Looking toward the next 20 years, Reiman Gardens has put together a plan to revamp its gardens, starting with the southwest corner this April. 

The plan, dubbed the Sycamore Falls project, is set to develop the 1.25 acres of a hillside on the property. The end result will feature multiple tiers of pools with water cascading between them. The tiers will be surrounded by foliage. 

Seven 80-year-old Sycamore trees will also make an appearance on the east side of the site.

The final plantings will take place next spring. 

The budget for the renovations is $3.4 million, which will be reached using private gifts. Roy and Bobbi Reiman, for whom the gardens are named after, donated $1.7 million. 

The full project involves additions to the northern and central gardens. 

The northern garden would include a welcome center and an entry courtyard garden. The central garden involves a wide-open grassy area where people are able to sit and relax for long stretches of time, as shown in the mock-up drawing.

These renovations are all part of the 20-year master plan that Reiman Gardens put together while looking forward to the future after celebrating its 20-year anniversary in 2015. 

President Steven Leath and his wife, Janet, strongly support the project, according to the Reiman Gardens website. 

Iowa State has a tradition of housing a horticultural site on campus that dates back to 1914, the original garden being just north of the Farm House. In 1964, the garden was moved to a 3-acre, limited space.

It wasn’t moved to its current location until the 1990s, when there was a need for more space. 

Over the next 20 years, the garden expanded from 5 acres to 17 acres. This includes the Conservatory Complex and the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing, which opened in November 2002.

In addition to approving the Reiman Garden renovation, the Board of Regents also approved Iowa State selling Franklin Park. 

Iowa State has owned the 4-acre land since the 1940s, leasing it to the city of Ames starting in 1960. The park is set to sell for $166,000.