South Park Demonstration Garden Receives Prestigious Award

The demonstration garden at the intersection of Corrigan Drive and McConkey Road in South Park has received the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s prestigious 2011 Community Greening Award.

The horticultural society recognizes greening and beautification efforts in communities throughout the commonwealth. Nominated sites are evaluated on plant variety, design, use of space, and horticultural practices.

“This garden gets top honors for its educational component,” remarked the judges in their evaluation. “Penn State Extension has done an extraordinary job educating the public by labeling each and every plant. A mailbox planted in the garden holds more detailed information on each variety.”

The South Park Demonstration Garden is planted and maintained by the Penn State Master Gardeners of Allegheny County. It is designed to showcase flowering plants that perform well in our region’s climate and soils with minimal maintenance. The garden includes 12 annual display beds, a mixed border of native shrubs, trees and perennials, and herb and pollinator borders. In addition, the Master Gardeners added attractive and functional compost bins. A rustic locust arbor designed and built by the Master Gardeners welcomes visitors at the entrance to the garden.

In 2011, the Master Gardeners volunteered 60 hours to plant approximately 750 annuals on one day, and they volunteered a total of 450 hours maintaining the garden.

“On behalf of South Park’s visitors, I want to thank the Penn State Master Gardeners and Penn State Extension for all the hard work they have done on the demonstration garden,” said Allegheny County Parks Director Andrew Baechle. “It is truly a labor of love for them. The garden is a beautiful area and a great addition to the park.”

Each year, local nurseries donate annuals and fertilizer. During the growing season, the Master Gardeners work in the garden and answer the public’s questions on Tuesday evenings. Each August, the public is invited to “Garden in the Parks Field Day,” a celebration of horticulture, education and fun. Penn State Extension educators and the Master Gardeners of Allegheny County share their expertise and offer advice on horticultural topics at this free event.

The garden was started in an open grassy field in spring 1988. During the first six years, water was hauled to the garden in a 50-gallon barrel, but there is now a water source in the garden, courtesy of the Allegheny County Public Works Department.

An award ceremony was held in Pittsburgh on Nov. 19, where Mary Elabarger, chairperson of the South Park Demonstration Garden, accepted the award on behalf of the Master Gardeners and Penn State Extension. In addition, a contingent of South Hills-based Master Gardeners and two extension educators will travel to Harrisburg on Dec. 7 for a recognition reception at the Governor’s Mansion.