Published September 10, 2025
“I made friends with a butterfly! That’s the best kind of friend I ever had.” Jackson, age 6
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is a magical place where families and children connect with nature, art and each other. Since opening in May 2018, more than 1 million visitors have explored the garden. Designed to celebrate Ohio’s landscape, the Children’s Garden inspires curiosity, hands-on exploration, and a lasting connection to the natural world. From the very beginning, the Children’s Garden has been rooted in the Conservatory’s broader mission of outreach and education.
While the Children’s Garden is open year-round for families to explore, in the warmer months, Sandstone Creek and the Misting Boulders provide families with a space to cool off and splash for hours. In the Learning Pavilion, families engage in a variety of programming led by a team of seasonal educators. Discovery Station offers daily, interactive lessons. Garden Club meets once a week in the Let’s Grow Garden, allowing little gardeners the opportunity to nurture their green thumb as they water and care for the garden. Story Time is the perfect program for our youngest explorers, singing and dancing their way through magical stories read in the Learning Pavilion once a week. The Children’s Garden seasonal programming has something for children of all ages.
Beyond structured programs, the Children’s Garden has become a second home for many families. Some families visit almost daily, and the Children’s Garden team has had the joy of watching countless children grow up in the garden, including one unforgettable moment when a young child took their first steps in the Learning Pavilion. These stories remind us that the Children’s Garden is not only a place for learning, but also for making lasting memories.
The Children’s Garden is a hub of community connection and learning. Each year, more than 20,000 children experience the Children’s Garden as an outdoor classroom while they participate in field trips that blend science, environmental education and hands on exploration. Teachers and caregivers alike recognize the Children’s Garden as an extension of the traditional classroom, offering lessons that last long after their visit.
By providing both structured programming and spontaneous opportunities for discovery, the Children’s Garden has become a beloved destination where families form traditions, children grow in confidence, and the community comes together to celebrate our natural world.