New International Gardening Competition Coming To Detroit
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - A new international gardening competition is planned for next year in Detroit, near the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory on Belle Isle.
City Council on Tuesday authorized the use of Belle Isle for the World Cup of Gardening, which is scheduled for June 24-29.
John Cullen, who owns Celtic Gardens in Dexter, first pitched the event to the City Council in June, saying it would draw tens of thousands of people. Tickets are expected to cost between $20 and $30 for single-day passes and between $35 and $60 for multi-day admission.
According to Councilman James Tate, an admittance fee would be charged for the event, which would take up a portion of the island park in the Detroit River. The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, which houses plants including a major orchid collection, is surrounded by gardens.
"There would be a marketplace, the gardens would be all around the conservatory. We could marry this event with maximizing exposure of that beautiful campus," Cullen told Mlive.com.
The city is expected to receive a percentage of concessions proceeds from the event.
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