Allegheny CleanWays is a non-profit dedicated to cleaning up illegal dumping in Allegheny County. Their work focuses on organizing and coordinating volunteer litter and dump clean-ups, as well as running the illegal dumpsite remediation DumpBusters Program, The Tireless Project, and providing trash disposal resources. Allegheny CleanWays is an affiliate of the statewide organization Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.
Allegheny GoatScape improves community ecology by clearing overgrown land with a friendly herd of goats that can manage Pittsburgh's steep slopes to remove thorny, itchy, and invasive plants where people and machinery can not. The goats manage unwanted vegetation without herbicides, reduce the need for fuels and expensive machinery, and leave no waste while naturally fertilizing the soil, with the goal of restoring natural areas in Pittsburgh.
Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) is a non-profit dedicated to protecting and improving green space and conservation areas. They have valuable experience in acquiring land, improving and maintaining open space, educating the public about the environment, and mobilizing an engaged volunteer network.
Congress of Neighboring Communities (CONNECT) brings together the City of Pittsburgh and surrounding municipalities to identify common public policy challenges and collaboratively implement solutions. Through their Greenways Partnership Program, CONNECT leverages the resources of many partners in a coordinated effort to improve unmaintained green spaces. They obtain grant funding for greenways management, develop contracts and site access agreements with partners, and compensate partner organizations directly for their stewardship.
Friends of the Riverfront (FOR) has worked to create, maintain, and expand the Three Rivers Heritage Trail system and Water Trail. They engage trail stewards, create interpretative signage, build accessible trails (35+ miles and counting!), and conduct a variety of important maintenance activities.
Hollow Oak Land Trust protects over 900 acres of green space through conservation areas and easements with landowners and owns over 900 acres of woodlands and wetlands. Hollow Oak works with local businesses, landowners, and volunteers to build and connect trails, steward open space corridors, and protect valuable habitat. The land trust's conservation areas are open to the public for a variety of recreation opportunities.
Landforce is a land stewardship and workforce development non-profit that helps restore and maintain land and green assets by providing professionally skilled crews who can assist in environmental management. Landforce recruits, trains, educates, employs and supports adults who have faced structural barriers to stable employment. They have extensive stewardship experience working on trail construction and upgrades, vacant land management and stabilization, cleaning up illegal dumping, clearing invasives, habitat restoration, and stormwater/green infrastructure management.
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy (PPC) is non-profit partner that works hand-in-hand with the City of Pittsburgh through a strong public-private partnership to restore, maintain, and invest in Pittsburgh's parks system. PPC has completed over 24 major park improvement projects, including green infrastructure installation, signage, native plantings, invasive species removal, stream corridor restoration, and park facilities like the Frick Environmental Center. The Parks Conservancy also runs community and school education and engagement programs.
Riverlife is a non-profit organization formed in 1999 to lead a community vision for the redevelopment of Pittsburgh’s riverfronts. Over the past twenty years, Riverlife has worked with many partners to create the very best riverfront experience for Pittsburgh and its visitors: beautiful waterfront parks, public trails, greenways and open space, events and programming, boat docks, recreational amenities and world-class design.
Student Conservation Association (SCA) is a national organization that builds the next generation of conservation leaders through engagement, education, and stewardship. Through programs like conservation crews, urban greening initiatives, and youth conservation corps, SCA provides hands-on service opportunities, outdoor skills training, and leadership development. Local SCA trail crews work on trail restoration and maintenance, wildlife habitat improvement, and conservation projects with expertise and workforce development.
Tree Pittsburgh is an environmental non-profit dedicated to strengthening and building community vitality by restoring and protecting the urban forest through tree planting and care, education, advocacy, and land conservation. Tree Pittsburgh grows, plants, and cares for street and restoration trees while working alongside communities to develop neighborhood ReLeaf plans to increase tree canopy and green spaces. Their Tree Tender program also educates stewards interested in learning the basics about planting and caring for urban trees.
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) protects and maintains regional land, water, gardens, and green spaces. Their work includes acquiring and preserving lands, removing invasive species, planting trees, ecological assessments, and restoring watersheds. WPC also coordinates the maintenance of community gardens, roadside plantings, and hanging flower baskets.
UpstreamPgh works to restore and protect the city's watershed ecosystem through environmental stewardship, stormwater capture, education, and clean water advocacy. Upstream implements green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) projects, including rain gardens; if you are interested in creating a rain garden or implementing a GSI project, reach out to Upstream for guidance or technical assistance to help you get started.