ALT and Game Commission Successfully Save Local Land

April 22, 2025

For Immediate Release

Indiana Township, PA – At the end of March 2025, Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) purchased and successfully completed the 266-acre Deer Creek Conservation Project in Indiana Township directly adjacent to Emmerling Community Park, along Deer Creek and host to one mile of the Rachel Carson Trail. Ownership was immediately transferred to the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) for permanent conservation and management that supports wildlife habitat and wildlife focused recreation.

“We’re excited that our hard work with partners, community leaders, and neighbors resulted in the successful completion of this effort,” ALT Interim CEO Emilie Rzotkiewicz said. “Now this land, including one mile of the Rachel Caron Trail, will be protected for the benefit of generations to come.”

The Deer Creek Conservation Project now expands Emmerling Community Park to create 325-acre greenway. Through its permanent conservation, this land will conserve the quality of the Deer Creek – a PA Fish & Boat Commission stocked waterway – by continuing to absorb 231.12 million gallons of rainwater annually and will ensure maintained air quality by annually sequestering 1.13 million pounds of carbon and removing 20,000 pounds of other pollutants.

“In developed areas, where there often is decreasing wildlife habitat and growing numbers of people, conserving lands for wildlife and providing opportunities for the public to get out and enjoy it both are critically important,” said PGC Executive Director Steve Smith. “As a state game lands, the Deer Creek Conservation Project will be perpetually protected, checking both these boxes.”

The project received letters of support from PA State Senator Lindsey M. Williams, PA State Representative Mandy Steele, Indiana Township and the Rachel Carson Trail Conservancy (RCTC). More than 180 community members helped raise awareness and funds to match state level grants. PGC bolstered the project with a letter of support and a commitment letter to provide funding and assume ownership and stewardship once ALT completed the acquisition process.

“The RCTC has worked for years to find a way to protect this beautiful tract and is grateful to the ALT, the PGC, DCNR and the hiking community for this wonderful achievement. The Rachel Carson Trail was opened exactly 50 years ago and we’re looking forward to working with the PGC to ensure the trail continues to be a valuable regional asset for many decades to come,” said RCTC vice president Steve Mentzer.

PGC’s survey crew will begin marking the boundaries and develop parking areas to allow for better public access to the property.

PROJECT LINK

https://live-allegheny-land-trust-2022.pantheonsite.io/deercreek/

 

ABOUT ALLEGHENY LAND TRUST Allegheny Land Trust has helped local people save local land in the Pittsburgh region since 1993, and now conserves more than 4,000 acres across 41 municipalities. ALT’s mission is to conserve and care for local land for the health and well-being of future generations, and it envisions a resilient region with abundant green space that is easily accessible and recognized as essential to the quality of life for all.

ABOUT THE PA GAME COMMISSION For more than 100 years, the Game Commission has managed the Commonwealth’s wildlife resources for all Pennsylvanians. Its mission is to manage and protect wildlife and their habitats while promoting hunting and trapping for current and future generations, and it envisions being recognized and respected as the leader in innovative and proactive stewardship of wildlife and their habitats.

ABOUT RACHEL CARSON TRAIL CONSERVANCY The Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), volunteer-based organization dedicated to the development, protection, and promotion of hiking, biking, and walking trails throughout western Pennsylvania. The goals of the Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy include raising awareness of the benefits of community trails, getting more people interested in physical activities, getting more people to experience the beauty of our region and the natural world, and helping people see our region as active and vibrant. Join us in our efforts and help make a difference.

ALT Releases Design Plans For A New Mobile Learning Lab

April 22, 2025

For Immediate Release

Pittsburgh, PA – In celebration of Earth Day 2025, Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) and CannonDesign are releasing plans for a brand-new environmental education mobile learning lab called “Nature On Wheels” that will operate in the greater Pittsburgh region.

“Our education team prides ourselves on providing all-ages nature-based programs in classrooms, at community centers, online and – of course – on our lands; this variety of locations has allowed many in the region to come learn with us. Now, Nature On Wheels will allow us to bring our programming to even more of our neighbors to increase access for additional learners,” Senior Director of Education & Curriculum Julie Travaglini said.

