Message from the President
In 2010, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy had exciting results in land conservation and watershed protection, tree plantings, gardens and greenspace work, and in preservation and education at Fallingwater.
All our goals were in keeping with our strategic plan and our mission statement, oriented toward protecting and enhancing the most special places in Western Pennsylvania.
The Conservancy protected lands that are both beautiful and ecologically important, in locations ranging from the shore of Lake Erie, to the Laurel Highlands, to Tussey Mountain in Bedford County. And we partnered with local groups, landowners and others to protect and restore 268 miles of rivers and streams.
As Fallingwater prepared for its 75th anniversary, we had over 160,000 visitors and made advancements in education and outreach - while also achieving important preservation goals.
The Community Gardens and Greenspace program demonstrated the ability of Western Pennsylvanians to pitch in and volunteer, and to organize their efforts toward remarkable results: new landscaping for our public schools, 400 planters and 400 hanging baskets in Pittsburgh's downtown, over 3,600 street trees planted with our partners during the year, and the planting and maintenance of 140 community gardens. More than 12,000 volunteers participated to get this work done.
It is rare for a single organization to improve a region's quality of life on so many fronts. We appreciate our donors' and members' support, the hours put in by so many volunteers, and the spirit of partnership that allows us to accomplish these outcomes. It is a pleasure to report on the progress that we have made during the past year in advancing the Conservancy's mission and helping to shape this region's future for the better.
Thomas Saunders
President and CEO
