Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden announces $9 million expansion

EIGHT NEWS AT FIVE STARTS RIGHT NOW. NEW AT FIVE. SOME BIG CHANGES ARE IN STORE FOR THE GREATER DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN. LOOK AT THIS BEAUTIFUL VIDEO SHOT TODAY BY OUR DRONE. KCCI SENIOR REPORTER TODD MAGEL IS LIVE THERE TONIGHT WITH A LOOK AT MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PLANS TO EXPAND THE URBAN OASIS. TODD. YEAH. LAURA. YOU KNOW THE DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN OPENED 47 YEARS AGO. IT HAS BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF CHANGES AND NOW MORE BIG CHANGES ARE ON THE WAY. SINCE 1979, THE GREATER DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN HAS BEEN A FIXTURE ON THE DES MOINES SKYLINE. IT’S A FAVORITE SPOT TO TAKE A BREAK FROM WINTER WEATHER. A TROPICAL PARADISE FOR NEARLY 150,000 VISITORS A YEAR WHO WANT TO ESCAPE FOR AN AFTERNOON. IT DIDN’T LOOK REAL LARGE, YOU KNOW, FROM THE OUTSIDE, CHRIS GLONINGER IS A FIRST TIME VISITOR. JUST TAKING THE TIME TO LOOK AT SO MANY SPECIES INSIDE HAS BEEN FANTASTIC. IT WAS JUST A REALLY FUN AND NICE SURPRISE. I WOULD SAY OVERALL, OVER THE YEARS THEY’VE ADDED OUTDOOR GARDENS, POOLS AND RESTAURANT SPACE. BUT NOW IT’S TIME TO EXPAND THE BOTANICAL GARDEN FOOTPRINT. QUITE FRANKLY, WE’VE OUTGROWN A LOT OF OUR PHYSICAL SPACE. PROGRAM DIRECTOR WHITNEY BEAU BOWMAN SHOWED US NEW $9 MILLION PLANS IN THE WORKS. THEY INCLUDE A NEW AND LARGER MAIN ENTRANCE FOR VISITORS. IT WILL EXPAND THE LOBBY AND MAKE MORE ROOM FOR EASY ACCESS. BEFORE THAT IS STARTED, CREWS WILL BUILD A 2000 SQUARE FOOT TEMPORARY ENTRANCE CLOSER TO THE EAST SIDE OF THE GARDEN. IT WILL EVENTUALLY TRANSFORM INTO PERMANENT ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES. WE’VE GOT A RICH HISTORY, SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW OUR ORGANIZATION AS THE GREATER DES MOINES BOTANICAL GARDEN, THAT OUR PHYSICAL FACILITY, OUR FOOTPRINT, OUR GARDENS CONTINUE TO EVOLVE WITH US. AND WORK ON THAT NEW TEMPORARY ENTRANCE IS SET TO BEGIN SOMETIME NEXT MONTH. IT WILL HOPEFULLY BE DONE BY NEXT SPRING, AND THEN THEY’LL START BUILDING THE NEW PERMANENT FRONT DOOR ENTRANCE HERE JUST BEHIND ME. AND THAT SHOULD BE DONE SOMETIME

Updated: 6:47 PM CDT Apr 8, 2026

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The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, a fixture on the Des Moines skyline since 1979, is preparing for a $9 million expansion to enhance its facilities and accommodate growing needs. Crystal Namminga, a first-time visitor, shared her thoughts on the garden. “Just taking the time to look at so many species inside has been fantastic. It was just a really fun and nice surprise, I would say overall,” Namminga said. Over the years, the botanical garden has added outdoor gardens, pools and restaurant space. However, Program Director Whitney Bouma said the facility needs more room.”Quite frankly, we’ve outgrown a lot of our physical space,” Bouma said. Bouma detailed the plans, which include a new and larger main entrance to expand the lobby and improve visitor access. Before construction begins on the main entrance, crews will build a temporary 2,000-square-foot entrance on the east side of the garden, which will later be converted into permanent administrative offices. “We’ve got a rich history. So it is very important as we continue to grow, our organization is the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, that our physical facility, our footprint, our gardens continue to evolve with us,” Bouma said. Construction on the temporary entrance is set to begin in May and is expected to be completed by next spring. The new main entrance is projected to be finished by late 2028.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, a fixture on the Des Moines skyline since 1979, is preparing for a $9 million expansion to enhance its facilities and accommodate growing needs.

Crystal Namminga, a first-time visitor, shared her thoughts on the garden.

“Just taking the time to look at so many species inside has been fantastic. It was just a really fun and nice surprise, I would say overall,” Namminga said.

Over the years, the botanical garden has added outdoor gardens, pools and restaurant space. However, Program Director Whitney Bouma said the facility needs more room.

“Quite frankly, we’ve outgrown a lot of our physical space,” Bouma said.

Bouma detailed the plans, which include a new and larger main entrance to expand the lobby and improve visitor access. Before construction begins on the main entrance, crews will build a temporary 2,000-square-foot entrance on the east side of the garden, which will later be converted into permanent administrative offices.

“We’ve got a rich history. So it is very important as we continue to grow, our organization is the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, that our physical facility, our footprint, our gardens continue to evolve with us,” Bouma said.

Construction on the temporary entrance is set to begin in May and is expected to be completed by next spring. The new main entrance is projected to be finished by late 2028.