Photos courtesy of Expo 2031/BRC Imagination Arts
Lakeville, Minnesota, has been formally announced by Expo 2031 as the location for America’s first A1 International Horticultural Exposition.
The announcement comes as the nonprofit organizing committee enters a purchase agreement for 57 acres of land adjacent to Interstate 35 in Dakota County.
With the purchase agreement, the organizers also released preliminary plans for the "Legacy Site," which will be permanently located on the acreage after the expo concludes in October 2031. Included in those plans are a hotel, the USA pavilion, an outdoor amphitheater, a stage, a performance center and a studio, along with numerous gardens.
The organizers project that the site will see around six million visitors over the course of its six months, from May to October. The cost of the project is estimated to amount to approximately a billion dollars, though organizers note that they will not be seeking money from Lakeville citizens, relying instead on a mix of federal, state and private funds to finance the expo.
The purchase agreement for the 57 acres is a crucial milestone, but much more land is needed. Organizers are seeking to lease the remaining acreage for a total of 180 acres. The remaining land will hold non-permanent expo structures to include the creation of several unique biomes to showcase a variety of plants and their associated climates.
The theme for the expo, commonly known as a "World’s Fair" in the United States, is "Human/Nature: Where Humanity and Horticulture Meet."
In order to ensure the expo has the backing of the horticulture community, Expo 2031 has been reaching out to the industry at events like Cultivate’26. There, organizers made the pitch that the expo could help growers, breeders, greenhouses and retailers showcase innovation, technology and creativity.
The expo planning is still in the early stages, but it has already received a commitment of support from the U.S. government. With the site now selected, organizers will be seeking public comment from residents at an open house Oct. 21 at Lakeville City Hall.