Yes! While there are some areas of the Gardens that have different paving surfaces, out main promenade is wide, flat and easily traversed. There are also plenty of benches and chairs for resting along the way. Should you need one, we have two wheelchairs available in our Visitors Center on a first come, first served basis. Please fill out this consent form.

Please let our staff and volunteers know if you need one when you arrive. Wheelchairs cannot be reserved at this time.

Botanic Gardens are living museums. Botanic Gardens are botanically diverse, rather than simply aesthetic collections of plants that are actively curated by a professional staff. Efforts and programs are driven by a mission which includes an emphasis on education and fostering an appreciation for the inseparable relationship between animals, plants and water. Botanic Gardens are actively focused on enriching educational content, programming and events, and managing and improving guest experiences.

No. Wellfield was founded in 2005 as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization which derives all of its operating capital, development costs and endowment from private donations, user fees, annual memberships, private grants and earned income. Wellfield receives NO government or tax-based funding of any kind.

The land that Wellfield Gardens sits upon is owned by the City of Elkhart and the site is still an active well site for the city's water. Nearly 70% of Elkhart's drinking water comes from the well field! Wellfield leases the property for the purposes of operating a not-for-profit botanic garden. Wellfield's administrative offices are currently housed in the old Public Works Facility, located adjacent to the Gardens at 921 North Main Street. Wellfield does not receive any monetary support from the City of Elkhart and is funded entirely through private donations, user fees, annual memberships, private grants and earned income. Wellfield receives NO government or tax-based funding of any kind. Wellfield works closely with the City of Elkhart on projects that may have potential impacts on the well field and water operations to ensure that projects comply with all local, state and federal environmental guidelines and policies.

Starting in the spring of 2003, the Elkhart Rotary Club worked with a steering committee to study the concept of the Gardens, interview landscape architects and raise $235,000 from the club members to create the Master Plan for Wellfield Botanic Gardens. Wellfield is funded through private donations, user fees, annual memberships, private grants and earned income. Wellfield is a private, 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization and receives NO government tax support.

According to the City of Elkhart Aquatic Biologist, there are a number of species, including:

• Black Crappie

• Bluegill

• Brook Silverside

• Brown Bullhead Catfish

• Channel Catfish

• Chestnut Lamprey

• Common Carp (non-native)

• Common Shiner

• Golden Redhorse

• Grass Pickerel

• Green Sunfish

• Horneybead Chub

• Koi (non-native)

• Largemouth Bass

• Logperch

• Northern Hogsucker

• Pumpkinseed Sunfish

• Redear Sunfish (non-native)

• Smallmouth Bass

• Spotfin Shiner

• Spotted Sucker

• Warmouth

• White Sucker

• Yellow Bullhead Catfish