Allegheny Land Trust
     Helping local people save local land

Bats and a Bonfire

Friday evening, June 28th from 6:00 to 10:00 PM
Wingfield Pines, 1550 Mayview Road,Upper St. Clair (map)
Drive through the gate and meet at the bottom of the hill

Join ALT for a family-friendly evening of campfire fun at Wingfield Pines Conservation Area.  The event will feature a short presentation on bats in Pennsylvania followed by music and s’mores around a bonfire.  Please note that dogs are NOT permitted at this event.

If you have questions, please call Shannon at 412-741-2750 or send email to   (Download the event flyer)

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What’s in the Water

Saturday, June 29th from 9:00 to 10:00 AM
Wingfield Pines, 1550 Mayview Road,Upper St. Clair (map)
Drive through the gate and meet at the bottom of the hill

ALT invites you to get outside for a fun summer day of science for kids.  Join us as we learn about water and the creatures that live in and around it at Wingfield Pines.  This event is FREE and includes a presentation by Verna McGinley of Creative Environmental Education featuring live animals and a short nature walk.  (Recommended for ages 4 and up.)

For inquires, please call Shannon at 412-741-2750 or send email to   (Download the event flyer)
 

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ALT Announces Catholic Institute Land Acquisition Project

Allegheny Land Trust has launched a local fundraising campaign to protect 48 acres in Sewickley Hills that is currently owned by the Catholic Institute of Pittsburgh.  On June 14th, a press conference was held to announce the new campaign and a fundraising sign was unveiled, showcasing the goal of raising $160,000 in local funds to complete the $660,000 needed to purchase the property.  Senator Matt Smith (D-Allegheny) and Representative Mark Mustio (R-Allegheny) pledged to work together on supporting the project and a state grant application to the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).  Other presenters included Sewickley Hills Borough Council President Cindy Phillips and ALT Executive Director Chris Beichner.

The parcel to be protected is located between Magee Road and Interstate 79, and is adjacent to Sewickley Hills Park as well as land already owned by ALT.  When this parcel is acquired by ALT, over 1,200 acres of contiguous ALT and municipal park lands will be available for public benefit and passive recreation.  Benefits of protecting this property include higher local property values, hiking trails, habitat for wildlife, and preservation of the area’s scenic rural character.

ALT has submitted a $500,000 grant request to DCNR to help acquire this property.  Local matching funds from the community are needed to leverage state and federal funds.  So far, $40,000 has been pledged by local individuals, leaving $120,000 in donations needed by September 30th to purchase the land.  You can help raise these local matching funds with a quick, easy online donation using a major credit card or through your PayPal account.  Go to our How to Help page and be sure to select “Catholic Institute Property” to direct your donation to this project.  Thank you for your generous support!

Read more about the land acquisition in this Tribune-Review article.

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Matching Gift Campaign to Support Pittsburgh Cut Flower Acquisition

Foundation and public grants will provide more than a million dollars to support Allegheny Land Trust’s acquisition of the former Pittsburgh Cut Flower property in Pine Township.  However, ALT must raise $140,000 in matching local funds. To date, $50,000 has been raised, but a $90,000 gap remains.  To help fill this gap, the PCF Champions Matching Fund has been launched.

The PCF Champions Matching Fund hopes to raise $45,000 in 45 days through direct solicitation to area businesses and organizations.  The fund will then offer a matching challenge to raise the remaining $45,000 from local donors, raffles, car washes, etc.  The dollars raised will be doubled by the PCF Champions Matching Fund.

More information about the PCF Champions Matching Fund and the Pittsburgh Cut Flower property can be found in these documents: PCF Champions Matching Fund brochure (PDF file), PCF Champions Matching Fund news release (PDF file) and ALT’s Pittsburgh Cut Flower Project page.  Thank you to these area businesses and organizations who have already contributed $23,000 to the PCF Champions Matching Fund.  Won’t you add your name to the list?  Interested businesses willing to contribute to the matching fund should contact Roy Kraynyk at 412-741-2750 x203.  Thank you for supporting Allegheny Land Trust’s efforts to help local people save local land.

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Shaping the Future of Pittsburgh Cut Flower

Over the past several months, Allegheny Land Trust has reached out to the Gibsonia community for input as they began the master planning process for the former Pittsburgh Cut Flower property on Bakerstown Road in Richland Township.  “The community response was enthusiastic,” states Chris Beichner, executive director of ALT. “We really wanted the master plan to meet the community’s needs, market demand and innovation.”  (A recent news release has more information.)

A solar farm with recharging stations for electric cars, a mixed use village, amphitheater, cafés and community gardens were some of the ideas suggested by more than 500 residents, former employees, students and professionals.  These ideas and others have been synthesized into a conceptual master plan for the 150 acres of permanent green space and 30 acres of redevelopment.

These drawings depict ideas that ALT collected from more than 500 residents, children, students and professionals over the past several months for the 150 acres of permanent green space and redevelopment of the blighted land.  (Click each image for a larger version or download this PDF file.)  ALT thanks everyone who participated and welcomes additional input.  Please call Roy Kraynyk at 412-741-2750 x203 or email him at with your ideas or comments.

Read more in this TribLive|Neighborhoods article.

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Pittsburgh Cut Flower Property Fundraising – More Than $1 Million So Far

Allegheny Land Trust is currently engaged in a local campaign to raise $140,000 of local funds needed to match foundation and public grants to purchase the former Pittsburgh Cut Flower property in Richland Township for $1.4 million.  To date, $40,000 has been raised locally while another $1,024,500 in direct and matching grants has been raised for a total of $1,064,500.  Community support has been outstanding with more than $40,000 raised since the campaign began.

Find out more about fundraising efforts here.  Please see the Pittsburgh Cut Flower project page for more information about this land conservation effort and how you can help.

 

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It’s your Community, your Future and your Choice

Since 1993, ALT has protected more than 1,500 acres in 21 municipalities in Allegheny and Washington Counties.  These lands help to manage storm and floodwaters, provide scenic beauty and protect wildlife habitat and biodiversity.  Secondary benefits include opportunities for non-motorized passive recreation such as hiking, improved marketability and value of adjacent properties and preservation of a community’s rural character.

 

What is Allegheny Land Trust doing to curb this trend?

Allegheny Land Trust empowers people to shape the future of their community by providing the technical skills and know-how to protect treasured local open space.  Green space is more vulnerable than ever as public subsidies are now being used to transform local green space into suburban sprawl.

Please take a few moments to explore our web site to learn more about ALT and our land conservation practices and programs.

 

Vision: To be recognized as the regional leader in local land conservation and stewardship

Mission: To serve as the lead land trust conserving and stewarding lands that support the scenic, recreational and environmental well-being of communities in Allegheny County and its environs.