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/

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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.

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.

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.

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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

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.”

 

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

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.