Nature On Wheels is comprised of a hybrid truck that will pull ALT’s custom-designed, modular trailer. The trailer will be outfitted with interactive learning elements that engages learners of all ages with evolving and adaptable programming tailored to the age of a given audience, the program topic and/or the season.

The mobile learning lab will bring hands-on, all ages programs to communities across the Pittsburgh region at school events, camps, community festivals, conferences and like events.

The build-out and design of Nature On Wheels was led by CannonDesign, a global architecture design firm with an office in Pittsburgh. CannonDesign chose ALT’s Nature On Wheels to be a 2025 “Open Hand Studio” project; Open Hand Studio is CannonDesign’s public interest design arm that partners with nonprofits to advance important missions across education, health, economic development, racial and social equity and beyond.

“This is exactly the kind of project we look for at Open Hand Studio — scalable, replicable and built on strong collaboration. Allegheny Land Trust is doing incredible work to connect people of all ages to nature and inspire education about our planet. It’s been a phenomenal experience for the design team, and we’re excited to see the impact this will create in Pittsburgh and beyond,” said Maggie Bailey, Open Hand Studio of CannonDesign leader.

The design process was funded by American Eagle Outfitters Foundation, Arconic Foundation, Benedum Foundation, CannonDesign, Grable Foundation, HDR Inc., Rivers of Steel and the Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club. A steering committee helped guide ALT and CannonDesign in the planning process.

ALT will now seek implementation funding to bring the programs to learners across the region. Once Nature On Wheels is built, interested parties can contact ALT to book a Nature On Wheels visit.

“Nature On Wheels will allow us to take nature directly into communities that may not have, historically, had access to our programs. We can bring learning directly to communities who may need it the most,” Travaglini said. “We look forward to meeting our learners of all ages where they are – both physically and educationally.”

 

For more information and future updates, visit:

https://live-allegheny-land-trust-2022.pantheonsite.io/nature-on-wheels/

 

ALT Welcomes New Vice President of Land Conservation

Sewickley, PA   Local land conservation non-profit Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) welcomes Sarah Costlow as its new Vice President of Land Conservation on October 7, 2024. With 14 years of experience in conservation, Costlow will play a pivotal role in advancing ALT’s mission to conserve and care for local land for the health and well-being of current and future generations.

Costlow comes to ALT from her role as the Land Protection Director of the Western New York Land Conservancy where she led the organization’s land protection efforts. Her expertise in environmental law, policy, community engagement and fundraising are well-aligned with ALT’s conservation mission.

“We are excited to welcome Sarah to our team. Her passion for conservation and proven record of innovative environmental solutions will be invaluable as ALT continues to tackle the pressing challenges facing our region through close-to-home conservation,” said ALT President & CEO Christopher J. Beichner. “We are confident in her leadership and strategic thinking to further our mission.”

In her new role, Costlow will lead ALT’s land conservation efforts deploying various methods of land protection to help the organization meet its regional conservation goals. As a member of the organization’s senior leadership team, she will collaborate with landowners, government agencies and other stakeholders to identify, secure and protect green space in southwestern Pennsylvania.

“I’m honored to join the team at Allegheny Land Trust, and am excited to return to Western PA, where I grew up,” said Costlow. “I look forward to working alongside the team to build on the momentum of the great work they’ve already done, and to strategize and implement new ways to protect the region’s natural resources.”

Costlow holds master’s degrees in environmental law and policy from Vermont Law School and global communication and civil society from The American University of Paris, a certificate in water law from Vermont Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and a minor in French from Lafayette College. She has served on the board of the Buffalo Niagara River Land Trust and volunteered with Standing Up for Racial Justice Buffalo Chapter, Ranked Choice NY, Genesee RiverWatch, Genesee Finger Lakes Chapter of Air and Waste Management Association. Sarah is a passionate advocate for land protection and is committed to fostering a culture of conservation in the community.

