On October 20, The Urban Land Institute held the 4th Annual Placemaking Awards for Excellence to honor outstanding projects, achievements, and leaders in the Pittsburgh area. Dead Man's Hollow Conservation Area, which is managed by Allegheny Land Trust, won the award for 2016 "Healthy Place of the Year." Dead Man's Hollow is comprised of 400 acres of forest and streams in read more
Conservation Projects
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November
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November
Lancaster Farmland Trust Raises $150,000 and Saves Two Farms
Lancaster Farmland Trust raised $150,000 for farmland preservation at its 2016 Annual Dinner and Silent Auction, held on November 1. Over 280 attendees joined in the annual celebration. The "Acres for Auction" event featured two farms in Clay Township that will be part of a larger protected "greenway" of preserved farms along Route 322. The live auction raised over read more
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November
ClearWater Conservancy Launches Slab Cabin Run Initiative
On October 28, ClearWater Conservancy officially began a yearlong, $2.75 million campaign to permanently preserve 300 acres of agricultural land in College and Harris Townships. This initiative includes farmland that produces dairy goods for Meyer Dairy as well as the Everhart Farm. The effort aims to protect source water, restore Slab Cabin Run, and preserve the Meyer and read more
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November
Nature Abounds Acquires Natural Biodiversity Program
Nature Abounds, a national environmental nonprofit, recently acquired Natural Biodiversity, a regional program focused on habitats and landscaping in the Kiski-Conemaugh watershed. The program was previously managed by the Conemaugh Valley Conservancy. Natural Biodiversity is the newest program under the Nature Abounds umbrella, which also includes signature programs like read more
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October
Lancaster County Conservancy Protects 365 Acres in Susquehanna Riverlands
On October 31, Lancaster County Trust announced the acquisition of 365 acres in the Susquehanna Riverlands landscape. The land was donated to the Conservancy for long-term protection by PPL Holtwood/Talen Energy and is part of the ongoing PPL/Talen/Brookfield project. This acquisition included the final transfers of land which forms part of the Shenk's Ferry Wildlife read more
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October
Allegheny Land Trust Awarded $30,000 Grant
On October 11, Allegheny Land Trust announced that it has received a $30,000 grant from The Pittsburgh Foundation for acquisition costs for 35 acres of headwater woodlands in a tributary of Big Sewickley Creek in Bell Acres Borough. Named for the road that fronts the property and its topographic character, Beadnell Slopes is comprised mostly of steep, wooded slopes and read more
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October
One Step Closer to the Preservation of Bryn Coed Farms
On October 14, Natural Lands Trust announced a major milestone in its effort to preserve 1,505 acres in northern Chester County known as Bryn Coed Farms. In September, Natural Lands Trust and the current property owners, the Dietrich family, executed an Agreement of Sale for the property. Natural Lands Trust now has six months to conduct due diligence, including Phase II read more
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October
Natural Lands Trust and Partners Build Community Park
On October 7, more than 200 volunteers joined Natural Lands Trust, KaBOOM, PECO, and city officials to build a new community playground at Patton/West End Park in Coatesville, Chester County. The playground was designed in August by a planning committee, which incorporated the input of local children in its choices of equipment and color. It includes swings, slides, read more
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September
Berks Nature Conserves Schuylkill County Farm
On September 27, Berks Nature announced the acquisition of a conservation easement on a farm in southern Schuylkill County, ensuring the protection of hundreds of acres of land from future development. At 342 acres, the conservation easement on Dennis and Pauline Fehr's Wayne Township property makes it the second-largest in the 42-year history of Berks Nature. While Berks read more
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September
Wildlands Conservancy Protects Final 1.5 Acres of South Mountain Preserve
In September, Wildlands Conservancy permanently protected the final 1.5 acre inholding of their Emmaus-based South Mountain Preserve. Situated in Salisbury Township, Lehigh County, within the existing 350 acre nature preserve, the 1.5 acre tract is significant for the stewardship continuity it brings to South Mountain Preserve, a priority landscape for the Lehigh Valley and read more
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September
Merrill Linn Conservancy Protects 240 Acres in Buffalo Township
In its fall 2016 newsletter, the Merill W. Linn Conservancy announced that it has protected 240 acres of farmland and forest in Buffalo Township, Union County. The land belongs to Wayne Stahl, who reached an agreement with the Conservancy to place the land under a conservation easement. The easement will ensure that the land retains its rural character in perpetuity. "As it read more
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August
Lancaster County Conservancy Preserves Holtwood Park Property
On August 26, 2016, Talen Energy and Lancaster County Conservancy announced an agreement to transfer the Holtwood Park property to the Conservancy for preservation and public use. This agreement will fulfill the original intent of the agreement between PPL, Talen Energy, and Brookfield and the partners who have worked for decades to protect the Susquehanna Riverlands landscape read more
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August
Natural Lands Trust Preserves Scenic Land in Chester County
On August 25, 2016, Natural Lands Trust announced the protection of a scenic 55.7 acre property in London Britain Township, Chester County, preserving woodlands, rare plant species, and a valued part of the rural landscape. The property was placed under a conservation easement, so it will be protected in perpetuity from future development. "The beautiful property has read more
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August
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Acquires Scenic Land and Wildlife Habitat
Land in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands that provides wildlife habitat and scenic views of Laurel Hill State Park in Somerset County is now permanently protected, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) announced on August 16. The 184-acre property in Middlecreek Township is adjacent to Laurel Hill State Park and, from an overlook tower, offers exquisite views of the read more
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August
Silhouette Trail Debuts at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
On September 3, 2016, the new trail-side gallery along the ADA-accessible Silhouette Trail will be officially opened. The trail meanders through Hawk Mountain's ridge-top forest between the trailhead and South Lookout. The specially-commissioned gallery features life-size silhouettes of 7 of the world's 22 species of vultures and condors. The unique silhouettes will remain in read more
