive buckthorn by MPRB staff and volunteers, in partnership with the Friends. We will share more information once an installation timeline is confirmed.
MPRB thanks everyone for their support while these park and garden improvements are underway.