 

For more information about Allegheny Land Trust’s active land conservation projects, visit:

https://live-allegheny-land-trust-2022.pantheonsite.io/current-projects/

Special Announcement: President & CEO Christopher J. Beichner Departing ALT

After 12 years of organizational growth and transformative projects, Allegheny Land Trust President and CEO Christopher J. Beichner is departing the organization at the end of November 2024. Chris has been the longest serving CEO in ALT’s history.

Under his leadership, ALT has grown from a small-but-mighty staff into a talented team of leaders advancing innovative and challenging projects to conserve more land, increase the ecological health of streams and habitats, and enhance nature-based learning opportunities. ALT expanded their strategic priorities from two to four, now including land conservation, stewardship, environmental education, and community conservation. The nonprofit’s budget increased from $500,000 in 2012 to $8.8 million for this budget year.

Under Chris’ tenure, the organization focused on equity in conservation, having recently completed a diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility plan and having launched their community conservation program in 2015. The organization maintained a high standard of excellence, earning national reaccreditation multiple times since 2010.

“As I embark on a new professional and personal path, I will never forget and will always value my time at ALT,” Chris stated. “It has been an amazing journey and tremendous privilege to work alongside passionate, unwavering folks who care so much about conservation, and I look forward to learning about the many impressive achievements the ALT team will reach in the months and years ahead.”

Chris and his family will be moving to the state of Maine where he will begin as the President and CEO of the Forest Society of Maine (FSM). FSM is a statewide land trust with the purpose of conserving and stewarding the Maine North Woods – a 12-million-acre forest – the largest contiguous forest in the continental United States. Over the past 40 years, FSM has conserved over one million acres, making it the seventh largest land trust in the country by conserved acres.

ALT Board Chair Ted Weller expressed his appreciation by saying, “On behalf of Allegheny Land Trust’s Board of Directors, I want to thank Chris for his years of service and collaborative leadership in helping ALT to reach new heights. I am confident with the strong foundation we have achieved together; ALT is poised to have an even greater impact. We wish Chris tremendous success moving forward.”

ALT’s Board leadership has formed a CEO Search Committee and plans to launch a nationwide search for the next CEO in the coming weeks with the goal of identifying a new CEO by the first quarter of 2025.

Land Trust and Game Commission Partner to Save Local Land

September 27, 2024

For Immediate Release

  

Indiana Township, PA – In an exciting development for local conservation, Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) and the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) have joined forces to protect the 280-acre Deer Creek Conservation Project in Indiana Township adjacent to Emmerling Community Park and encompassing a scenic mile of the Rachel Carson Trail.

PGC bolstered the project with a commitment letter to provide funding and assume ownership and stewardship once ALT has completed the acquisition process.

“Conserving this land will help maintain the water quality of Deer Creek, protect the integrity of the Rachel Carson Trail and conserve critical woodlands adjacent to Indiana Township’s Emmerling Park,” said Christopher J. Beichner, President & CEO of ALT. “Our collaboration with PGC brings us a major step closer to conserving this significant land forever.”

The benefits of conserving this land are many, including:

  • Expand access to recreation activities, such as: hunting, hiking, biking, birding and more
  • Enhance the community’s scenic beauty and rural character by balancing intense development pressures with thoughtful conservation
  • Preserve and buffer area around the beloved Rachel Carson Trail
  • Preserve the high water quality of the Deer Creek Watershed, which is stocked by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission
  • Proactively address community and regional resiliency by:
  • Absorbing 231.12 million gallons of rainwater annually to mitigate flooding
  • Sequestering 1.13 million pounds of carbon and 20,000 pounds of other pollutants annually to mitigate climate change and cleanse the air
  • Create a 339-acre greenway by expanding upon Emmerling Park

“In developed areas, where there often is decreasing wildlife habitat and growing numbers of people, conserving lands for wildlife and providing opportunities for the public to get out and enjoy it both are critically important,” said PGC Executive Director Steve Smith. “As a state game lands, the Deer Creek Conservation Project will be perpetually protected, checking both these boxes.”

