Allegheny Land Trust Looks To Complete 67-Acre Ross Green Space

ROSS TOWNSHIP, PA — The Allegheny Land Trust is raising money to complete a 24-acre property purchase that would the final piece of a 67-acre greenway in the township. The property is adjacent to the local land conservation nonprofit's existing Lowries Run Slopes Conservation Area and to the township's Marion Doulton Green Space.

The trust, a local land conservation nonprofit, contends that protecting the land would help to address water quality and flooding issues in Lowries Run by allowing the continued absorption of 20 million gallons of rainwater annually. It also would help to maintain air quality by annually sequestering 97,000 pounds of carbon and removing 1,700 pounds of other pollutants from the air.

“We are proud to lend our support to the trust's efforts, which align with our goals to meet the needs of communities, residents and stakeholders to preserve the social and ecological benefits of local green space,”said Jennifer Deemer, chairwoman of the township's environmental advocacy council.

“On a personal note, this space is dear to our family, and we hike it regularly. Our boys have named little landmarks within, like the ‘Lily Loft’ and ‘Paradise Falls,’ to help them find their way. We hope other families can enjoy this too.”

The trust has an exclusive contract to purchase and permanently protect the green space contingent upon successfully raising the necessary funds for closing by December. A total of $550,000 is needed to conserve the land.

The trust either has funding applications pending or in process with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the state Department of Community and Economic Development, the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County and local foundations and corporations.

To fill the funding gap and also serve as the required matching dollars needed to unlock state grants, the trust is asking the community to raise $41,150 of the total to permanently protect the land.

“We look forward to collaborating with the community to help create an incredible close-to-home green space asset,” said trust president and CEO Chris Beichner.