The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden
Miles-McClellan Cultivates Creativity Through Purposeful Design and Seamless Construction of Franklin Park’s Children’s Garden
The Plan
When two of our longtime partners — Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and ScottsMiracle-Gro Company — set out to build a garden spanning two-acres, the largest horticulture project ever undertaken on site, Miles-McClellan was their first call. The Conservatory set out to create a garden designed entirely for children’s play, one that would complement and highlight the natural beauty of its grounds. The two-acre, multi-sensory space features recreational, artistic, and educational elements, along with supporting structures, and offers 16 distinct experiences that showcase Ohio’s diverse landscapes and geological features. From the start, integrating botanical and natural elements was central to the vision. Achieving that goal required careful coordination and creative problem-solving to overcome the project’s complex and highly specialized design challenges.
With a tight 12-month timeline, efficiency was critical. The schedule required crews to work entirely outdoors through all four Ohio seasons, demanding exceptional coordination, adaptability, and commitment from every team member to deliver on time and within budget. When the ScottsMiracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden opened in Spring 2018, it welcomed hundreds of children to explore, imagine, and connect with nature. Completed on time and under budget, the project stands as a testament to the coordination, craftsmanship, and dedication of the Miles-McClellan team, transforming vision into a vibrant, lasting experience for visitors of all ages.
The PROOF
The finished project earned an ABC Excellence in Construction Award, an honor that celebrates the nation’s most innovative and high-quality construction projects, safety programs and diversity programs.
Not only did the garden receive an award, but outstanding praise from our client:
I would like to praise Miles-McClellan Construction for their skill, dedication, and attention to detail on The Scotts MiracleGro Foundation Children’s Garden. This unique, transformative project was completed on time and on budget, which is key for a nonprofit organization This outstanding result was due in large part to the great service provided by Miles-McClellan and their commitment to problem-solving and their willingness to bring skilled team members to the project. Miles-McClellan served very successfully as both the general contractor and the construction manager throughout the project. We greatly value the leadership shown by the Miles-McClellan team, from the owners to the site managers to the skilled trades, as well as the administrative support provided for this project.Garry Clarke, Owner’s Representative, Vice President of Planning, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
