Bellevue Botanical Gardens has become famous over the years for spectacular holiday light shows, and great natural views year-round.

But one thing isn’t so pretty at the local park, its visitor center. The garden still runs primarily out of a home donated by Cal and Harriet Shorts in 1984. Various improvements led to the installation of a public restroom and gift shop, but the garden’s booming programs and class schedule are too large for the home.

“They’ve really just outgrown it, and since the house was never meant to be a visitor center, it’s been forced to serve as something it’s not,” said Ken Kroeger, project manager for Bellevue’s Parks and Community Services Department.

The garden is working on obtaining permits to build a new 8,500-square foot visitor center to meet its needs. The parks department received approval from the Bellevue planning director, and a public hearing will be held on the plan at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 19, at Bellevue City Hall. The project calls for remodeling of the 2,200-square foot Shorts house, and the addition of 66 new parking spaces.

The new facility will allow the gardens’ staff to conduct larger classes and programs, and take back some of the ones that have outgrown the facilities, said Nancy Kartes, manager of the garden.

A key part of the plan lies in a nearby wetland. The more than 5,000-square foot area will be filled as part of the new project. City officials will have to create a new wetland area on site to mitigate the loss of land. It is expected to cost about $80,000 to $120,000. While this is always a risky plan – according to the state Department of Ecology, mitigation only works about 50 percent of the time – Kroeger is confident the cost and risk will be minimal.

“In the scheme of this project it’s very small dollar-wise, but as far as the benefits of treating it as an educational component and a garden in itself is huge.”

Overall, the cost of the project is approximately $11 million, including the creation of a Ravine Garden. It is being paid for through a combination of sources, including the 2008 parks levy, and a fundraising portion from the Bellevue Botanical Garden Society. The city kicked in $6 million, while the society is responsible for raising the other $5 million. So far, the organizations have a total of $8 million for the project.

The timeline also remains up in the air. Kroeger said the city hopes to bid the project by the end of the year. Construction is likely to take at least a year. But, during this time, the garden will stay open.

“When everything comes together, and they are ready to start construction, we are positioned for a good couple years’ transition time,” said Kartes.

How you can help

he Bellevue Botanical Garden Society is taking donations from the public. Those interested are asked to donate through the society’s Growing a Living Legacy Campaign.