In addition to a letter from PGC, the project has letters of support from PA State Senator Lindsey M. Williams, PA State Representative Mandy Steele, Indiana Township and the Rachel Carson Trail Conservancy.

ALT and the landowner negotiated an exclusive sales contract in January 2024 outlining ALT’s commitment to purchase the land pending successful due diligence and fundraising by December 2024.

A total of $2,590,000 is needed to conserve the land, and PGC has committed $1,295,000 as well as necessary due diligence to close on the property. ALT has several additional grant applications pending with state and local foundation sources. Upon ALT’s successful acquisition of the site, ownership will be transferred to PGC for permanent conservation and management that supports wildlife habitat and wildlife focused recreation.

“While we have work to do ahead of year’s end, we are excited that this partnership will meet our goals of protecting this land to support biodiversity, air and water quality, scenic character, wildlife habitat, ecological health and resiliency, and opportunities for outdoor recreation along and surrounding the Rachel Carson Trail,” Beichner said.

 

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PROJECT LINK

https://live-allegheny-land-trust-2022.pantheonsite.io/deercreek/

—–

 

ABOUT ALLEGHENY LAND TRUST Allegheny Land Trust has helped local people save local land in the Pittsburgh region since 1993, and now conserves more than 3,700 acres across 41 municipalities. ALT’s mission is to conserve and care for local land for the health and well-being of future generations, and it envisions a resilient region with abundant green space that is easily accessible and recognized as essential to the quality of life for all.

 

ABOUT THE PA GAME COMMISSION For more than 100 years, the Game Commission has managed the Commonwealth’s wildlife resources for all Pennsylvanians. Its mission is to manage and protect wildlife and their habitats while promoting hunting and trapping for current and future generations, and it envisions being recognized and respected as the leader in innovative and proactive stewardship of wildlife and their habitats.

ALT Conserves Local Land, Creates Greenway Connecting Municipal Parks

April 23, 2024

For Immediate Release 

Monroeville, PA

 

Local land conservation non-profit Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) acquired 97 acres called the Gateway Woods Conservation Project in the Municipality of Monroeville, thus creating a 398-acre contiguous greenway by connecting Monroeville Community Park West, Monroeville Community Park East, Sugar Camp Park, and Mosside Slopes conservation area.

“Conserving this land helps to expand the growing, green amenities of Monroeville and Pitcairn to support expanded outdoor recreation and enjoyment of nature, while also improving regional resiliency through the many benefits preserved green space has to offer,” ALT President and CEO Chris Beichner said.

As a permanently conserved green space, this land supports the resiliency of Monroeville and Pitcairn by preserving natural scenic beauty, providing a place for close-to-home outdoor recreation and environmental education, mitigating downstream flooding in the Turtle Creek Watershed, providing cleaner air by sequestering 381,000 pounds of carbon and 6,800 pounds of other pollutants annually, preventing further traffic congestion and enhancing the attractiveness of nearby communities for current and prospective homeowners.

The project received letters of support from the Municipality of Monroeville, the Borough of Forest Hills, the Borough of Pitcairn, US Congresswoman Summer Lee, PA Senator Jim Brewster, PA Rep Brandon Markosek, Allegheny County Council Rep Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis, the Garden Club of Allegheny County (GCAC), Turtle Creek Watershed Association and Sustainable Monroeville.

“Gateway Woods’ conservation is a big win for our communities today and for years to come,” said Pennsylvania State Representative Brandon Markosek. “We were glad to support this effort and connect existing lands to create expanded benefits for all.”

ALT worked over a one-year period to raise the $1,092,955 needed to purchase the land. Support was provided by 100 individual donors who gave more than $42,000, as well as support from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, GCAC, the Pittsburgh Foundation and Arconic Foundation.

Additionally, the timing of the March 2024 closing date was facilitated by a short-term loan from the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy through their Colcom Foundation Revolving Fund for local land trusts to provide liquidity until the proceeds of other funding sources are received.

Now that ownership of the land is secured, ALT will create a management plan for the site to ensure its conservation value is maintained and improved.

