The Impact of Pennsylvania's Gardens
Pennsylvania’s public gardens and public horticulture organizations “are living economic engines, creating jobs, supporting small businesses, and fostering workforce development in green industries. With a collective $500 million economic footprint, Pennsylvania’s horticulture sector is a cornerstone of our state’s economy and cultural identity.”
-Matt Rader, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, from remarks at the Pennsylvania Flower Show 2024
Tourism: Throughout the year, visitors flock to Pennsylvania’s public gardens for inspiration, relaxation, education, and enjoyment of the natural world. Our 20+ member gardens enjoy more than 4.2 million visitors annually, on par with professional sports league attendance. One-third of these visitors are from out-of-town, producing millions in visitor spending throughout our communities.
Workforce: Public gardens offer employment opportunities at all levels, from horticulturists to researchers and scientists to educators and organizational administrators. Our diverse 20+ member gardens alone employed 2,000 personnel in 2024, with budgets ranging from a modest $35,000 to over $90 million dollars. Beyond the gardens, the horticultural industry that supports and compliments the work of public gardens and of gardeners and farmers throughout the Commonwealth is a major economic driver in our state.
Education: Educational opportunities for research and for the community at large are key to the business of public gardens. From studying ecosystem health to offering workshops on container gardening, the opportunities for building knowledge for the industry and Pennsylvania’s citizens are limitless. Youth activities and group field trips are highlights at most public gardens, as well.
Health & Wellbeing: Spending time in nature has been shown to have positive effects on alleviating stress, depression, and anxiety, enhancing overall wellbeing. Pennsylvanians are fortunate to have a wealth of public gardens, preserves, and parks where they can immerse themselves in the natural world. In addition, most public gardens offer opportunities to physically engage through volunteerism and gardening workshops and to explore activities as diverse as yoga and watercolor painting.
Conservation & Open Space: Pennsylvania’s public gardens and green spaces safeguard Pennsylvania’s natural beauty and environmental resources. They conserve open spaces, restore vital ecosystems, and provide equitable access to green spaces for all communities. In addition, their collections conserve and protect individual plant families and species for future generations.
