In tough times, Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens ‘beneficial to the soul’

Karen Kerkhoff’s job is situated within one of the largest plots of natural splendor in Overland Park.

Yet now, working within a pandemic, it is the beauty of those who visit the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens that often catches her attention.

“The most fun for me is when I see a family has come in; the kids may find a good stick walking the trail, and life is good,” says Kerkhoff, who been with the arboretum since 2004. “And when they are leaving, they are sweaty but they seem to be very happy.

“That’s what we have to offer to folks during this time. And I’m glad we can do it.”

Not so long ago, it wasn’t possible. The 300-acre Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens at 8909 W. 179th St. was closed to the public from late March to early June because of the pandemic.

At the start of lockdown, Kerkhoff says only staff — park attendants, horticulturists, laborers — were working within the grounds. Kiosk attendants were working within the greenhouse.

Not allowed inside at that time were the arboretum’s more than 500 volunteers, who, during normal operations, perform a variety of tasks, including caring for the gardens, greeting visitors, and helping with tours and special events.

“We had several who said they were going to sneak in and pull weeds,” Kerkhoff says with a slight laugh. “I said, ‘Please don’t do that. We’d love you to do that, but please don’t do that.’

“We maintained. It was not ideal. We truly needed the volunteers to put on the finishing touches. We did have gardens that needed more attention than other gardens by the time we could welcome volunteers back.”

Being away from the gardens was tough on the volunteers, many who have become good friends, says Phil Moyers, an Overland Park resident in his second season as a garden volunteer. He volunteers three hours on both Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“It’s a good way to get out of the house and get some fresh air,” Moyers says.

Garden volunteers began to come back in late May before any visitors.

“It’s easy to maintain social distancing,” Moyers explain says of working out in the gardens. “You don’t have to be close.”

Unfortunately, the volunteers who help in the visitors center, the education center and with special events have not returned yet. The visitors center remains closed because of difficulty maintaining social distancing.

“It’s a small building that gets full very quick,” Kerkhoff explains.

At first, only members of the Friends of the Arboretum were allowed.

“We sold quite a few memberships the two or three weeks leading up to that reopening,” says Kerkhoff, who estimated there were about 300 new memberships added bringing the total to about 1,800 families. “That was a really nice bonus — just to see so many people enthusiastically really wanting to come back to the arboretum.”

The biggest challenge to bringing back the public was actually how to provide a safe entry and exit.

“That’s where the crowds would develop,” Kerkhoff says. “Once people are in the 300 acres, it’s their responsibility to maintain their social distance. We have a lot of space to maintain that. And, for now, it seems to be going well.

“We considered time ticketing but we didn’t do that and I think that so far the decision was good. I think the bonus for the people in the metro area is there is a place to come and explore when so many places are closed.”

It was great for the volunteers to see the public return, says Kate Pettijohn, an Olathe resident who is in her seventh season volunteering.

“They all thank us,” says Pettijohn, who works six hours each Wednesday morning and afternoon. She also likes to walk the trails on her own time.

”Being outside in the fresh air — even though it’s hot — is very beneficial to the soul,” says Pettijohn, who also joins a group of volunteers who picnic in the gardens. “It’s nice. We don’t talk about doom and gloom — or politics.”

Kerkhoff agrees that gardens and gardening help people during a pandemic.

“Over the years, different gardening associations have shown that difficult times tend to send people to work in their gardens,” she says.

“During economic downturns, and wars and all of those things that impact people’s lives, people tend to pick up gardening a little bit more. “

While nature will be putting on its show this fall in the arboretum, there is programming planned.

There is an online fall bulb sale this month. Nature Story Time for children is being held and Terra Luna, a light and sound experience, is scheduled to be performed on Sept. 17, 18, 19 and 20.

For updated information about events at the arboretum, including COVID-19 guidelines, go to www.opkansas.org/recreation-fun/arboretum-botanical-gardens/

This story was originally published September 8, 2020 at 5:00 AM with the headline "In tough times, Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens ‘beneficial to the soul’."