PRINTER'S NO. 1223
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 167
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY SAPPEY, WAXMAN, MADDEN, GUENST, HILL-EVANS,
HANBIDGE, GIRAL, FREEMAN, STEELE, OTTEN, SANCHEZ, BOROWSKI
AND NEILSON, APRIL 1, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE
PROTECTION, APRIL 1, 2025
A RESOLUTION
1 Recognizing May 9 through 18, 2025, as "Go Public Gardens Days"
2 in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, "Go Public Gardens Days" is an ongoing initiative to
4 drive the public to visit, value and volunteer at public
5 gardens; and
6 WHEREAS, Public gardens comprise botanical gardens, arboreta,
7 cemeteries, zoological gardens, sculpture gardens, college and
8 university campuses, historical homes, urban greening
9 organizations, natural areas and Federal, State, county and city
10 parks; and
11 WHEREAS, "PA Gardens" represents a diverse coalition of
12 Pennsylvania's public horticulture organizations and its vision
13 is to create opportunities for every Pennsylvanian to engage
14 with and benefit from organizations providing public
15 horticulture experiences throughout their communities; and
16 WHEREAS, Public gardens are essential drivers of workforce
17 and economic development, supporting more than 2,000 full-time
 1 employees in this Commonwealth, driving more than $500 million
2 into this Commonwealth's economy and supporting $164 million in
3 combined operating budgets; and
4 WHEREAS, Public gardens in this Commonwealth welcome more
5 than 4.2 million visitors annually, which is on par with
6 professional sports league attendance; and
7 WHEREAS, One third of these visitors are from out of town,
8 producing millions in visitor spending throughout our
9 communities; and
10 WHEREAS, Public gardens are vital to feeding humanity and
11 bring together diverse expertise, approaches and solutions that
12 are essential for biodiversity in food and agriculture; and
13 WHEREAS, Public gardens are involved in education and
14 research and development efforts that bring together schools,
15 government, industry and nonprofits to cultivate a healthy world
16 through landscapes, gardens and plants; and
17 WHEREAS, Public gardens prioritize open green space and
18 conservation by preserving thousands of acres of natural
19 resources through conservation, restored forests, improved
20 watersheds and healthy private working lands; and
21 WHEREAS, Public gardens have a positive impact on personal
22 health and well-being; and
23 WHEREAS, Studies have shown that connecting people to plants
24 and the outdoors boosts well-being by providing many physical,
25 emotional and social benefits; therefore be it
26 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
27 week of May 9 through 18, 2025, as "Go Public Gardens Days" in
28 Pennsylvania.
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