Clinton, Iowa – Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) celebrated the completion of a $5.5 million renovation and enhancement project at Bickelhaupt Arboretum on May 1, opening a new chapter for one of Clinton’s most treasured outdoor spaces.
The renovation and expansion project created space for an education and events center, as well as improved accessibility, conservation-focused site improvements, new exhibits, and artwork that connects the site’s past with its future.
The Clinton Community College (CCC) Paul B. Sharar Foundation led the project from vision to completion, securing grants and private support, guiding the renovation, and helping shape the Arboretum’s next chapter as a place for learning, conservation, art, and community use. The project was made possible through more than 150 donations, along with grant support.
“This is far more than a building,” said Jenny Boysen, board president of the CCC Paul B. Sharar Foundation. “It is an investment in nature, learning, creativity, and the future of our region.”
“As a foundation, we are humbled to help carry forward a legacy that would make both Paul B. Sharar and the Bickelhaupt family proud. Their shared commitment to education and community lives on here, and we are grateful to the many donors who helped bring this project to life,” Boysen added.
Founded in 1970 by Bob and Frances Bickelhaupt, the Arboretum has long welcomed visitors to walk its gardens, study its collections, and connect with nature from dawn to dusk, 365 days a year. The renovation strengthens that role, creating more room for education, community gatherings, events, conservation programming, and public use.
The renovation includes several new features designed to make the Arboretum more accessible, sustainable, and engaging for visitors.
A $214,500 grant from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship helped fund a permeable paver parking lot and walkway, along with a bioretention cell planted with native Iowa species. The improvements are designed to help manage stormwater runoff, protect water quality, and create visible examples of conservation practices in action. The project also received support from the Clinton County Development Association.
Inside the building, visitors will find a walk-through native wildlife exhibit featuring animals collected by the Bickelhaupt family over the years, including a bear, bobcat, snowy owl, coyote, turtle, porcupine, and more. Designed by McCullough Creative of Dubuque, the exhibit includes a hand-painted mural by Clinton artist Gabi Torres and gives visitors a closer look at the wildlife and natural history that shaped the family’s love of the land.
The event center also features a blown-glass installation created by Hot Glass Inc. of Davenport. The colorful glass pieces are displayed in the site’s former kidney-shaped pool cavity beneath a custom glass floor, turning a piece of the property’s history into a new focal point for the building.
The Arboretum is also home to one of four Thomas Dambo trolls recently built in Iowa. Dambo, a Danish recycling artist known internationally for large-scale sculptures made from reclaimed wood, worked with his team and community volunteers to install three sculptures in Clinton. One troll rests against a 200-year-old oak tree at the Arboretum, adding a new point of discovery for visitors exploring the grounds.
The ribbon cutting brought together EICC leaders, Paul B. Sharar Foundation board members, donors, community partners, and members of the Bickelhaupt family to celebrate the completed project. Guests reflected on the Arboretum’s history, the years of planning and fundraising behind the renovation, and the role the renewed space will play for students, families, visitors, and the Clinton community.
For Shawn Hill-Lamb, granddaughter of Bob and Frances Bickelhaupt, the reopening marks an important moment for her family and the community.
“This is a truly joyful moment,” Hill-Lamb said. “The Arboretum has always been more than a collection of trees and gardens. It is a place of reflection, learning, and connection. To see it renewed and ready to welcome visitors again is incredibly meaningful.”
Hill-Lamb said the project honors the vision of her grandparents and her mother, Francie B. Hill, who continued to guide and steward the Arboretum.
“My grandparents planted the seeds of something extraordinary here, and my mother, Francie B. Hill, carried that vision forward with grace and dedication,” she said. “It is incredibly moving to see this next chapter unfold, knowing that their spirit lives on in every path, every branch, and every visitor who finds something meaningful here.”
Hill-Lamb also thanked the donors and supporters who helped make the project possible.
“Our family is profoundly grateful to the donors who believed in this vision,” she said. “Their generosity has preserved a living legacy, one that began with my grandparents and has been nurtured by so many dedicated individuals over the years. Their support ensures that the Arboretum will continue to inspire, educate, and bring peace to all who visit.”
Originally created as a place where people could learn directly from nature, Bickelhaupt Arboretum continues to serve as a living classroom, public garden, and community space. With the new education and events center now open, that work moves forward with more room to gather, teach, celebrate, and explore.
The Arboretum grounds are open to the public every day. The education and events center is open for events and rentals. Learn more at eicc.edu/bickelhaupt.
