Golfing great Arnold Palmer's late wife loved the hush of open space as much as he did -- so now a 50-acre nature reserve is being opened in western Pennsylvania in her memory.
Winnie Palmer, who died in 1999, wanted to make a difference after seeing developers transform some of the lush, rolling hills in her husband's hometown into strip malls and parking lots.
The reserve sits in a valley below Saint Vincent College, where she served on the board of directors. It was not long before her death that she heard about plans to build on the land, possibly obstructing the view of the college.
She couldn't let that happen.
"She came to me and said, 'You know, you should buy that land and we'll do something with it. We'll beautify it and make it nice,'" Arnold Palmer said.
In the years that followed, Mr. Palmer, his two daughters and others worked to make Winnie Palmer's wish for the land a reality. The process brought together people who knew Mrs. Palmer, including businessmen, philanthropists and developers.
The Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve was incorporated in 2000. Funds were raised and the trust bought 25 acres of the land in 2001; Saint Vincent's later donated the adjacent 25 acres to the project.
The result is a serene, natural landscape of walking paths, native plantings and wildlife, with a big red barn as its centerpiece. The reserve opens to the public next Sunday.
"She would be extremely pleased with what has happened," Mr. Palmer said.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07245/814126-59.stm
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