Urban EcoSteward Program

Urban EcoStewards give back to their communities by adopting a specific section of park land that they agree to maintain.  Stewards receive training from Parks Conservancy staff and other program partners and visit their site throughout the year to remove invasive species, plant native flora, slow erosion, and clean up trash. EcoStewards report to a coordinator, who will accompany them on at least one site visit per year to determine maintenance needs.

The Urban EcoSteward program is a partnership of:

Allegheny Cleanways - Engaging and empowering residents to eliminate illegal dumping in their community.

Allegheny Land Trust - Helping local people save local land.

Frick Environmental Center - Providing programs about the park's habitats and ecology.

Mount Washington Community Development Corporation - Developing and implementing strategic plans for multi-level improvements to the neighborhoods.

Nine Mile Run Watershed Association - Offering a variety of innovative urban ecology projects designed to directly involve the community in helping to improve the health of the watershed.

Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy - Improving quality of life for the people of Pittsburgh by restoring the park system to excellence in partnership with the City.

If you want to get involved, please contact our education department at 412-682-7275 x232 or volunteer@pittsburghparks.org.

For more information, you can view or download the Urban EcoSteward brochure by clicking here, or apply to the program here. 

Learn more about our High School Urban EcoSteward program.

Click below to learn more about the following:

Training Dates and Events
Recording Your Hours
Downloadable Reference Forms
Invasive Plants References

 

Get Involved

Sign-up for our spring 2013 Volunteer Days and help plant over 600 trees.

Check out our 2013 Urban EcoSteward training dates and sign up today!

Stay up-to-date with our current projects on our blog.

Info for Volunteers

What to bring: Long pants, closed-toe shoes with good tread, all-weather clothing, a reusable water bottle (if you have one).

What will be provided: All necessary tools, gloves, materials, snacks, and instruction.

What to expect:  Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy volunteer work days are typically 4 hours long, rain or shine, and involve some type of ecological restoration work such as planting trees or wildflowers, controlling erosion, building trails, managing invasive species, or cleaning up dumpsites. We’ll teach you everything you need to know about safety and technique, provide you with tools and materials, and help you make a difference in our amazing parks. Expect to have fun, meet people who love the outdoors, and get dirty!

 
 
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