Al Brittain, retired local businessman, community leader and bank CEO and board member of Hidden Lake Gardens gave a brief history of Harry Fee and his gift of the property to what was then Michigan State College and the organization’s current association with Michigan State University, introduced today’s speaker – Paul Pfeifer, director of Hidden Lake Gardens.Hidden Lake Gardens is owned and operated by Michigan State University under the division of Land Management, but supported through admission fees, endowments, gifts and the "Friends of Hidden Lake Gardens" membership program. The Gardens is open 360 days of the year. HLG is located within the Highway M50 corridor linking the Irish Hills with Lenawee, Jackson and Washtenaw Counties.
Paul spoke about HLG’s capital campaign - $2.2M Reach for the Sky project. The Tree Tower and 
Canopy Walk will provide persons of any ability to have a complete forest emersion experience. It will include a 500 foot long “walk” through the tree canopy some 65 feet above the ground via the wheelchair friendly boardwalk and suspension bridge canopy walk; a 100 foot tall “climb” up the tree tower via stairs and ADA compliant elevator – the only one of its kind; a direct connection with nature to escape the stresses of everyday life and to improve general health and well-being naturally.
Canopy Walk will provide persons of any ability to have a complete forest emersion experience. It will include a 500 foot long “walk” through the tree canopy some 65 feet above the ground via the wheelchair friendly boardwalk and suspension bridge canopy walk; a 100 foot tall “climb” up the tree tower via stairs and ADA compliant elevator – the only one of its kind; a direct connection with nature to escape the stresses of everyday life and to improve general health and well-being naturally.HLG offers visitors many educational programs for all ages. HLG attracted over 57,000 visitors in 2017.