A FOCUS FOR ALL THE GARDENERS in the area

A local group of garden lovers is tired of waiting to see their dream come true, and you can help with your donations of time and/or funds, and with a vote in it’s favor if the 2-year old Boca Raton Botanical Gardens Association is able to get this issue onto the election ballet; city records show there has not been a public petition to create a referendum in at least 15 years. "This would set a precedent tying down property by referendum... instead of the city council going through the public hearing process," Mayor Steven Abrams said. Their eyes are on the nearly 30 acres of city-owned property along Spanish River Boulevard.

For the two years since the formed, they've been trying build a park with gardens and an open geodesic dome, design pictured above, which would allow air and light into the building, and would be filled with plants, birds and classrooms. They've raised $555,000 for the more than $2 million project.

To start, they must gather signatures of more than 15 percent of the voters in the March election, which is about 800 people. When they have the needed signatures, the paperwork will be reviewed by the city clerk's office. If it meets the requirements, the proposed ordinance to build the botanical gardens and dome could go before the city council or become an item on the next ballot. If voters pass the ordinance, the city would be required

Murakami Landscape Architects created a preliminary plan for the botanical gardens and designed the conservatory. The proposed project would include a children's garden and play area as well as a Japanese and water lily garden. The centerpiece would be the geodesic dome or conservatory, which would sit at the water's edge on the lake's east side. The dome would be 210 feet in diameter and would house classrooms, labs, research facilities and offices. The city has had several suggestions for the property east of the new library. One suggestion was to make it into a children's park that would be linked with the yet-to-be-built Countess de Hoernle Park on the south side of Spanish River Boulevard. City officials have been focusing on that park and are working with the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Parks district to build ballfields.

Abrams said they are open to working with the association to find a site, but they are open to suggestions for the property east of the new library. "We'll give priority to projects that are funded," he said. "So far, they're well ahead of any other nonprofit that has wanted to go there."