Bob Hilton takes a daily stroll at Fellows Riverside Gardens, often stopping to smell the roses.
"It pretty much just makes my day just to come up here and smell the flowers and see different kinds of people."
It's also a favorite place of Jason Kessler and his family.
"There's always something new here. And so...we're looking forward to spending a lot of time here with the kids."
The Fellows Master Plan aims to make the Gardens a better place for everyone. One of the projects currently underway is the new Seasonal Celebration Plaza which includes replacing the Sommer Fountain.
Horticulture Director Keith Kaiser describes what the new fountain will be like.
"It will have a nice upward spray that goes about 10-12 feet, surrounded by 8 spray heads that go about 6-8 feet. And then the corners have 2 spray heads that come from each side that spray towards the center."
Not only will the fountain have a dancing quality, complete with night lighting, it's sure to be a favorite spot of couples looking for a place to take their wedding photos.
"Over 100, close to 150 wedding parties last year took their wedding photos here and about 110 ceremonies took place as well," Kaiser said.
The project also calls for replacing the miniature rose beds, as well as the walkway from the fountain to the south terrace, allowing for a nice curving pathway to take in the landscape. Private donations will cover the $550,000 cost, with $380,000 already raised.
Friday night, Friends of Fellows Riverside Gardens will hold an outdoor fundraiser, the Splashes of Art Garden Party to raise additional funds for the project.
"It's a way the community supports us financially," said Kaiser. "And we're very appreciative to the people and organizations that have helped us raise, we'll probably raise about $30,000 for this event."
Tickets for the event start at $65 a person.
Eventually, the master plan calls for the purchase of homes along McKinley Ave. where the current entrance to the Gardens is. The street will be closed to make way for more gardens, and a new entrance will be installed on Whitney Ave., but that's still several years away.
