Penn State Breaks Ground for Botanic Gardens at University's Arboretum

Penn State officially broke ground in November for Phase I of the H. O. Smith Botanic Gardens—a long-anticipated step in making The Arboretum at Penn State a reality.

Made possible by a $10 million gift from Penn State class of 1948 alumnus and State College resident Charles “Skip” Smith, the botanic gardens are named in honor of his late father, a State College contractor and real estate developer and a 1920 graduate of the university.

The gardens will be located on the Mitchell tract, a 56-acre parcel of land along Park Avenue, and will serve as the front door to the larger arboretum. Construction is now officially under way, with completion of the first phase scheduled for spring 2009.

“The groundbreaking for The Arboretum at Penn State represents the realization of a dream that began in 1914 with the first formal proposal to build an arboretum on campus,” says Arboretum Director Kim Steiner, professor of forest biology in the College of Agricultural Sciences. “After nearly a century of intermittent efforts, the good fortune of witnessing this important event has fallen to us as the result of Skip Smith’s extraordinary generosity.”

The Arboretum is expected to be a major cultural and tourist destination in central Pennsylvania, attracting nearly 200,000 visitors annually.

“The Penn State Arboretum, with its connection to the network of green spaces on campus, will engage us intellectually and physically,” says Penn State President Graham Spanier. “It embodies our mission of teaching, research, and service, and will further Penn State's efforts in stewardship and conservation in the region.”