(PITTSBURGH) October 14, 2012   Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Councilman Corey O’Connor today, joined by project stakeholders and community members, unveiled the  redesigned and beautified entrance intersection to the Greenfield neighborhood. The City and the Greenfield community have transformed the over 20-year-old neighborhood portal monument into a sustainable landscape, incorporating a welcome sign, flowers and existing traffic control equipment. The Mayor’s Green Up Pittsburgh program and Department of Public Works (DPW) teams worked with community members to make the neighborhood even more welcoming to residents and visitors.

“This community project is a great example of how dedicated neighbors, working together with the City, local businesses and our foundation community, can have a positive impact on their neighborhood," said Ravenstahl. "I commend and thank all those who worked hard to beautify the Greenfield neighborhood and bring this project to fruition.”

The $68,000 Greenfield Neighborhood Portal Project accommodates existing traffic control equipment and improves pedestrian safety, mobility and ADA accessibility. The existing “Welcome to Greenfield” sign and landscaping beds, built in the 1980s, were showing signs of aging and weatherizing, and were in need of replacement. Greenfield residents worked together to raise nearly one-third of the project’s total cost, and to obtain materials from residents and businesses in the neighborhood. The Mayor’s Green Up Pittsburgh program and DPW crews contributed $11,600 worth of pro-bono service work. Councilman O’Connor’s office provided $24,100 for the project, and the Laurel Foundation provided a $10,000 grant.

“I’m so glad that I was in the position to allocate the final funding that allowed this project to be completed,” said Councilman O’Connor.  “Greenfield is in the heart of my Council District and this portal is the perfect welcome to our ever-growing and special neighborhood.”