AmeriFlora '92
ameriflora international horticultural exhibition held columbus ohio united state april october taking place acre landscaped ground franklin park exhibition cost million produce attracted million visitor exhibition billed first international flower show united state ameriflora formed incorporated november sanctioned official commemorative event united state christopher columbus quincentenary jubilee commission organizer wanted create national attention put otherwise quiet city map billed first international floral garden exhibition united state team central ohio resident special event planner horticultural expert began working mids staff included fulltime employee franklin park part amerifloras bid use site required cleaning exposition removing trace event returning city public park ground sits franklin park conservatory originally built modeled glass palace world columbian exposition chicago million renovation expansion project made victorian structure centerpiece ameriflora franklin park topiary park downtown columbus also created exhibit festival despite extensive multiyear publicity marketing campaign ameriflora attract enough visitor meet bill especially cost escalated gate even opened also cited reason low attendance torrential rain inch july often flooded lagoon lack interest surrounding black community boycott native american due celebration christopher columbus exhibition unclear image flower show v theme park lack enthusiasm professional horticulturalists admission originally planned twoweek floral festival evolved sixmonth extravaganza idea ticket could sold week two operating cost mounted corporate sponsorship failed materialize attendance projections—and ticket prices—rose accordingly learning lesson monetary failure son heaven chinese art show city state government disbursed million help cover loss amerifloras organizer requested public money event amount million ameriflora successful hoped columbus dispatch wrote million check convert acre property public park promised although ameriflora set escrow account hold million purpose funding come ticket sale failed meet expectation john f wolfe published dispatch also served president amerifloras board trustee ameriflora closed columbus day cleanup demolition building conversion ground public park extended winter month franklin park conservatory became property nonprofit franklin park joint recreation district still operates facility today topiary park ameriflora official program souvenir guidebook columbus ohio marbro guide publication inc finke gail deibler festival graphic pp – new york madison square press isbn newkirk margaret april cleaning ameriflora columbus monthly pp – raver anne aug ameriflora old hybrid struggle new york time p c medium related ameriflora wikimedia common