ALT Saves Local Land, Creates a 67-Acre Greenway

April 19, 2024

For Immediate Release 

Ross Township, PA

 

Local land conservation non-profit Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) acquired 24 acres of green space in Ross Township along Lowries Run.

 

Conserving this land expands ALT’s Lowries Run Slopes Conservation Area and directly connects to Ross Township’s Marion Doulton Green Space, thus creating 67 acres of protected woodlands.

 

“This project presented an amazing opportunity to not only support regional resiliency through conservation benefits, but also to create a unique, local greenway that supports outdoor enjoyment, recreation and environmental education,” Lindsay Dill, ALT’s Senior Director of Marketing & Community Engagement, said.

 

As a permanently conserved green space, this land preserves water quality in Lowries Run, mitigates downstream flooding by annually absorbing 20 million gallons of rainwater, maintains air quality by annually sequestering 97,000 pounds of carbon and 1,700 pounds of other pollutants and links two green spaces that provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and environmental education.

 

The project received full support from Ross Township, PA Senator Lindsey Williams, PA Representative Emily Kinkead, County Council Rep Jack Betkowski, Ross Environmental Advisory Council and the Northern Area Environmental Council.

 

“We prize our community’s proximity not only to built amenities, but also to natural resources,” Township Manager Ronald Borczyk said. “This land’s conservation supports our goals of protecting our air, land and water for generations to come.”

 

Together with partners, ALT raised the $556,727 needed to purchase the land. Support was provided by 130 individual community donors who gave more than $70,000, as well as support from the PA Department of Community & Economic Development’s Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund, Ross Township, the Colcom Foundation, the Sierra Club and the Northern Area Environmental Council.

 

As ALT moves onto creating a management plan for this site, it will also begin working on a new land conservation project with Ross Township. The land trust has under contract 51 acres of green space directly adjacent to the township’s 31-acre municipal park. The land sits critically at the highest point in the flood vulnerable Girty’s Run Watershed and its conservation will preserve community character and provide expanded public recreation opportunities to enhance residents’ quality of life. ALT will be working directly with the township and community to raise funding needed to secure the land by the end of this year.

 

“We’re excited to continue partnering with ALT to protect green spaces in Ross Township and maintain a community we’re all proud to call home,” Borczyk said.

Lowries Run Slopes Expansion Project Link: https://live-allegheny-land-trust-2022.pantheonsite.io/lowriesrunslopesexpand/

2024 Ross Conservation Project Link: https://live-allegheny-land-trust-2022.pantheonsite.io/rossconservation

ALT Completes First Acquisition of Landscape-Scale Conservation Project

April 19, 2024

For Immediate Release

Collier Township, PA

 

Local land conservation non-profit Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) acquired 90 acres of woodlands in Collier Township adjacent to Collier Community Park.

 

This completes the first of ALT’s multi-phase Panhandle Greenway Conservation Project, a landscape-scale effort to proactively conserve high quality green space and add to locally conserved lands like Settler’s Cabin Park, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, Collier Community Park, South Fayette’s Preservation Park, other public and privately conserved lands and the Panhandle and Montour Trails.

 

“Conserving this first parcel goes beyond preserving this specific property; it begins stitching together a growing, green fabric in the Panhandle Trail corridor,” ALT President and CEO Chris Beichner said. “It demonstrates a commitment to future generations, ensuring they inherit a cohesive tapestry of thriving ecosystems where they can permanently enjoy and connect with the benefits of nature.”

 

As a permanently conserved green space, this land supports the resiliency of the Panhandle Trail corridor by buffering the trail and nearby green spaces, preserving natural scenic beauty, providing a place for close-to-home outdoor recreation and environmental education, mitigating downstream flooding in Robinson Run and Chartiers Creek by absorbing 66 million gallons of rainwater annually, maintaining air quality by annually sequestering 322,000 pounds of carbon and 5,700 pounds of other pollutants, preventing further traffic congestion and enhancing the attractiveness of nearby communities to prospective homeowners.

