Frank Curto

Frank S. Curto (1898 or 1899 – February 23, 1971) was the chief horticulturist for the Pittsburgh Department of Parks and Recreation.

Curto received his Master of Science degree in ornamental horticulture from Ohio State University. where he directed the popular Fall Flower Shows for 23 years.

Throughout his life, Curto was active in several gardening societies. He was a member of the American Rhododendron Society and was active within its Great Lakes Chapter. He was also served as secretary-treasurer of the Pennsylvania Nurserymen's Association and as president of Pittsburgh Florists and Gardeners Club. A street in Pittsburgh, near the Phipps Conservatory in Schenley Park, is also named after him: Frank Curto Drive.

Frank Curto Park Frank Curto Park is a sculpture-filled city park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, between Downtown and Polish Hill, alongside Bigelow Boulevard. The park contains a collection of works by contemporary urban artists and a flock of wild turkeys which began to occupy the park and surrounding hillside. It was named for Frank Curto, one of the city's longtime horticulturists. His career with the city's bureau of Parks and Recreation began in 1946 and ended in 1970 after a decade as foreman of Phipps Conservatory.

That same summer, about 100 yards away from Yeh's work, Vermont sculptor Dan Ladd installed a living sculpture consisting of three pairs of 14-foot sycamore trees, which he grafted into arches, framing different views of the city.

Frank Curto Park became the central venue for what is now known as the ArtGardens of Pittsburgh; a citywide undertaking of community-based art gardens populated with works by local artists. Sculptor Paul Bowden, who lives in Polish Hill, was chosen to install a garden there. Jorge Myers, who grew up in Hill District, was chosen to design and install another garden there. Each garden was filled with plants donated by the local communities. Flom called them "Magic Penny Gardens," after a folk song by Malvina Reynolds entitled "Magic Penny," dealing with both love and pennies, and the idea that the more one gives away, the more one receives.