Allegheny Land Trust secures capital to preserve 75 acres in Sewickley Hills

The goal has been met.

Sewickley-based Allegheny Land Trust announced on May 26 that it successfully met a $1 million campaign to purchase and preserve a 75-acre property in Sewickley Hills.

The nonprofit is expected to close his month on the Buerkle Woodlands, which sit at the northwest corner of the Mount Nebo Interchange along Blackburn Road.

The property is part of a three-parcel, 90-acre acquisition that the land trust fundraised $1.5 million for over the past year.

The other parcels sit in Ohio Township and Franklin Park.

Christopher Beichner, ALT president and CEO, thanked supporters for making the deal happen.

“We’re happy to protect 90 additional acres in Northwest Allegheny County to add to the 800 acres already protected in this area,” Beichner said.

ALT was awarded $728,200 through state grants to help purchase the three parcels. Money was made available through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources by way of its Community Conservation Partnerships grant program.

The group also received a land value donation from the sellers, a direct contribution by ALT derived from the sale of carbon credits and more than $320,000 donated by local community members.

Founded in 1993, ALT has helped protect 3,500 acres of green space.

The group closed previously on the 25-acre expansion of the Blackburn Woods Conservation Area in Franklin Park and a nine-acre wooded property in Ohio Township that runs along Red Mud Hollow Road and links to the municipal park.

The purchase in Sewickley Hills was the largest and includes land at the congested corner of Mt. Nebo Road and the I-79 interchange.

In April, Beichner issued an alert that ALT was still $100,000 short of its goal for the Sewickley Hills property.

The purchase was considered crucial to help buffer noise, thwart commercial development and provide wildlife habitat, in addition to helping with stormwater overflows.

“These woodlands are a very visible gateway to Sewickley Hills, Sewickley Heights and other Northwest Allegheny County communities,” Beichner said.

Lindsay Dill, ALT marketing communications director, said the protection of these lands creates connections between ALT conservation areas and multiple municipal parks.

“These lands also protect scenic beauty, preserve rural character and contribute to the health and well-being of our northwest Allegheny County communities by providing clean water, fresh air, quiet tranquility, wildlife habitat and close-to-home outdoor recreation opportunities,” Dill said.

The permanent protection creates immediate green space connections and the potential for future connections with benefits across municipal boundaries, she said.

There are currently no hiking trails or parking access. Immediate and long-term goals will be identified.