 

Conservation’s significant role in improving water quality and mitigating flooding is underscored by the Pittsburgh region’s most recent stormwater incidents. In nearby Oakdale, streets and homes filled with several feet of standing water; at least nine people needed to be rescued from their homes.

 

“We see land conservation as a core solution to addressing many of our region’s challenges, like flooding,” Beichner said. “This land is now guaranteed to forever function as a natural climate solution to prevent exacerbated flooding by proactively maintaining natural, permeable surface in an area experiencing rampant development.”

 

The project received full support from U.S. Congressman Chris Deluzio, PA Senator Devlin Robinson, PA State Representative Anita Kulik, Allegheny County Conservation District, Allegheny County Parks Foundation, Friends of the Panhandle Trail, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden and County Council Representative Pat Catena.

 

“It is important for all of us to support important projects like this that promote conservation and recreation,” Rep Kulik said. “This project will significantly promote the beauty of our communities.”

 

ALT worked over a one-year period to raise the $630,356 needed to purchase the land. Support was provided by more than 110 individual community donors who gave more than $37,250, as well as support from the Richard King Mellon Foundation, the Katherine Mabis McKenna Foundation, the Colcom Foundation and Massey Charitable Trust.

 

As ALT moves onto creating a long-term vision for this site, it will also begin working on a second acquisition of the Panhandle Greenway Conservation Project. ALT has 140 acres in South Fayette Township under contract for permanent protection and will be working with the community to raise the necessary $1,305,000 needed to secure the land by the end of 2024.

 

“We’re excited to work with the community on the next acquisition in this important watershed to balance intense development pressures with thoughtful, strategic conservation,” Beichner said. “By working together, we can create an unparalleled network of interconnected parks, nature areas, trails and streams that serve as a truly unique regional, recreational and ecological asset today and for generations to come.”

 

 

Panhandle Greenway Conservation Project Link: https://live-allegheny-land-trust-2022.pantheonsite.io/panhandlegreenway/

Allegheny Land Trust Closes On Eight Conservation Projects At Year’s End

January 9, 2023

For Immediate Release

 

Allegheny County, PA – Local conservation nonprofit Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) conserved another 120.5 acres at the end of December 2022 over eight projects across Allegheny County.

“With development and infrastructure expansion continuing to consume approximately 2,000 acres of green space in the County each year, conserving these lands was a great way to end the year,” ALT President & CEO Chris Beichner said. “From the smallest conserved parcel to the largest, each project will create lasting benefits for each community’s air and water quality, wildlife habitat, biodiversity and recreation and environmental education opportunities.”

The recently-protected lands were a combination of market rate purchases, conservation easements and donated properties, and are located in Baldwin, Millvale and Wilkinsburg Boroughs, and Indiana, Moon, Reserve and Shaler Townships.

“Community support is crucial to the success of our land conservation efforts,” Beichner said. “These communities rallied behind these projects and built tremendous support to help save these green spaces.”

Among the conserved lands is the Reserve/Shaler project, which generated support from surrounding municipalities, local businesses, students in a Shaler Area High School sustainability class and hundreds of individuals. The project involved a partnership between the previous landowner, a new farmer and ALT. Its permanent protection enables the new farmer to farm another portion of the parcel and adds 45 acres to ALT’s conservation successes in the Girty’s Run Watershed.

Along the Montour Trail sits another newly-conserved land. The 14.75-acre green space builds upon the partnered efforts of ALT, Hollow Oak Land Trust (HOLT) and the Montour Trail Council. Now that it is acquired, ALT will transfer the land to HOLT for permanent protection to add to its 320-acre Montour Woods along the Montour Trail.

As part of ALT & Grow Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Agricultural Land Initiative (TRALI), a 0.14 acre addition to the Garden Dreams site will allow Grow Pittsburgh and gardeners to expand their urban agriculture operations and community outreach at the site.

“The addition of this corner lot is key to the next phase of our Garden Dreams plans,” said Grow Pittsburgh Director of Development and Communications Ryan Walsh. “In a more immediate sense, it also allows us to care for this corner lot. We’re excited to transform it from what has been an unsightly mess of weeds and debris to a neighborhood green space.”

