PRINTER'S NO. 4029
No. 2901 Session of 1998
INTRODUCED BY PIPPY, TRELLO, MARSICO, ORIE, HABAY, LAUGHLIN,
STEVENSON, GIGLIOTTI, SERAFINI, CORRIGAN, OLASZ, WOJNAROSKI,
BARRAR, READSHAW, ROSS, THOMAS, J. TAYLOR, YOUNGBLOOD,
ADOLPH, L. I. COHEN AND MAHER, OCTOBER 20, 1998
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, OCTOBER 20, 1998
AN ACT
1 Establishing an official botanical garden of Pennsylvania;
2 imposing powers and duties on the Department of General
3 Services.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Findings.
7 (1) Western Pennsylvania is the only major metropolitan
8 region in the country without a large botanical garden.
9 (2) The Horticultural Society of Western Pennsylvania
10 was established in 1990 to provide a forum for public and
11 scientific interest in horticulture, botany and the
12 environment in western Pennsylvania and to demonstrate and
13 explore the importance of the relationship between plants and
14 people.
15 (3) The Horticultural Society of Western Pennsylvania
16 will achieve these ends through the development and operation
17 of the Botanical Garden of Western Pennsylvania.
1 (4) The Horticultural Society of Western Pennsylvania
2 recently signed a 99-year renewable lease with the Allegheny
3 County Board of Commissioners for 392 acres of land in
4 Settler's Cabin Park, which is located near the Pittsburgh
5 International Airport in North Fayette and Collier Townships
6 in Allegheny County.
7 (5) The Botanical Garden of Western Pennsylvania will be
8 situated in an area which represents the topography and
9 history of the region. It will be one of the few public
10 gardens in the northern Appalachian ecotype. Additionally,
11 the site is a former strip mine and oil production site.
12 (6) The Botanical Garden of Western Pennsylvania will be
13 dedicated to increasing the public's enjoyment and knowledge
14 of native and exotic plants and horticulture in a landscape
15 setting, protecting and studying Mid-Atlantic highlands flora
16 and promoting the adaptive reuse of a postindustrial site.
17 (7) The Botanical Garden of Western Pennsylvania will
18 have a significant economic impact on western Pennsylvania as
19 it could attract as many as 500,000 visitors annually and
20 employ 100 people as well as seasonal laborers. The proximity
21 of botanical gardens and other similar facilities will likely
22 have a positive impact on nearby property values as well.
23 (8) The Botanical Garden of Western Pennsylvania will
24 act as an economic generator for the green industry by
25 providing research and development facilities and training,
26 plus education to raise the level of horticultural awareness
27 and demand by the general public. The Botanical Garden of
28 Western Pennsylvania may also increase the quality and amount
29 of local horticulture-related businesses such as nurseries
30 and garden centers.
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1 (9) The Botanical Garden of Western Pennsylvania will
2 engage in important educational and training programs for all
3 age levels, including horticultural training, and conduct
4 environmental programs and scientific research.
5 (10) The Botanical Garden of Western Pennsylvania will
6 likely be involved in research into plant-based solutions to
7 environmental problems, revegetation techniques for disturbed
8 lands, urban forestry and green site development techniques
9 and testing of hardy species that will thrive in challenging
10 public spaces and conserving endangered native and non-native
11 plants.
12 (11) The Botanical Garden of Western Pennsylvania will
13 provide residents and visitors with a world class cultural
14 and educational facility.
15 Section 2. Establishment of official botanical garden of
16 Pennsylvania.
17 The Botanical Garden of Western Pennsylvania is hereby
18 selected, designated and adopted as the official botanical
19 garden of this Commonwealth.
20 Section 3. Erection of signs.
21 The Department of General Services shall, upon completion of
22 the Botanical Garden of Western Pennsylvania's construction,
23 erect appropriate signs designating the Botanical Garden of
24 Western Pennsylvania as the official botanical garden of this
25 Commonwealth.
26 Section 4. Effective date.
27 This act shall take effect immediately.
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