Historic agreement combines two organizations to create Seattle’s destination botanic gardens
After 90 years of collaborative partnership, the Arboretum Foundation and the University of Washington Botanic Gardens announced today that they will combine operations under a single nonprofit organization: Seattle Botanic Gardens. An Operations and Management Agreement, approved by the Arboretum Foundation Board on January 6, 2026, and by the University of Washington Board of Regents on January 8, 2026, establishes a new relationship for these organizations, marking an important milestone in one of Seattle’s longest-running institutional partnerships.
“Seattle is a place where nature and the urban environment intersect in an exceptional way,” said Maribeth O’Connor, Board President at the Arboretum Foundation. “Whether you’re a visitor seeking quiet refuge or a scientist studying the vital connections between people and plants, the Arboretum and the Center for Urban Horticulture are a natural treasure.”
The Washington Park Arboretum is jointly managed by the Arboretum Foundation, the University of Washington Botanic Gardens, and the City of Seattle. Under this new agreement, Seattle Botanic Gardens will continue to work in close partnership with the University of Washington and Seattle Parks and Recreation on the stewardship of the Arboretum and its collection. This agreement strengthens the organization’s ability to serve as an effective partner to the City of Seattle, stewarding urban green spaces and contributing research-backed solutions to environmental challenges facing the region.
“The University of Washington has been a steward of botanical science and education in the Pacific Northwest for generations,” said Maggie Walker, UW Board of Regents member. “This partnership ensures that this important work continues and grows, while allowing the University to maintain its deep connection to research, teaching, and community engagement through these extraordinary living collections.”
For Seattle’s broader community, this means expanded access to nature, science, and cultural experiences. As a unified organization, Seattle Botanic Gardens will have greater capacity to offer diverse programming – from youth education and summer camps to volunteer opportunities and cultural celebrations – while maintaining free public access to the Arboretum and gardens. It will be better positioned to invest in facilities, amenities, and transportation options that make these spaces more welcoming and accessible.
Currently, the UW Botanic Gardens owns and maintains the plant collections of the Washington Park Arboretum, conducts plant conservation research, and provides educational programming in the Washington Park Arboretum and at the Center for Urban Horticulture. The Arboretum Foundation provides funding for the horticultural and education programs of the UW Botanic Gardens and supports visitor engagement at the Arboretum and Japanese Garden. Together, the two organizations have shared volunteer resources, outdoor and indoor spaces, and collaborated on initiatives ranging from the Fiddleheads outdoor preschool to public art installations like the John Grade Union sculpture.
The new organization will manage and operate three locations: the 230-acre Washington Park Arboretum, the Seattle Japanese Garden, and the Center for Urban Horticulture, which includes the 74-acre Union Bay Natural Area. Together, these sites attract hundreds of thousands of visitors annually and serve as vital resources for recreation, education, conservation, and scientific research.
“This change unites the robust fundraising, advocacy, and volunteer network of the Arboretum Foundation with the horticultural expertise, strong public programming, and impactful conservation research of the UW Botanic Gardens,” said Christina Owen, Director at UW Botanic Gardens. “The result will be something extraordinary—a destination botanic garden for Seattle that provides an exemplary visitor experience, meaningful research, and inclusive access to some of our city’s most treasured green spaces.”
The organization is currently conducting a national search for its first CEO/President, who will lead Seattle Botanic Gardens into this new chapter. All current permanent UWBG employees will be offered employment by the new organization.
For more information, contact:
- Maribeth O’Connor, Board President, Arboretum Foundation at BoardPresident@arboretumfoundation.org.
- Dan Brown, Director, UW School of Environmental and Forest Sciences at danbro@uw.edu.
About Seattle Botanic Gardens
Seattle Botanic Gardens is the next chapter of a 90-year collaboration between the Arboretum Foundation and the University of Washington. It brings the Foundation and the University of Washington Botanic Gardens together under a single nonprofit with a shared mission: to deepen relationships between plants, people, and place through understanding and a commitment to shared stewardship.
Our distinct garden locations are what make Seattle Botanic Gardens special. The Washington Park Arboretum, Center for Urban Horticulture, and Seattle Japanese Garden are now part of a stronger, shared network. Across all three sites, visitors will continue to find the experiences they know and love—places to explore, learn, recreate, reflect, gather, and celebrate. But they’ll also discover new opportunities for connection, learning, and community, creating a stronger and more welcoming public resource for Seattle and the region.