In all of 2022, ALT conserved 290 acres of green space across multiple projects. Every resident of Allegheny County now lives within eight miles of an ALT conservation area.

“While this year’s additions are reason to celebrate our successes, we are already ramping up for several more projects this year,” Beichner said. “We are excited to continue working with communities across our region on protecting close-to-home green spaces.”

ABOUT ALLEGHENY LAND TRUST

Founded as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 1993 in response to the rapidly declining amount of green space in Allegheny County, Allegheny Land Trust has protected more than 3,700 acres to preserve our region’s unique natural beauty, provide accessible outdoor recreational opportunities, improve water quality, sustain biodiversity, and enhance the overall quality of life for all. ALT’s strategic priorities are in land protection, land stewardship, community conservation, and environmental education. More information: www.alleghenylandtrust.org.

Allegheny Land Trust Earns National Recognition

August 24, 2022­­­

For Immediate Release

 

Sewickley, PA – The Land Trust Alliance’s Land Trust Accreditation Commission granted Sewickley-based land conservation nonprofit Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) with its second renewal as a nationally accredited land trust on August 18, 2022.

ALT is one of fewer than ten percent of land trusts across the country to receive a second accreditation renewal.

“We are committed to helping local people save local land, and to upholding national standards of excellence to maintain the public’s trust as we grow our conservation work,” ALT President & CEO Chris Beichner said.

ALT provided extensive documentation and was subject to a comprehensive third-party evaluation prior to achieving this distinction from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. The Commission’s renewed accreditation award signifies its confidence that ALT’s lands will be protected forever. There are more than 450 accredited land trusts across the nation, and they now steward almost 20 million acres – the size of Denali, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Everglades and Yosemite National Parks combined.

Accreditation is awarded to land trusts meeting the highest national standards for excellence and conservation permanence. Each accredited land trust completes a rigorous review process and joins a network of organizations united by strong ethical practices. This trusted network of land trusts has demonstrated fiscal accountability, strong organizational leadership, sound transactions and lasting stewardship of the lands they conserve.

“It is exciting to recognize ALT’s continued commitment to national standards by renewing this national mark of distinction,” said Melissa Kalvestrand, executive director of the Commission.

ALT has protected 3,600 acres of woodlands and meadows in 36 different local municipalities since its founding in 1993. Every resident of Allegheny County lives within 8 miles of an ALT conservation area. The organization conserves lands that promote biodiversity, protect air and water quality, preserve unique scenic character, provide wildlife habitat, create connections with other green space and offer opportunities for environmental education and outdoor recreation. Some of the land trust’s well-known green spaces include Audubon Greenway in Sewickley, Barking Slopes in New Kensington, Bethel Green in Bethel Park, Churchill Valley Greenway in Churchill and Penn Hills, Dead Man’s Hollow near McKeesport, Girty’s Woods in Reserve, Irwin Run in Gibsonia, Sycamore Island in Blawnox and Wingfield Pines in Upper St. Clair.

“We are a stronger organization than ever for having gone through the thorough accreditation renewal process. Our strength means special places – from our large, rural green spaces to our small, central community gardens – will be protected forever, making our region an even greater, more resilient place for us and our children,” Beichner said.

ABOUT THE LAND TRUST ACCREDITATION COMMISSION

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission inspires excellence, promotes public trust and ensures permanence in the conservation of open lands by recognizing organizations that meet rigorous 9uality standards and strive for continuous improvement. The Commission, established in 2006 as an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, is governed by a volunteer board of diverse land conservation and nonprofit management experts. For more, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org.

ABOUT ALLEGHENY LAND TRUST

Founded as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 1993 in response to the rapidly declining amount of green space in Allegheny County, Allegheny Land Trust has protected more than 3,600 acres to preserve our region’s unique natural beauty, provide accessible outdoor recreational opportunities, improve water quality, sustain biodiversity, and enhance the overall quality of life for all. ALT’s strategic priorities are in land protection, land stewardship, community conservation, and environmental education. More information: www.alleghenylandtrust.org.