On February 24, 2023, the California Cultural and Historic Endowment approved full funding of $266,000 for the creation of a new Oak Grove Exhibit at The Water Conservation Garden. This is the third largest gift The Garden has ever received.
The Water Conservation Garden’s Oak Grove Exhibit project will provide 11,625 square feet of new permanent exhibit space. This exhibit area will include: new ADA nature trails, decking, fencing, railing, gates, a retaining wall, a cultural element featuring native Kumeyaay living, lighting, irrigation, landscaping, an elevated pathway through the oak canopy, and educational signage. 
This project capitalizes on our community’s strong interest in creating additional public space at The Water Conservation Garden that promotes people’s health, happiness, and well-being. We envision the Oak Grove Exhibit will provide hours of recreational entertainment for children as they explore unique outdoor cultural elements related to the Kumeyaay, our local Native American populations. This project creates iconic “placemaking” by celebrating the area’s cultural history. Landscaping will include native drought-resistant trees, shrubs, flowers, and other ecologically-sensitive vegetation.
The Garden and its programs serve all residents of San Diego County, with an emphasis on underserved and low-income students, with approximately 70% coming from Title I schools. The Garden offers specialty programs for seniors, people who are blind, people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and workforce development programs for people with disabilities. Our program recipients and members will benefit from the addition of the new Oak Grove Exhibit as it will provide more space for programming.
As we work toward our ten-year vision, The Garden team thanks all of you for your contributions and feedback that make this project possible.
