PRIORITIZING A CONNECTION TO PARKS & NATURE - MUNICIPALITIES SET THE EXAMPLE

No Mow Zone, Murrysville, Image Source: Mark Jackson, Westmoreland Conservation District

CORE OBJECTIVE 4: CONNECT WITH PARKS AND NATURE

The natural environment in Westmoreland County is abundant, with plenty of parks, open space, and more. These natural assets are enjoyed every day by both local residents and visitors. Because they are such valuable resources for the county, it is crucial that local governments take steps to ensure that they are protected, well maintained, and enhanced when possible.

One community that prioritizes the protection of the natural environment is the Municipality of Murrysville. Recently named the 2020 recipient of the J. Roy Houston Conservation Partnership Award by the Westmoreland Conservation District (WCD), Murrysville has a progressive approach to environmental preservation. To improve the management of stormwater, the municipality has upgraded more than a dozen detention ponds in the past few years. In addition, Murrysville has a requirement that all new parking lots are to be built with 50% permeable material, which allows for more water to be reabsorbed into the ground.

The municipality has two streams, Haymaker Run and Steele’s Run, that are designated as “high-quality” by the PA Department of Environmental Protection - a designation rarely placed on streams located in suburban communities. In an effort to preserve this quality, a “no mow” area and a riparian buffer of over 300 trees and shrubs were created in Murrysville Community Park along Steele’s Run in 2018 to filter out potential pollutants flowing into the stream.

One of the main reasons that Murrysville has been so successful in its conservation efforts is the commitment that both its residents and municipal officials have to environmental preservation. According to Jim Pillsbury, Hydraulic Engineer with WCD, “We think the key has really been one of attitude - the attitude among municipal leaders and staff and the residents, that they value the natural environment and work to protect it.” This mindset has been a driving force behind the proactive steps that Murrysville has taken.

Murrysville continues to collaborate with WCD, with the two currently working together on projects funded through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Growing Greener program.

Another community that is taking steps to protect and improve its natural assets is the City of Greensburg. The city is currently in the process of renovating Spring Avenue Park, a 1.4-acre park located in Greensburg’s Fifth Ward that has experienced decline in recent years, resulting in reduced use among nearby residents over time. In an effort to reverse this trend and encourage the park to become a centerpiece of the surrounding neighborhood, Greensburg hopes to make it much more welcoming and accessible to residents.

To help with the design of the park’s renovations, the city hired Environmental Planning & Design (EPD), a landscape architecture and urban design firm based out of Pittsburgh. The renovation of the park will be split into two phases, design and construction. The project is currently in the initial stage of the design phase, which EPD says will be based around engaging the public in order to determine what kinds of changes to the park they would like to see.

As part of the effort to collect input from stakeholders, an online survey was circulated in the fall of 2020. Respondents were asked questions related to their familiarity with the park and what kinds of features they would want to be included in the redesign. With the collection of responses from the survey recently being completed, the next step in the design phase will be to develop conceptual plans that include park features chosen by city officials and the public. Following this, finalization of construction documents, bidding, and permitting will take place before the renovation begins.

Greensburg hopes that the redesigned park will have a transformative effect on the surrounding neighborhood and help bring the community together. Following the completion of the Spring Avenue Park project, Greensburg officials will begin to look at improving other parks in the city.