Sappey highlights impact of public gardens at state Capitol
Rep. Christina Sappey May 4, 2026 | 3:50 PM
HARRISBURG, May 4 – State Rep. Christina Sappey, D-Chester, today joined representatives from public gardens across the state to highlight the economic impact, green job development, and environmental and educational contributions of public gardens in Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives also adopted a resolution (H.R. 474) sponsored by Sappey commemorating May 10-19, 2026, as “Go Public Gardens Days” in Pennsylvania.
Public gardens include botanical gardens, arboreta, cemeteries, zoological gardens, sculpture gardens, college and university campuses, historical homes, urban greening organizations, natural areas, and city, county, state, and federal parks. They are open to the public, staffed by trained professionals, and maintain a collection of plants for public education and enjoyment. Annually, public gardens in Pennsylvania have a diverse visitor base of approximately 4.2 million people.
“Pennsylvania’s public gardens and public horticulture institutions preserve thousands of acres of natural resources through conservation, restored forests, improved watersheds, and healthy private working lands, and bring together a wide array of expertise, approaches, and solutions that are essential for biodiversity in food and agriculture,” Sappey said. “They generate a half-billion dollars in economic impact here in Pennsylvania and employ more than 2,000 people. ‘Go Public Gardens Days’ presents a premier opportunity to celebrate these impacts.”
The Pennsylvania Public Gardens Coalition hosted several displays in a high-traffic area of the Capitol Complex to showcase and provide information on the work of public gardens across the state. Capitol visitors were treated to seed packets, flowers, and information on growing native species gardens, pollinator gardens, and more.
Member gardens of the coalition include The Allegheny Arboretum, American Public Gardens Association, The Arboretum at Penn State, Bartram’s Garden, Bidwell Training Center, The Bower, Brandywine Conservancy, Chanticleer, Hershey Gardens, Jenkins Arboretum and Gardens, Laurel Hill, Longwood Gardens in Sappey’s legislative district, Morris Arboretum and Garden, Natural Lands, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, Millbourne, Scott Arboretum, Stoneleigh: A Natural Garden, and Tyler Arboretum.
