- Niagara Parks marks the 90th anniversary of the Botanical Gardens and School of Horticulture and 30th anniversary of the Butterfly Conservatory
- An all-new, interactive exhibit at the Butterfly Conservatory invites guests into the vital world of pollinators
- In partnership with Shaw Festival, new outdoor theatre experience opens July 9 at the Botanical Gardens
- Construction on brand-new, four-acre Children’s Garden to begin this fall
- Visitors can bundle the Butterfly Conservatory with other nature-based attractions and be among the first to experience the new space: niagaraparks.com/deals
Niagara Falls, ON – Niagara Parks is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Butterfly Conservatory and the 90th anniversary of the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens with all-new programming and experiences including an interactive exhibit and new outdoor theatre program in partnership with the Shaw Festival.
Today, at a milestone celebration held at the Botanical Gardens, Niagara Parks officially unveiled the brand-new Pollinator Playground exhibit, which invites visitors of all ages to explore the vital role of pollination through a blend of digital discovery and hands-on play. The event also celebrated the new partnership between Niagara Parks and the Shaw Festival that brings a complimentary outdoor theatre program, A Short History of Niagara, to the grounds of the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens this summer.
Representatives from Niagara Parks and the Shaw Festival delivered remarks about the new programming and exciting future for the renowned site, including a brand-new, four-acre Children’s Garden, in collaboration with the Niagara Parks Foundation. Guests were then invited to tour the new Pollinator Playground exhibit and witness a sneak preview of A Short History of Niagara before it opens to the public on Thursday, July 9.
Discover a World of Pollinators and Build Your Own Bugs
Marking three decades since the Butterfly Conservatory opened, the new Pollinator Playground expands on the 11,000 square foot tropical environment, where guests can learn about the butterfly lifecycle and wander among 3,000 free-flying butterflies. This permanent exhibit is included in the price of admission and features fact-filled panels that highlight both diurnal (daytime) and nocturnal (nighttime) pollinators, including butterflies, bees, birds and even bats.
At the heart of the space is the Live Sketchbook, inviting guests of all ages to add colour to their favourite pollinators before placing their artwork in a “magic scanner” that instantly animates each creation. The creatures then crawl, creep, flutter and fly through a vibrant digital forest projected on a theatre-sized screen. STEM based learning is also on display with the Creation Station, an interactive, digital tabletop where visitors can imagine their own plants and insects using simple shapes.
To learn more about the Pollinator Playground, visit niagaraparks.com/butterfly
The Shaw Festival Brings Outdoor Theatre to Botanical Gardens
Niagara Parks is proud to expand the visitor experience at the Botanical Gardens this summer through a new partnership with the Shaw Festival, that will present A Short History of Niagara, a family-friendly outdoor theatre production that brings 12,000 years of Niagara’s history to life. Just steps from the Conservatory and complimentary for guests to the Botanical Gardens, the production will run six days a week (Thursday to Tuesday) from July 9 to August 18 with two performances each day at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Guests can learn more about this family-friendly production at niagaraparks.com/shaw
Children’s Garden to Open for Play in 2028
The joint project between Niagara Parks and the Niagara Parks Foundation to build a vibrant, four-acre Children’s Garden at the Botanical Gardens has moved into its next stage of development, marking another exciting milestone for the groundbreaking project. MT Planners and +VG Architects are currently completing the detailed design of the 12 sensory-rich areas designed to spark curiosity and connect children of all ages with the natural world through play. Rooted in the principles of nature-based learning, this one-of-a-kind, outdoor classroom will inspire the next generation of environmental stewards and represents the next phase of growth for the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens which marks its 90th anniversary this year. Construction is set to begin this fall.
To help this transformative project build momentum, guests can donate here: niagaraparks.com/foundation/childrensgarden
Media assets can be found here.
Quotes
“Today’s celebration reflects Niagara Parks at its very best: honouring our legacy while boldly investing in the future. The immersive Pollinator Playground, our new partnership with the Shaw Festival and the forthcoming Children’s Garden each demonstrate our commitment to creating meaningful, nature‑based experiences that will inspire curiosity and environmental stewardship for generations to come.” — Graham Coveney, Chair, Niagara Parks Commission
“The Ontario government is proud to celebrate these milestone anniversaries at Niagara Parks. New attractions like the Children’s Garden, the pollinator exhibit and the Shaw Festival’s unique outdoor theatre experience are enhancing the visitor experience and strengthening Niagara’s reputation as a premier, family-friendly tourism destination for years to come.” – Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming.
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