By CHRISTINE HAINES
A 155-acre site in Elizabeth Township is now permanently protected as a greenspace through the Allegheny Land Trust.
The site sits above the Youghiogheny River, bordered by Broadlawn Drive to the north, Greenock-Buena Vista Road to the east, Rock Run to the south and a residential neighborhood to the west. It is irregularly shaped, including hillsides and waterways to be protected, according to Lindsay Dill of ALT.
“This is actually three different parcels. There are two spots that touch the river and two tributaries that go into the river,” Dill explained.
By maintaining the land as undeveloped greenspace, it will help reduce erosion and vegetation will absorb rainwater. According to ALT, the new conservation area will also help to prevent flooding and landslides by continuing to capture an estimated 128 million gallons of rainwater per year and preserve significant wildlife habitat.
“It helps preserve water quality for the ecosystem,” Dill said. “Any time we protect a new greenspace, we look at its status. What is there that needs to be preserved — native species, trails, waterways. What does the community want out of this greenspace?”
Dill said the Elizabeth Township site will most likely remain in its current state for at least the next five years, with no new trails added other than the ones currently on the land that have been developed by community members over the years.
“We’re in conversations with local schools about environmental education when we can all get together again,” Dill said.
“This new conservation area is in easy walking distance for many nearby residents and is less than a half mile from an Elizabeth Forward School District elementary school, a middle school and the township municipal building,” said Tom Dougherty, ALT’s vice president of external affairs. “We’ve already had conversations with the school district about how we can work together on environmental education activities on the site.”
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