ANOTHER WAY INTO THE GARDEN

7/7/2006

Dick Meyers and U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur take the wraps off a sign at the new Bancroft

Street entrance to the Toledo Botanical Garden. The second public entrance, a

paved driveway with a wrought-iron fence that opened yesterday, was built with a portion of $268,000 in federal grant money, said Janet Schroeder, executive director

for the garden. New signs and information kiosks were also purchased. Ms. Schroeder said garden officials hope the increased visibility of the second entrance will draw more visitors than the 120,000 the garden now sees annually. The garden s only public entrance was off of a smaller road, Elmer Drive, Ms. Schroeder said. The Bancroft entrance was previously a gravel path that was used only by staff. Toledo Botanical is one of the few free public gardens in the nation, she said, and is funded through membership fees, special fund-raising events, grants, and private and corporate gifts.