In Apalachicola, Florida, the Chapman Botanical Garden was intended to memorialize a well-regarded Florida botanist, Dr Alvin Wentworth Chapman (Cox 2010). Today, however, the site (of approximately 10 acres) is barely a fitting tribute. The site lacks interest and has little to draw visitors. While western Florida is home to many National Forests and other sensitive natural habitats, many of these are not accessible to humans. By exploring methods to create an immersive learning environment that affords a pleasurable multi-sensual aesthetic experience while building deep knowledge of socio-ecological relationships at the Chapman Botanic Garden, this project can transform the human understanding of natural systems in an area that has deep ecological and social needs. Given the tourism prevalent in Apalachicola and the surrounding area, the garden offers the potential to be a strong asset for the community if developed into an asset to the West Florida Coast.
