Public input meetings will focus on proposed nature, art park in Hempfield

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Public input meetings will focus on proposed nature, art park in Hempfield

Jeff Himler | Monday, October 31, 2022 6:08 p.m.

Courtesy of Westmoreland Land Trust

Area artist Paula Martino donated her painting of the barn at Schwarz Farm in Hempfield to the Westmoreland Land Trust, which is planning to adapt the farm as a nature and art park. The painting, which will be displayed in the former Schwarz farmhouse, is among works created by plein air artists duringvisitor days at the farm.

Westmoreland Land Trust will hold a series of three public meetings beginning Tuesday to discuss and take comments on a proposed nature and art park at the trust’s Schwarz Farm in Hempfield.

Located at 504 Beech Hills Road, about 3 miles north of Greensburg, the 96-acre site was purchased from the Roberta N. Schwarz Charitable Foundation with funding assistance from the Colcom and Allegheny foundations.

“There has been a great deal of interest in the park,” said Betsy Aiken, executive director of the land trust. “There have been some very good ideas about programming at the park and how it could benefit community organizations.”

About 200 people arrived to check out the Schwarz Farm, its house and barn over two recent visitor days.

“They were beautiful days,” said Aiken. “There was a continuous flow of visitors both days.”

Those attending the upcoming meetings will see a display of proposed plans for the park. A slide show will outline the trust’s vision for the property while offering glimpses of similar parks elsewhere — including the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.

Meetings are scheduled for: Tuesday at the Westmoreland Conservation District Barn, 218 Donohoe Road; Wednesday in the Jeannette Junior/Senior High School Auditorium; and Thursday at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art. Meetings will start at 7 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

One idea that has been proposed for the park, according to Aiken, is installment of a “gateway-type frame” at one of the highest elevation’s on the property, to focus attention on the expansive view of area hills and ridges.

“There also is the possibility of kinetic works of art to take advantage of the breezes that occur through the property,” she said.

The trust is continuing to take suggestions for a popular “banner” name for the site, which formally is known as the Carl A. Schwarz Memorial Park. More than 90 have been submitted and can be seen by visiting the trust website, westmoreland-landtrust.org, and selecting the heading for “Conservation of Schwarz Farm.”

Those who are unable to attend one of the meetings may submit ideas to westmorelandlandtrust@gmail.com.

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