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Botanic garden given 6 acres in Settlers park
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The Pittsburgh Botanic Garden was awarded about six additional acres of land from the county for their projected 460-acre garden in Settlers Cabin Park in Collier and North Fayette.
Pittsburgh Botanic Garden President Greg Nace said the property addition approved by the Allegheny County Council last night contains an old farmhouse and barn that will be renovated into an office and a welcome center.
Construction on the buildings will begin June 1.
The project, predicted to cost more than $32 million over 25 to 30 years, will have "a soft opening to hike the trails" by October, said Kitty Vagley, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden director of development.
In 1998 the county awarded the nonprofit a 99-year lease of $1 a year for the first 452 acres of land.
The new addition was awarded under an agreement that the Botanic Gardens would give the county $235,000 to help construct a new Settlers Cabin Park maintenance building. The current facility sits on the nonprofit's newly acquired land.
First Published January 11, 2012 12:00 am
