Anyone coming into Ames on Elwood Drive, whether for an athletic event, an Iowa State Center performance or the beginning of a new academic year, is greeted by a beautiful gateway called Reiman Gardens.

Reiman Gardens consists of 11 individual gardens covering 14 acres. It has six water features and several collections of plants, trees and sculptures.

This is Reiman Gardens now.

I want to give you a vision of what Reiman Gardens will be in five years:

It will be one of the top All-America Rose Selections gardens for the 7th year in a row.

It will provide educational programming for 1,200 youth each year.

It will host 500 weddings, concerts and other special events each year.

It will have an international reputation in horticulture and entomology education.

More than 500 volunteers will assist with tours, gardening, working at the front gate and hosting groups from around the country in the gardens.

Students from horticulture; entomology; animal ecology; photography; landscape architecture; hotel, restaurant and institution management; marketing; and Internet design and sales, will be using the gardens for class assignments and as a living lab.

Its annual economic impact on Ames will be more than $9 million.

This vision of the future is easy to see, though 2007 seems far off. This year, we will open a conservatory, which will include a caf‚, gift shop, learning center and a butterfly wing.

The conservatory and butterfly wing are expected to increase the number of annual visitors to nearly 175,000. Based on statistics from the Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau and analysis by an ISU economist, we estimate the economic impact of Reiman Gardens will be more than $9 million.

This is based on increased use of Ames as a location for the conference and event industry because of the presence of the facilities and activities provided by Reiman Gardens. It also is based on the anticipated increase in tourism that will be generated by the gardens.

In 2000, approximately 70,000 people visited the gardens, 40 percent of whom traveled 50 miles or more. Using this as a guide, we can expect 80,000 people traveling 50 miles or more when the conservatory and butterfly wing open.

The butterfly wing will be the only structure of its kind in Iowa. That is important when considering its impact on tourism and education. It also will be the only one of its kind in the nation located at a university garden facility, making it an incredible attraction for educators and scientists.

Iowa State’s entomology department is already hearing from researchers and educators across the country who are eager for the facility to open. Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania has one of the country’s most prestigious and exclusive graduate programs in horticulture. At Longwood, Reiman Gardens is known as “the best little garden in the Midwest.”

Right now, we are hosting approximately 750 youth for educational programs, and 250 wedding, anniversary, graduation and retirement parties. Our new facilities will allow us to expand all of our services.

Since it was opened in 1995, Reiman Gardens has been designated as an All-America Rose Selections public garden. We expect this relationship to continue. In fact, last year, AARS presented Reiman Gardens with its top award, the President’s Award, given annually to one public garden that surpasses AARS’ high standards for rose care and presentation.

Everything is in place for us to fulfill the vision I’ve described. But, fulfillment of the vision is contingent on funding.

As the garden grows, so does its budget. The garden’s budget in 2001 was $440,000. It will increase to $1.4 million in 2003. Most of that is for labor expenses for staffing the butterfly wing, the indoor conservatory and the educational and special event programming. Utility and maintenance cost also will increase with a new 30,000-square-foot building, five greenhouses and two indoor conservatories.

The revenue to meet these increased expenses will come from the university, private gifts and, most significantly, garden-generated revenue.

Specifically, in fiscal year 2001, the university provided approximately $310,000, or 71 percent of Reiman Gardens’ funding. In 2003, the university will provide approximately $522,000, or about 38 percent of the budget.

In 2001, private gifts provided $85,000, or approximately 19 percent of the budget. In 2003, private gifts are expected to provide $385,000, or approximately 28 percent of the budget.

Reiman Garden revenues in 2001 were $45,500, or approximately 10 percent of the budget. In 2003, Reiman will need to generate $472,000 in revenue, or approximately 34 percent of the budget. Reiman Gardens’ revenues will come from several sources, including rental fees, catering, caf‚ and gift shop sales, tours, memberships and admission fees.

On April 12, we will begin charging admission to Reiman Gardens. Admission will be $3 for adults, $2.50 for those 65 and older and $1 for children age 7 to 18. ISU students, children aged six and under and ISU classes using Reiman Gardens will always have free admission.

The adult admission charge will increase to $5 in November when the conservatory and butterfly wing open. Annual memberships are available for $35 for an individual or $50 for a family. We have nearly 400 families that are members.

Generous and visionary donors have helped develop Reiman Gardens and contribute to its increasing beauty. The Roy and Bobbi Reiman family has been the main contributor. Other donors include Erv and Marge Hunziker of Ames; Dwight and Hazel Hughes from Cedar Rapids; Country Landscapes Inc. of Ames; and many other Ames residents, including Floyd Penkhus, Paul Jones, Al Stempel and Vaughn and Meg Speer. The CoHorts, Reiman Gardens’ volunteer group, have contributed more than $80,000 in the past seven years.

Reiman Gardens is a gift to Iowa State University, to the city of Ames and to the state of Iowa.

It will provide significant educational benefits. It will have a significant impact on tourism. It will enhance the quality of life in Ames. But, just as plants need rain and sun, Reiman Gardens will need support.

Teresa McLaughlin is the director of Reiman Gardens. She is a guest columnist.