Pittsburgh, Pa. – April 21, 2022 – The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy has several ways for everyone, anywhere to celebrate Earth Day on April 22 and every day! More information about the Conservancy’s programs and Earth Day opportunities can be found at WaterLandLife.org.
Redbuds are in Bloom, Now through April 30: Sunshine and blue skies are the perfect backdrop for Pittsburgh residents and visitors to see pink blossoms from native redbud trees, made possible by the Conservancy’s Pittsburgh Redbud Project. The redbud trees are in bloom now through the end of next week. All can enjoy the beauty of the redbuds at the following locations:
- River Avenue on the North Shore Riverfront Trail
- Three Rivers Heritage Trail near the Carnegie Science Center
- The Great Lawn between Heinz Field and PNC Park
- In downtown Pittsburgh, where several redbud trees line the entryway to Point State Park, Gateway Islands median, and along Grant Street.
Since 2016, more than 1,500 redbud trees have been planted along with other complementary tree species – cherry, birch, spruce, hophornbeam and hawthorn – for a total of more than 3,200 trees that are bringing natural color and essential native wildlife habitat to trails, hillsides, parks and open spaces along Pittsburgh’s riverfronts. A convenient map to find the blooms is on the Conservancy’s website at WaterLandLife.org.
Register for a Webinar, April 22 at noon: Freshwater mussels naturally filter and clean our rivers and streams. When there are several different mussels species present in a waterway, that’s a great indicator of good water quality. Learn more about the importance of mussels and clean water services they provide in a free Zoom webinar called “Meaningful Mussels” on Friday, April 22 at noon. The public can register at this link or on the Conservancy’s website WaterLandLife.org until 11:59 a.m. on April 22.
Tree Planting at Westinghouse Park, April 23 at 9 a.m.: Trees help clean the air, absorb carbon dioxide, beautify areas and provide food and habitat for wildlife, just to name a few benefits. Volunteers will help the Conservancy plant more earth-friendly trees on Saturday, April 23, from 9 a.m. to noon. This planting at Pittsburgh’s Westinghouse Park, 403 North Murtland St., Pittsburgh, Pa., 15208 is no longer open to new volunteers, but is open to the media for photography and videography opportunities. Contact Brian Crooks at bcrooks@paconserve.org or 724-840-0330 for more details on covering the event.
Tree Planting on the North Side, April 23 at 9 a.m.: Approximately 30 volunteers and clients of the Light of Life Rescue Mission will be planting 15 new trees around the mission’s new building on the North Side at 234 Voeghtly St., Pittsburgh, Pa., 15212. The planting is through the Conservancy’s TreeVitalize Pittsburgh Program. The planting is not open to the public, but is open to the media for photography and videography opportunities. Contact Alicia Wehrle at awehrle@paconserve.org or 412-523-8672 for more details on covering the event.
Fallingwater’s Adopt-A-Highway Cleanup, April 28 at 4 p.m.: Each April for Earth Month, Fallingwater staff and volunteers adopt a two-mile stretch of State Route 381 in Fayette County near Fallingwater for a spring highway cleanup. For years, several Fallingwater staff have participated in PENNDOT’s Bi-annual Adopt-A-Highway program to beautify and remove debris from the scenic bypass. Last year more than 15 bags of garbage and several car parts and glass bottles were collected during spring and fall events. The spring cleanup will be held from 4-6:30 p.m. on April 28. Contact Clinton Piper, at cpiper@paconserve.org or 724-329-7821, if interested in day-of coverage or receiving post-event photos.
Go Hiking and See Wildflowers, Now through May 30: The Conservancy offers 31 miles of trails on 41 nature preserves across the region. These preserves protect land so that native plants and animals, some of which are rare or threatened, can thrive. Open and free to all, these preserves also offer recreational opportunities to explore and enjoy nature. The public can view a list of WPC-owned nature preserves on the Conservancy’s website, WaterLandLife.org.
Volunteer to Plant a Community Flower Garden, Now through June 15: Our 130 community flower gardens enhance our region’s communities with vibrant natural color and green spaces, some with rain gardens that help control flooding and plants that support wildlife, especially pollinators. If you can help plant or care for a garden near you, contact Lynn McGuire-Olzak, at lmcguire-olzak@paconserve.org or 412-608-0595, to register to volunteer and for more details.
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About the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy:
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) enhances the region by protecting and restoring exceptional places. A private nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1932, WPC has helped establish 11 state parks, conserved more than a quarter million acres of natural lands, protected or restored more than 3,000 miles of rivers and streams, and assessed hundreds of wildlife species and their habitats. The Conservancy owns and operates Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and symbolizes people living in harmony with nature. In addition, WPC enriches our region’s cities and towns through 130 community gardens and other green spaces that are planted with the help of more than 5,000 volunteers. The work of the Conservancy is accomplished through the support of more than 10,000 members. For more information, visit WaterLandLife.org or Fallingwater.org.
Media Contact:
Carmen Bray
Director of Communications
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
412-586-2358 – work
cbray@paconserve.org