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Grand
Rapids, MI – June 2025 / NewsmakerAlert: Frederik
Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park announces the acquisition and implementation
of a fleet of new electric trams, which are now in service. It also introduced
a pilot program this spring using goats to help with vegetation management.
These initiatives underscore Meijer Gardens’ commitment to the environment,
sustainability and enhancing the guest experience.
Three
new electric trams offer narrated tours through the outdoor Gardens &
Sculpture Park, providing guests with an eco-friendly and comfortable way
to explore the diverse sculpture and horticultural displays. They also
feature wheelchair ramps for enhanced accessibility, ensuring tram tours
are available for all guests.
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“The
introduction of electric trams aligns with our mission to promote the enjoyment
and appreciation of gardens, sculpture, the environment, and the arts,”
said Carol
Kendra, COO at Meijer Gardens. “We are delighted to offer our guests
an engaging way to experience the beauty of our grounds.”
Tram
tours operate on a first-come, first-served basis and are weather-dependent.
Tickets are required and available at the Peter C. & Emajean Cook Transportation
Center on the day of the tour. Trams are fully accessible; guests requiring
assistance are encouraged to consult with staff at the Cook Transportation
Center. Tours last approximately 30 minutes.
Pricing
is set at $8 for adults, $6 for children aged 3-13, and free for children
2 and younger. For more information on tram tours, visit MeijerGardens.org/tram
In
addition to converting its tram fleet from diesel to electric to demonstrate
its commitment to environmental sustainability, Meijer Gardens also piloted
a program this spring that welcomed a herd of 50 goats to assist with vegetation
management in designated areas of the Frey Boardwalk. These goats, provided
by a professional contractor, helped remove dense and less desirable vegetation,
including invasive species, in an ecologically responsible way.
Other
sustainability initiatives at Meijer Gardens include:
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Building
LEED-certified facilities (including the Welcome Center and Covenant Learning
Center)
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Implementing
green infrastructure practices like growing vegetation on the Padnos Rooftop
Sculpture Garden to aid stormwater management
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Adding
natural stormwater controls such as rain gardens and retention ponds to
manage runoff and protect surrounding ecosystems
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Reducing
waste by composting green waste from horticultural activities and repurposing
materials across the organization
Through
partnerships with local institutions, the organization also offers volunteer
opportunities to staff and sustainability internships that involve conducting
waste audits, developing educational materials, and supporting zero-waste
events – fostering environmental awareness and leadership.
About
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Frederik
Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, one of the world’s most significant
botanic and sculpture experiences, was named the 2023 and 2024 Best Sculpture
Park in the United States by USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’
Choice Awards and listed as the 90th-most-visited art museum in the world
and 15th most visited in the country by The Art Newspaper, the leading
global art news publication. Education programs welcome 80,000 students
and guests each year. Culinary Arts & Events offerings include weddings,
corporate meetings and award-winning catering. The 158-acre main campus
features Michigan’s largest tropical conservatory; one of the country’s
largest interactive children’s gardens; arid and Victorian gardens with
bronze sculptures by Edgar Degas and Auguste Rodin; a carnivorous plant
house; outdoor gardens, including a replica 1930s-era farm garden; an 8-acre
Japanese garden featuring contemporary sculpture; and a 1,900-seat outdoor
amphitheater garden, showcasing an eclectic mix of world-renowned touring
musicians each summer. The permanent collection highlights hundreds of
sculptures from internationally acclaimed artists Magdalena Abakanowicz,
El Anatsui, Louise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder, Mark di Suvero, Marshall
Fredericks, Henry Moore, Michele Oka Donor, Beverly Pepper, Jaume Plensa,
Auguste Rodin, Richard Serra, Yinka Shonibare CBE and Ai Weiwei, among
others. Indoor galleries with changing sculpture exhibitions have presented
shows by Jonathan Borofsky, Edgar Degas, Jim Dine, Richard Hunt, Cristina
Iglesias, Rebecca Louise Law, Pablo Picasso, George Segal and others.
Media
Contact:
John
VanderHaagen
Director
of Communications
Frederik
Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
616-975-3180
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