It’s been years in the making, but a long-sought-after property in Hampton is finally expected to be purchased by Allegheny Land Trust to expand North Park.
The two-acre site is situated adjacent to the park and would provide a connection to Pine Creek.
ALT, a non-profit that works to protect Pittsburgh-area green space, was awarded $25,000 through a state grant to help with the purchase.
The money came from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources by way of its Community Conservation Partnerships grant program.
“For several years, ALT has been working to acquire a collection of parcels from a never-built, defunct planned subdivision,” said ALT spokesperson Lindsay Dill.
The grant was part of a funding series announced on Dec. 30 that awarded ALT $1.1 million for seven total projects.
Some of the other work targeted by the group includes:
• $313,000 for 53 acres in Middlesex Township in a partnership with the Glade Run Lake Conservancy.
• $69,400 for half an acre in Pittsburgh’s Garfield neighborhood for the Healcrest & Kincaid Street Gardens.
• $220,000 for 25 acres in Franklin Park to expand the Blackburn Woods Conservation Area.
“We are grateful and excited,” ALT president Chris Beichner said.
The group looks forward to working with residents, foundations and other donors to reach funding goals for the project.
Community support has been encouraging and demonstrates the desire to protect local green space, Beichner said.
In addition to passive recreation, Beichner said the green spaces preserve unique scenic character, biodiversity, air and water quality and wildlife habitat.
“The project will provide environmental benefits for the entire region as well as additional close-to-home green space access for thousands of residents,” he said.
