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Clearview Federal Credit Union Pledges $100,000 Over the Next Four Years to Help Advance Construction of Frick Park Outdoor Sensory Classroom
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: James Snow
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
412.682.7275 ext. 220
jsnow@pittsburghparks.org
Caroline Constantine
Pipitone
434.251.7580
CLEARVIEW FEDERAL CREDIT UNION PLEDGES $100,000 OVER FOUR YEARS TO HELP ADVANCE CONSTRUCTION OF
FRICK PARK OUTDOOR SENSORY CLASSROOM
First-of-its-kind project from Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
will unlock unprecedented access to nature for children with disabilities
PITTSBURGH – March 13, 2024 – Today, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has announced that Clearview Federal Credit Union will invest $100,000 over the next four years to the Frick Environmental Center Sensory Classroom project in Frick Park. Clearview’s dispersed investment will enable the Parks Conservancy to break ground this spring on a project that will empower children and adults with disabilities, mobility challenges, and varying sensory needs to explore and interact with the city’s largest green space.
“Clearview is proud to contribute to the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s Frick Park Outdoor Sensory Classroom, an incredibly important initiative that will foster community well-being and inclusivity for regional residents and visitors,” said Lisa Florian, President & CEO of Clearview Federal Credit Union. “We align with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s vision for empowering our community through this project by providing increased access to Pittsburgh's largest park and invaluable outdoor learning opportunities for individuals of all abilities. We are excited to join this project and be a part of how this unique classroom continues to evolve in the years to come.”
During the project's design process, feedback was collected from children and adults with disabilities, accessibility advocates, caregivers, educators, and more than two dozen organizations that helped to guide the Outdoor Sensory Classroom and Nature Play Trail, a first-of-its-kind project in a Pittsburgh park. Encompassing three acres immediately adjacent to the Frick Environmental Center, the site will feature an ADA-accessible 1/3-mile trail that will wind through the woodlands, and discovery stations along the way that encourage visitors to pause and participate in activities that promote nature-based learning and engage the senses. Gathering spots will provide visitors to the site with the opportunity to rest and reflect and allow organizations serving youth with disabilities to host free field trips.
“Helen Clay Frick originally gifted the land that is now considered Frick Park as a gift to the children of Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, much of this massive natural wonder in the heart of our city is currently unreachable for children with physical and intellectual disabilities and individuals with limited mobility .” said Catherine Qureshi, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. “This generous investment from Clearview in the Outdoor Sensory Classroom at Frick Park will create a world-class and replicable model for park equity. I thank Clearview for their belief in our mission and for their commitment to this future regional destination for learning.”
Lead funding for the project came from the Edith L. Trees Charitable Trust, and additional support was provided through the City of Pittsburgh Parks Tax Trust Fund.
"This significant contribution signifies a crucial milestone in our endeavor to ensure fair access to nature," stated Meredith Peterson, MA from the Down Syndrome Association of Pittsburgh. "Crafted with extensive community involvement, this initiative represents a substantial leap towards creating a more inclusive and accessible public park. It provides invaluable chances for education, development, and fostering connections with nature."
The project is scheduled to break ground this spring. A site plan and more information can be found at https://pittsburghparks.org/park-projects/frick-environmental-center-sensory-classroom.
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About Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy:
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy was founded in December 1996 by a group of citizens concerned with the deteriorating conditions of Pittsburgh’s historic city parks. A non-profit organization, the Parks Conservancy works closely with the City of Pittsburgh under an official public-private partnership agreement to restore and improve the city’s park system to its full potential. To date, the Parks Conservancy has raised more than $145 million and completed 23 major park improvement projects. The Parks Conservancy works with thousands of volunteers, hosts hundreds of events, and provides programming for more than 7,500 children annually.