Friday, March 15, 2002 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (PA-18) presented Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens with a check for $200,000 in federal funding for its expansion and redevelopment project. Rep. Doyle secured this funding as part of the Fiscal Year 2002 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) budget.

"Phipps is one of our region's treasures and keeping it a viable and thriving institution in our community is important," stated Doyle, who secured the funding for Phipps. "It gives me great pleasure to provide Phipps with federal funding that will help them defray the cost of the expansion, build their new facility, and assist them in becoming a nationally recognized state-of-the-art facility."

The Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens Expansion and Redevelopment Project includes the following:

• Becoming an internationally renowned research, education and conservation center;
• Becoming a partner in programming with other regional institutions including area universities, colleges, school districts and home-schoolers;
• Replacing outdated greenhouses that date back to the 1930s with expanded, state-of-the-art greenhouses;
• Increasing educational programming, including an ever-changing, internationally focused tropical forest exhibit;
• Increasing tourism and economic impact value for Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and Southwestern Pennsylvania;
• Helping to create a parking synergy with the universities and hospital expansions while allowing for the restoration of an entranceway and green-space for Schenley Park; and
• Enhancing visitor amenities to include dining facilities and a special events pavilion.

"The funding that Congressman Doyle has obtained for us will help us in achieving our visionary expansion plan and goal of restoring Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens to its status as one of the finest conservatories in the United States," stated Richard V. Piacentini, Executive Director of Phipps and recently appointed member of the UPMC Board for International Traditional Chinese Medicine Center. "With the improvements we have planned for our facility, our research and education programs and our guest services, we will truly bring Phipps into full flower. We commend Congressman Doyle for his efforts in securing these federal funds and ensuring that Something's Always Blooming at Phipps."

Total cost of the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens expansion and redevelopment project is $42 million. Approximately $24 million has already been raised from various sources. Phipps Conservatory, which opened in 1893, and Botanical Gardens is among the nation's oldest and largest Victorian glasshouse.

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