Media Advisory: Rock Climbers And Mountaineers To Rappel Steep Slopes Of Mount Washington To Remove Litter, Plant Trees

APR 2, 2018

WHEN: Saturday, April 7th  9:00 am – 11am

WHERE: Steep hillsides along Grandview Avenue, Mt. Washington
Two Headquarters: Overlook at Grandview Avenue and Maple Terrace (litter pickup) and Point of View Statue in Emerald View Park on Grandview Avenue between Republic and Sweetbriar Streets (tree planting)

DETAILS: Experienced volunteer rock climbers and mountaineers from the Explorers Club of Pittsburgh and Allegheny Mountain Rescue Group are teaming up with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and Western Pennsylvania Conservancy to take on  the slopes of Mount Washington for a unique community stewardship event.

The public is invited to observe the volunteers in action as they use their climbing skills and equipment to rappel the mountain’s steep slopes and clean up litter that has accumulated over the winter and plant trees. Two hundred native trees will be planted, as part of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s Pittsburgh Redbud Project, to help stabilize the hillside, restore habitat and further improve the scenic view of Mt. Washington.

“This is a unique event that allows volunteer climbers to do what they love while beautifying the city,” said Jayne Miller, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. “We are excited to once again partner with Explorers Club of Pittsburgh and Allegheny Mountain Rescue Group.”

“Conservation and environmental stewardship have been a part of the Explorers Club of Pittsburgh ethic since its founding in 1947,” said Ginette Walker Vinski, Explorers Club of Pittsburgh Environmental Chair and Co-Coordinator of the event.  “We are happy to assist the Parks Conservancy, and Western Pennsylvania Conservancy with our technical rope skills in service to our city.”

Emerald View Park is part of a restoration project from the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and Mount Washington Community Development Corporation. The project focuses on providing habitat to wildlife, providing for the hillside stability by planting low-growing native trees and keeping the area trash-free.

In addition to planting 110 native eastern redbud trees during this event, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy will also give away approximately 70 redbud seedlings to volunteers and community residents to plant at their homes or businesses.

On-site contacts: Judith Koch (Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy) 847-644-4814, and Ginette Walker Vinski (Explorers Club of Pittsburgh) 412-780-8280 and Lauren Fike (Western Pennsylvania Conservancy) 814-590-2407.

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About the 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 over $105 million and completed 17 major park improvement projects. Annually the Parks Conservancy works with thousands of volunteers and provides programming for more than 5,000 children.

About Explorers Club of Pittsburgh:

The Explorers Club of Pittsburgh was organized in 1947 to promote exploratory science and adventure.  The club hosts outdoor recreation activities year round for beginner, intermediate, and advanced skill levels.  For more information about the ECP, visit www.pittecp.org.

About the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy:

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy enhances the region by protecting and restoring exceptional places. A private nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1932, WPC has helped to establish 10 state parks, conserved more than a quarter million acres of natural lands and protected or restored more than 3,000 miles of rivers and streams. The Conservancy owns and operates Fallingwater, which symbolizes people living in harmony with nature. In addition, WPC enriches our region’s cities and towns through 132 community gardens and other green spaces that are planted with the help of about 12,000 volunteers. The work of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is accomplished through the support of more than 10,000 members. Through its Community Forestry Program, which includes TreeVitalize Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Redbud Project, the Conservancy has planted nearly 30,000 trees in the City of Pittsburgh and across the region since 2008. For more information, visit WaterLandLife.org or Fallingwater.org.