Royal Botanical Gardens Lands $300K for Accessibility Upgrades

The Royal Botanical Gardens has landed two grants worth $300,000 combined from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, paying for upgrades that make the gardens easier to visit both online and in person.

The first grant, $100,000, went toward overhauling the RBG website with clearer navigation, better readability and a new interactive map. The second, $200,000, funded four mobile accessible washroom units now stationed near outdoor events at the RBG Centre and Hendrie Park.

The portable units are staying through the summer to support outdoor concerts and the ongoing Anchorball exhibition. Burlington MPP Natalie Pierre visited to congratulate staff, calling the gardens an oasis in an urban area.

"These grants make the entire RBG experience more accessible and more welcoming," said Breanna Wells, the gardens' director of fundraising and campaigns. The RBG marks its 85th anniversary this year.