Allegheny County’s North Park is poised to grow by about 20 undeveloped acres in Hampton through a donation from the nonprofit Allegheny Land Trust.
The acreage involves three parcels — two near the intersection of Wildwood and Montour roads, the other a roughly 10-acre plot that includes a bend in Pine Creek near Hemlock Drive — that the land trust acquired within the past few years, said Roy Kraynyk, vice president of land protection and capital projects at the conservation group.
County Council voted, 15-0, on Tuesday to accept the smaller two parcels, a final step after council members OK’d the larger parcel earlier in the year. The land trust hopes to complete the transfers to county ownership by year’s end, Mr. Kraynyk said.
“In a county that struggles with poor air quality — tree, green-space and canopy protection is paramount,” he said. “It’s no secret that trees sequester carbon and other pollutants. It’s one of the best things our county can do to enhance air quality short of regulating industry.”
Bordering the 3,075-acre park, the parcels include stretches around Pine Creek and a tributary waterway, Mr. Kraynyk said. Preserving the land as part of the county parks system will contribute importantly to water quality, storm water management, wildlife habitats and recreational opportunities, he said.
“It’s my understanding that’s the cleanest watershed that comes into Pine Creek,” said Andy Baechle, the county parks director, of the smaller parcels.
They serve as a natural storage point for storm runoff and can help prevent damage farther downstream, he said. “It’s just a beautiful little valley with Montour Run.”
Much of the larger piece rests in a flood plain and appears to be used by anglers, Mr. Kraynyk said.
“There’s already evidence of people visiting and fishing from it — from before we even bought it,” he said. “That’s what’s going to happen there. There’s no real access to do anything with improvements [like] shelters or anything like that.”
The land trust used grant money from the county-administered Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund to support the acreage purchases, which ran the organization about $165,000, including surveying and related expenses, Mr. Kraynyk said.
The county may see about $6,000 in costs related to the land-transfer process, but the trust isn’t seeking any refunds for its original costs, he said. The group has a longstanding relationship with the county and felt the acreage would be a good fit “to expand and buffer the park, in addition to the storm water management qualities,” Mr. Kraynyk added.
Mr. Baechle said the county has no plans to build on any of the acreage, which county crews will maintain. He said it will be guaranteed to be open to the public in perpetuity.
Adam Smeltz: asmeltz@post-gazette.com and on Twitter @asmeltz.
First Published: December 16, 2020, 12:06 p.m.
Updated: December 16, 2020, 12:07 p.m.
