Kennebec Savings Bank President and CEO Andrew E. Silsby joined board members and staff of the Viles Arboretum on June 23 to present a check for $10,000 in support of a new multi-purpose building. In addition to providing much-needed secure storage for maintenance equipment, the barn will be used for meeting and work space by seasonal volunteers, according to a news release from the arboretum. The positioning of this building will create a courtyard in front of the existing Visitors Center. This new property layout will become a gathering area for field trips. The courtyard, with wildflower garden, will be a starting point for visitors to begin their journey on the 6-mile trail system featuring botanical and sculpture collections. The new facility will replace an existing building, which is severely inadequate and in need of extensive repair.
“We are pleased to support this beautiful space that provides such a rich educational, cultural and recreational experience for visitors. It’s a gem of a resource for the greater Augusta area that is beginning to attract visitors of all ages from well beyond the borders of Kennebec County,” said Silsby in the release.
Mark P. DesMeules, arboretum executive director, said, “We are extremely pleased and fortunate to have the support of the Kennebec Savings Bank in launching this important new step forward for the Viles Arboretum. This challenge grant places us in an excellent position to move our campaign towards our ultimate goal of $100,000, where we can break ground for this exciting project,” in the release.
Barn construction is just one of the new upgrades falling under the arboretum’s “Shifting Gears Initiative.” The multifaceted plan lays out thoughtful enhancements at the arboretum aimed at creating a well-managed, engaging facility that meets today’s needs while also setting the stage to accommodate future growth.
The Viles Arboretum, centrally located in Augusta on 224 acres of fields, forests, wetlands and botanical collections offers an ever-changing selection of programs for the general public and for schools. It focuses on interactive, creative and hands-on teaching with a focus on natural history and unlocking everyone’s natural ability to understand the nature of the world through their own eyes and by using their own intellect.
To learn more about the arboretum and its programs, or how to become more involved, visit its website at vilesarboretum.org, checking its Facebook page, stop by or call 626-7989.
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