News and Media Room
WPC Acquires 74 Acres of Forestland, Adds to Natural Area Within the French Creek Watershed
Pittsburgh, PA
–
Venango Township, PA – December 22, 2025– The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy announced today the permanent protection of 74 forested acres in Venango Township, Erie County. The land has added to the Conservancy’s now 1,138-acre West Branch French Creek Natural Area. The property is primarily forest and wetlands, with frontage on West Branch French Creek and… Read More
WPC Protects More Forestland in Cameron County For Elk State Forest
Pittsburgh, PA
–
Grove Township, PA – December 22, 2025– Hikers, hunters and anglers have additional forestland in Cameron County to explore and recreate on, thanks to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s permanent protection of 183 acres, which were immediately conveyed to the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Bureau of Forestry to be added to Elk… Read More
Seven Winter Activities to Enjoy on WPC Preserves
–
Winter’s first fluffy snow beckoned you to enjoy the downy flakes as you cleared the driveway. (It was good exercise, right?) By the sixth or seventh round of shoveling and scraping, snow’s magic has likely faded…but you can’t stand the thought of firing up the treadmill and slogging even one. more. mile. Get outdoors for… Read More
Partners Collaborate, Celebrate Opening of New Natural Play Space and Outdoor Classroom at PPS’ Spring Garden Early Childhood Center
Pittsburgh, PA
–
PITTSBURGH – October 30, 2025 – Officials from Pittsburgh Public Schools, the PNC Foundation and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, along with dozens of early childhood center students and their families, gathered yesterday to celebrate the completion of a new natural play space and outdoor classroom at PPS’ Spring Garden Early Childhood Center in Pittsburgh. The… Read More
Groups Collaborate to Revitalize a Community Garden, Advance Beautification Efforts in Indiana, PA
Pittsburgh, PA
–
Indiana, Pa. – October 23, 2025 – Traffic, brisk air and the threat of rain didn’t seem to slow seven volunteers from the Democratic Women of Indiana County and Pennsylvania American Water Company, along with staff from the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy on October 21 as they spruced up and planted shrubs, small trees and other… Read More
Franklin Blackstone, Jr.: In Memoriam
Pittsburgh, PA
–
Pittsburgh, Pa. – October 20, 2025 – The board and staff of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy are deeply saddened by the passing of longtime Conservancy Board Member Franklin Blackstone, Jr., who passed away on October 11, 2025. Franklin served as a member of the Conservancy board for 50 years, joining in 1975, and was a… Read More
WPC, Elected Officials and Partners Collaborate to Remediate a Sinkhole in Westmoreland County
Pittsburgh, PA
–
Pittsburgh, Pa. – October 7, 2025 – Staff from the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and PennDOT District 12, along with State Representative Leslie Rossi and Unity Township officials, gathered on October 3 to acknowledge the important collaboration and hard work to remediate and close a sinkhole in Unity Township, Westmoreland County. In winter 2023, the Conservancy… Read More
WPC Seeks Fall Canoe Access Grant Applications
Pittsburgh, PA
–
Pittsburgh, Pa. – October 2, 2025 –The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is seeking grant applications for its Canoe Access Development Fund (CADF), which supports projects that will improve canoe and kayak access to Western Pennsylvania’s waterways. The Conservancy’s CADF provides technical assistance and grants of up to $5,000 for the construction and enhancement of canoe and… Read More
Media Inquiries
Carmen Bray
Senior Director of Communications
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
800 Waterfront Dr.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412-586-2358
cbray@paconserve.org