University Park

University community invited to Arboretum groundbreaking

Ground will be broken for Phase I of the H. O. Smith Botanic Gardens, part of The Arboretum at Penn State, at 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2. The event will be held at the future site of the botanic gardens, located adjacent to Park Avenue across from the Business and Forest Resources Buildings. The University community is invited to attend. Speakers will include Penn State President Graham B. Spanier, Arboretum Director Kim Steiner, and Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences Robert Steele. The Arboretum is expected to be a major cultural and tourist destination in central Pennsylvania, attracting nearly 200,000 visitors annually. Made possible by a $10 million gift from Penn State 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 an alumnus of the University. Completion of the first phase is scheduled for spring 2009.

Last Updated March 19, 2009

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