HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - The University of Arkansas' botanical garden, Garvan Woodland Gardens, today announced a $1 million gift from John Ed and Isabel Anthony for the construction of the new Anthony Chapel.

"As an alumnus of the University of Arkansas, I am happy to be able to support this UA facility. As residents of Hot Springs, Isabel and I are proud to add to the cultural and recreational opportunities that are available in this area. I hope others will join in this worthwhile effort," Anthony said.

UA Chancellor John White said, "We are so very pleased to have the support of John Ed and Isabel Anthony in providing University of Arkansas students facilities that function both as working classrooms and as attractions that can be enjoyed by all Arkansans.  With this gift to support the building of the proposed chapel, the Anthonys lay the foundation for a new architectural landmark in the State of Arkansas and reinforce Garvan Woodland Gardens' reputation as a botanical resource."

One of the unique aspects of Garvan Woodland Garden’s design is the flawless integration of architecture into a natural woodland garden.

"In developing these gardens, we’ve always taken great care to design structures that look compatible with the gardens they inhabit. This chapel continues in that same vein, using glass, stone and wood. The architects will create a sanctuary that also allows visitors to enjoy views of Lake Hamilton," said Fran Beatty, head of the UA landscape architecture department.

The Fayetteville-based architectural firm of Jennings + McKee has designed the Anthony Chapel to complement the picturesque landscape. The 3,400 square-foot chapel will feature a 57-foot-high roof and use Arkansas native stone and Southern yellow pine in its design. Its soaring vertical space, native materials and extensive glazing recall the famous Thorncrown Chapel located outside of Eureka Springs that was designed by renowned architect E. Fay Jones, retired principal at the Jennings + McKee firm.

The Anthony Chapel is expected to become a signature facility. With a seating capacity of 160, the chapel will be available for private functions.

The Gardens offer a unique learning opportunity for all of the state's citizens, said Dr. B. Alan Sugg, president of the University of Arkansas System. "The University of Arkansas System was formed with the goal of embracing and expanding the historic trust inherent in the land-grant philosophy, providing communities in Arkansas with access to academic and professional opportunities, developing intellectual growth and cultural awareness in its students, and applying knowledge and research," he said. "Expanding the facilities at Garvan Woodland Gardens directly supports those goals."

John Ed Anthony earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas in 1961 and has been president of Anthony Timberlands, Inc., and subsidiary companies for forty-two years. He serves on the boards of the Bank of Bearden, the Arkansas Forestry Association and the University of Arkansas. Isabel Burton Anthony, whose family was among the original settlers of Hot Springs, studied graphic design and art history at the University of Texas and Southern Methodist University and pursued an art career in Dallas before returning to Hot Springs. Currently she is a member of the boards of St. Joseph's Mercy Medical Center and Garvan Woodland Gardens and serves the state as Vice Chairman of the Arkansas History Commission.

"My grandchildren mark the seventh generation of Anthonys who have lived and worked the farms and forests of South Arkansas," John Anthony said. "Isabel's family, the Beldings and Burtons, were among the earliest settlers of Hot Springs. Our purpose here is to pay tribute to our families and ancestors who helped carve our communities and institutions from the wilderness. We hope this chapel will provide peace and serenity for all who visit these gardens and offer an opportunity for both healing and celebration for generations to come."

The 210-acre Garvan Woodland Gardens is located on a forested peninsula that extends into Lake Hamilton. Verna Garvan donated the land to the University of Arkansas Department of Landscape Architecture in 1985. The Gardens feature a pavilion designed by E. Fay Jones and Maurice Jennings, an amphitheater and other architectural structures in a woodland setting accented by natural and exotic plant and animal species. The Gardens are located near one of the nation’s oldest and most intimate national parks, Hot Springs.

The Gardens are a division of the University of Arkansas School of Architecture. The gift is considered part of the University’s Campaign for the Twenty-First Century.

It also will be counted toward the $300 Million Challenge. This campaign-within-a-campaign aims to raise $300 million for academic purposes to match the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation’s $300 million gift. Challenge funds must be raised between Jan. 1, 2002, and June 30, 2005, the end of the Campaign. The Challenge total stands at $141 million, and the overall Campaign total stands at $770 million as of Nov. 30, 2003.

"The Anthonys' gift contributes momentum as we move into the homestretch of the Campaign for the Twenty-first Century," said G. David Gearhart, vice chancellor for University Advancement. "We’re grateful for their generosity. This gift will mean so much to all Arkansans and we are extremely proud of the Gardens and what they mean to the University and the citizens of the State."

For more information on the Gardens, including maps and directions to the site, visit http://www.garvangardens.org/.