Blooming Ahead: Garden Club Donates $14,250 Toward Pittsburgh Cut Flower Property

Spring isn’t the only thing that will have things blooming around the Pine-Richland area.

On Wednesday, The Garden Club of Allegheny County, a member of The Garden Club of America, granted the Allegheny Land Trust $14,250 to conduct master planning at the former Pittsburgh Cut Flower property in Richland Township.

The funding will be used to maximize community input and future planning for the 180-acre parcel of land.

"Through its fundraising efforts, The Garden Club of Allegheny County is pleased to be able to provide funding to support the Allegheny Land Trust's development of a master plan for the Pittsburgh Cut Flower property," said Jennifer Muse, President of The Garden Club of Allegheny County.  "We see value in preserving this important tract of land to protect its scenic character and maintain its biodiversity, while also engaging the community."

The nonprofit Allegheny Land Trust

For the last 20 years, the property, which is no longer owned by the Pittsburgh Cut Flower Company, has sat vacant with dozens of blighted buildings due to years of neglect.

ALT plans to purchase the property within the next several months and permanently protect more than 80 percent of the land, which is made up of ponds, streams, meadows and woodlands. 

The remaining 30 acres will be recycled back into the economy through a variety of economic development projects.

In February, more than 170 people attended a community meeting at the Northern Tier Regional Library to celebrate the past and envision the future of the property.

At the event, participants learned about the history of the Pittsburgh Cut Flower operations and shared ideas for future uses of the site.

Although some attendees suggested a cafe would be suitable, most did not want to see significant development on the property.

Instead, they brainstormed about walking trails, community gardens, paddle boats and canoes on the ponds, picnic pavilions, tent camping, star parties for amateur astronomers, outdoor concerts, fishing, a scenic overlook and a farmers' market.

A brick house on the north side of Bakerstown Road near the greenhouses is on the "save" list, though other nearby houses have been torn down. Potential uses for the house include a natural history museum or perhaps a place for retreats and weddings.

The next community meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at the Northern Tier Regional Library, located at 4015 Dickey Road, Gibsonia.

The community is welcome to attend to share more ideas and stories while also getting an opportunity to view sketches of potential opportunities at the site. 

ALT, Sara Moore, a professional landscape architect, and James Snow, a graduate student at Chatham University, lead the outreach meetings.

To learn more or to contribute towards the acquisition of the property, call ALT at 412-741-2750 or visit www.alleghenylandtrust.org.  

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