California’s Central Valley—home to the world’s most productive agricultural region—deserves a botanical garden that celebrates its natural heritage and growing future.

Objectives

This project seeks passionate co-founders who share the vision of bringing world-class botanical education and beauty to the heart of California. Together, we can create a garden that honors our agricultural heritage while cultivating the next generation of environmental stewards.

Our core objectives and goals are to:

1. Create a peaceful gathering space for events, workshops, and cultural activities that strengthen community bonds while introducing residents to diverse plant life they may never have seen before.
2. Preserve and showcase native Central Valley plant species threatened by climate change, creating a living archive of our region’s botanical heritage.
3. Celebrate the Central Valley’s farming heritage through heritage crop displays, sustainable agriculture demonstrations, and active partnerships with local farmers.
4. Generate tourism revenue, create sustainable jobs, and enhance property values while positioning Merced as an attractive destination for new residents and businesses.

Merced is uniquely positioned for this vision. With a University of California campus bringing academic partnerships, a growing population, and our agricultural roots, we have the foundation to create something extraordinary. A botanical garden here would serve not just our city, but the entire Central Valley—connecting people to the plants that sustain our region and inspire our future.