When Park Avenue's most recent addition is finished, Penn State might have more than just a garden of pretty flowers -- organizers believe they'll have an educational paradise.
Penn State's first arboretum, which is nearing completion, consists of about 355 acres, which includes a pavilion, botanical garden and four walled gardens, said Judy Larkin, project manager.
Though the project's Web site arboretum.psu.edu said the arboretum was due to be completed by June 1, Larkin said the planting is still occurring.
"We've had the rainiest spring in approximately 20 years," Larkin said. "It's viewable of course, but the planting is not complete."
She said the planting process should be complete by the end of July if "the weather holds."
Larkin said she thinks this will be a good place for biology professors to bring their classes for a hands-on learning experience.
Richard Cyr, assistant head for undergraduate affairs, said he would consider taking his classes to the arboretum.
"It has a nice collection of specimens in an area that's easily accessible and walking distance from campus," he said.
While the planting is still taking place, construction of an overlook pavilion is complete. The pavilion consists of a restroom facility and a visitor's office.
Larkin said there will also be a "very unique" fabric tent in between the two buildings that will be used as an event space that people can rent.
With the use of a geothermal energy system for energy efficiency, Larkin said they are pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for all the buildings.
Larkin said another "good steward" plan was the use of a "recharge area" for the botanical gardens.
The area is a naturally occurring, closed depression that will gather storm water. She said it was un-touched by construction, but it was enhanced to increase productivity.
All the stone used in the construction of the arboretum comes from the same stone quarry as the Dickinson School of Law. Larkin said this was to maintain a connection with the law school because it is right next door.
She said she hopes law school alumni will notice this connection because a donor is needed for "phase two" of the construction.
Charles "Skip" Smith, class of 1948, who donated the money for the arboretum, made its construction possible. It is named the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens, a dedication to the memory of Smith's father.
The money donated by Smith covered most of the costs of "phase one," which is the work being completed now.
There is not yet a definite plan for phase two, which will be decided once a donor shows his or her areas of interest. Even though there is more planned, Larkin said the botanic gardens are like a "tightly woven tapestry" and will become useful for education.
Larkin said she is excited to see how the arboretum plans pan out and said she wants to continue working with it as long as she is at Penn State.
"I am a landscape architect. Do you know how lucky I am to work on a project like this?" she said. "It's every landscape architect's dream to design an arboretum."
