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UPCOMING EVENT | Join us on December 11, 2025 anytime between 4 – 8 pm at Grist House’s new “Command” location to learn more about this project. Grist House will serve a signature drink in support of this effort. ALT will be on-site to meet attendees and discuss the project. Learn more & invite a fellow fan of the Panhandle Trail using this link. 

SUMMARY | ALT has a 42-acre green space under contract in South Fayette Township, located along the popular Panhandle Trail (see map below). We are working to raise the awareness and funds necessary to conserve the land. 

BACKGROUND | This project is part of our larger “Panhandle Greenway Conservation Project” – a landscape-scale effort to proactively conserve green space in an area of the county experiencing rapid, sprawling development. A goal of the project is to create an ecological, recreational, and place-making greenway unlike any in the region. Through this effort, Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) aims to bridge Settlers Cabin Park, Pittsburgh Botanical Garden, Collier Township Park, South Fayette’s Preservation Park, other public and privately conserved lands, and the Panhandle and Montour Trails for the benefit of current and future generations.

So far, ALT has successfully conserved 251 acres of green space (91 acres in Collier Township and 160 acres in South Fayette Township). THANK YOU to all who supported these projects so far. There will be many phases to come in this ongoing effort to conserve woodlands in the rapidly developing and flood-vulnerable Robinson Run Watershed, as well as along the scenic corridor of the popular Panhandle Trail. 

BENEFITS | Conserving this land will forever protect and enhance the quality of life in surrounding communities by preserving community character, expanding healthy recreational opportunities, contributing to local and regional resiliency, protecting important wildlife habitat, and providing an economic boost through enhanced desirability of the communities and new opportunities for recreation-related businesses.

Importantly, conserving this specific land will help to buffer the Panhandle Trail, preserving the green corridor that provides scenic beauty and shade relief during visitors’ walks, runs, and bike rides.

CURRENT STATUS & FUNDING | ALT has these 42 acres under exclusive contract to purchase and permanently protect, contingent upon successfully raising the necessary funds for closing. As with all our projects, ALT has a multi-pronged funding plan in place to pursue support from state-level grants, local foundations and corporations, and, critically, individuals. 

HOW YOU CAN HELP | We need your help! We need a total of $30,000 from the community to protect this land. Members of the community, like you, are crucial to the success of our projects, as they provide the required local matching dollars to unlock state grants and close funding gaps. 

 

Current Community Funding Status (updated: 11/05/2025)

$2,740 / $30,000