MADRID, Iowa—After a year of fundraising, delicate site prep, and hand-crafted, artisan construction by Beanstalk Builders, one of the most unique play spaces in the Midwest is ready to cut the ribbon. A Thursday, September 5, opening of the Adele and Dean Bowden Treehouse Village at the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens in Madrid, Iowa, is now set, according to Mark Schneider, executive director. Children of all ages and abilities can take their appreciation of nature, and their imagination, to new heights.
Treehouse Village is nestled in a quiet, wooded area across Peach Avenue from the Arboretum’s main campus. Paved paths through a tranquil setting slowly reveal whimsical play structures, amazing treehouses, hammock and wheelchair swings, a ground-level zipline, a wooden suspension bridge over a ravine, a cargo net climbing station, quiet overlook gazebos and stunning views of trees and an expansive valley. The main play structure features adaptive equipment for children.
‘Treehouse Village is the first installment in a broader effort by the Iowa Arboretum to engage more young families’ appreciation of the natural world,” Schneider noted. “Beyond being a living collection of trees and plants that can be successfully grown in Iowa, the Iowa Arboretum is a place for families to enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of play and enjoyment of beautiful outdoor settings.”
In addition to the lead gift from Dean and the late Adele Bowden, the project received the Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grant from the State of Iowa (Iowa Economic Development Authority) https://www.iowaeda.com/enhance-iowa/. Sponsorship gifts for the play area were received from Fareway Meat and Grocery https://www.fareway.com/ and Variety – the Children’s Charity https://www.varietyiowa.com/ . The project also received generous financial support from Arboretum members and the community at large.
Entrance to the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens which includes Treehouse Village is free to members, $12 for non-member adults and youth (13 – 17 yrs.), $7 for children (3 – 12 yrs.), and children two and under are free. Admission tickets must be purchased on the Arboretum’s website at www.iowaarboretum.org
The Iowa Arboretum & Gardens and Treehouse Village are open weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. An annual family membership is $85.
The Iowa Arboretum & Gardens features over 5,000 living specimens with individually assigned accession numbers. Collection strengths include oaks, hardy nut trees, dwarf conifers, maples, irises, and hostas. The Arboretum’s trial garden program showcases new plants and shrubs under evaluation for hardiness from over 20 plant companies. In addition to display, thematic, and genus-specific gardens, the 160-acre site also features natural woodland and native prairie trails.
The Iowa Arboretum & Gardens is a community-supported public garden inspiring curiosity, discovery, and appreciation of the natural landscape. Established in 1968 as a non-profit organization by the Iowa Horticultural Society in Boone County near Madrid, the Iowa Arboretum became a stand-alone organization in 1979. The Arboretum’s vision is to be a leading botanical, educational, and recreational destination fostering the value and enjoyment of nature. It features 160 acres displaying a unique collection of Iowa trees, landscapes, and native ecosystems. To learn more, visit: www.iowaarboretum.org
(contributed press release, Iowa Arboretum)
