The Bill Gatton Foundation is giving $30 million to The Arboretum, Lexington's 100-acre state botanical garden. The improvement plans will be announced Thursday, Oct. 29.

The Arboretum, Lexington’s 100-acre public garden, is getting a $30 million gift from The Bill Gatton Foundation. The University of Kentucky Board of Trustees accepted the gift Friday, Oct. 23, the university announced.

The university called it a “transformational gift.” It has not yet said what the money will pay for. The details of the improvements and renovations planned for the garden will be announced at a celebration Thursday.

The celebration Thursday

  • When: 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 29
  • Where: The Arboretum
  • Speakers: UK President Eli Capilouto and Danny Dunn, trustee of The Bill Gatton Foundation
  • Also expected: university and city leaders, donors, volunteers and community members, the university said

What The Arboretum is

The Arboretum’s full name is The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky. It is a partnership between the University of Kentucky and the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, and the two have run it together for more than four decades.

The UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment manages it. The university describes it as a 100-acre public garden that links university teaching and research with chances for people of all ages to explore Kentucky’s natural world. Its gardens, trails and collections are used for education, recreation, reflection and celebration, the university said.

Its 2-mile Arboretum Trail starts off Alumni Drive and is closed to bikes. It is one of the walks on our Lexington walking and biking trails list.

What it means for you

Nothing changes at The Arboretum yet. The university has not announced any work dates or closures.

The plans announced Thursday will show what the $30 million buys and when any work would happen. We will update this story with those details. For other places to walk this fall, see our guide to Lexington parks and trails.