In 2022, a team was assembled to redesign the demonstration garden at South Park. In 2024, the Learning Garden emerged as an award-winning South Park destination. The garden continues to grow and change each year as the Master Gardeners develop partnerships with the Park, the community theatre, and local businesses.
The Master Gardeners of Allegheny County were honored to receive the David Gibby award for the South Park Learning Garden, now in its third year and well-established as a destination in Allegheny County. It is located on the South Park Theatre site where park visitors, theatre patrons and performers of all ages come to experience just what Paul Riis had in mind when he first designed the park.
The South Park Learning Garden design team set goals and guidelines based upon the park’s history, site surveys, and stakeholders’ input. They set a theme for developing each bed and chose plants that are primarily native and deer-resistant. Two “must-see” additions in 2024 were a spectrum garden and a gravel garden. Both give visitors working examples of gardening options in our zone and climate. Woodchip pathways allow visitors to move through the planted areas and pause to sit on benches.
As the garden beds have grown, so has the Master Gardeners' schedule of public presentations and events. Four presentations in the garden are on the schedule throughout the season, and the annual showcase event, GIP, is planned for August.
The design team included Master Gardeners Marilyn Germansky, Maureen Karl, Joan Kugler, Martha Swiss and Sue Wyble, plus a special shout-out to Nancy Knauss and Chris VandenBosche who have gave great encouragement to the team. Now, we look forward to taking further steps in partnership with local merchants, theatre leadership and county authorities to address more development over the next few years.
It has been a grand journey, taking this site from weeds to wonderful!
