Courtesty: City of Thunder Bay

A change in construction schedule is allowing residents to visit the Centennial Botanical Conservatory starting Monday.

The facility has been closed to the public since January 1st to prepare the site for Phase 2 of its renewal project, initially scheduled to begin this spring.

Phase 1 of the project, which involves the construction of new-onsite production greenhouses, is almost complete.

Those greenhouses are geared towards supporting production of plants used in the city’s parks and flower beds.

Parks and Open Spaces Manager Cory Halvorsen says this change might provide some respite to weather weary residents.

“Given the frigid temperatures we’ve been experiencing recently, we are excited to be able to invite everyone to visit and take a break from winter in our tropical paradise.”

Hours of operation will be the same as the Conservatory’s normal winter hours:

• Monday & Tuesday – 10 am-4 pm
• Wednesday-Friday – 10 am-8 pm
• Saturday & Sunday – 12 pm-8 pm

The City says an update on the future construction schedule will be provided in the spring as more information becomes available.