This document provides an overview and history of a public garden located between downtown and the airport. It began in 1988 with a vision for a world-class garden to inspire people. A master plan was completed in 2003 and reclamation of abandoned coal mine drainage started in 2010 using a passive limestone treatment system. The timeline details the garden's expansion over the years through construction of ponds and wetlands, planting of trees, and creation of facilities like the 1870s barn welcome center. The goal is to nourish visitors through immersion in natural outdoor spaces.

2. Location
Between
Downtown and
the Airport

3. Mission:
Inspire people to grow
through immersion in a world
of natural outdoor wonder to
nourish mind, body and spirit.

4. Timeline:
1988 - Began with a vision for a
world-class public garden
1998 – Signed 99-year renewable
lease with Allegheny County
2003 - MTR Landscape Architects
completes Master Plan
History

5. Timeline:
2004 - AMD from abandoned coal mines
identified, then exacerbated by Hurricane
Ivan flooding
2005 - “Daylighting” best reclamation
option
2010 - Reclamation work began
2004 - 2006

8. 2013 - Construction of award-winning passive
limestone AMD treatment system
Before After

9. Pond Overview

10. Removing wall forms for
the drainable limestone bed
In Progress

11. Between
Downtown and
the Airport
Tank filled with limestone

12. Pond with aluminum

14. Settling basin

16. In Progress

18. Between
Downtown and
the Airport
Iris and Water Lilies

20. In Progress
• Trout, bass and bluegills

21. Between
Downtown and
the Airport
2014

23. Yoga at the Garden on the
hashiyasu boardwalk, 2015

25. Reclamation site, 2011

27. Sally Jewell and OSMRE inspecting daylighting site,
2014

29. Pond 6 – An E & S Pond which becomes an irrigation pond
and lies above a 400,000 gallon cistern

30. Revegetation of
Reclamation area: first
three acres
In partnership with
TreeVitalize of the Western
Pennsylvania Conservancy,
1,500 saplings were planted in
May on the first three acres of
the “daylighting” site.
The planting template was
provided by the Appalachian
Regional Reforestation
Initiative and this is the first
use of such template in
Western PA.

31. Planting Volunteers

32. May 9, 2015

34. Kentucky Hollow

35. Mining Camp remains

36. Water Monitoring Crew

37. Wetland & Stream

39. 1870s Barn
Settlers Cabin Maintenance,
2013
Ada and George Davidson Center
2014

40. 1870s Barn
Upper level entrance view, 2013 2015 upper entrance view

41. 1870s barn/Bayer Welcome Center
2013 2015

42. 1870s barn/Bayer Welcome Center
Upper entrance in 2013 Upper entrance in 2015