The North Carolina Arboretum

The North Carolina Arboretum will replace its circular arrival area in front of the education center with an accessible, pedestrian-friendly Education & Events Plaza featuring waterfall and cascade features, regional stonework, and a lawn designed to interpret the geology and hydrology of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The plaza will allow the Arboretum to host larger weddings, conferences, and festivals, expanding capacity from about 150 to 400 guests for weddings and conferences, and up to 700 guests for select festivals.

The authority previously invested $1,655,000 in the Arboretum for the creation of the Bonsai Garden and for garden lighting and parking enhancements.

Award: $2,400,000

Timeline: March 2027 – April 2029