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PITTSBURGH – FEBRUARY 13, 2025 –The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy today announced an expanded partnership with S&B USA, made possible by S&B USA’s recent $50,000 investment in three of the nonprofit’s school programs: Habitat Explorers, Park Explorers, and High School Urban Ecostewards (HSUE). This strengthened partnership reinforces their shared commitment to environmental education, green infrastructure, and community engagement.

The nonprofit is leveraging this collaboration to provide students who participate in their environmental education programs with a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of infrastructure and the environment. Through site visits to the PennDOT Commercial Street Bridge reconstruction project—essential transportation infrastructure running above Frick Park being constructed by Fay, S&B USA Construction —the next generation of park stewards will gain firsthand insights into engineering, green infrastructure, and environmental sustainability in urban spaces.

Students will learn how the Commercial Street Bridge project is restoring habitats in Frick Park and drawing connections to the HSUE curriculum. The Parks Conservancy’s HSUE program serves more than 150 students from six area high schools, providing hands-on learning experiences that emphasize ecological restoration, urban sustainability, and environmental stewardship. By integrating the bridge reconstruction project into their studies, students will gain a deeper understanding of how infrastructure improvements can positively impact local ecosystems and communities.

"Our expanded partnership with S&B USA is a game-changer for our environmental education programs," said Catherine Qureshi, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. "Not only does it allow us to deepen our commitment to inspiring young learners, but it also provides an incredible opportunity to connect students to future careers in STEM and infrastructure. We are excited to work together to show how major construction projects like the Commercial Street Bridge replacement can also enhance the natural spaces that make Pittsburgh special."

Many of the Parks Conservancy's environmental education programs operate out of the Frick Environmental Center, one of the world's greenest buildings. The center serves as a hub for hands-on learning, connecting students of all ages to nature through STEM-based programming, sustainability initiatives, and outdoor exploration. These programs provide young learners with the knowledge and skills to become future environmental stewards while fostering a deeper appreciation for Pittsburgh's parks and natural resources.

"The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has been a valued partner of ours since before the Commercial Street Bridge Replacement project," said Grant Ervin, Vice President of External Affairs and Sustainability at S&B USA. "Now, our collaboration and recent contribution to their education program feels even more impactful. With Frick Park nearby and the Nine Mile Run bike trail running beneath the bridge that Fay, S&B USA Construction is replacing, we're working together to enhance the community experience and make a lasting difference in this scenic area. An important part of this collaboration is to help introduce youth to future career opportunities in the construction industry. The Commercial Street Bridge replacement is a great example of how a critical infrastructure project can also enhance the surrounding environment, as well as a valuable education tool for area students interested in learning how the built environment can positively impact communities and how they can build a career around delivering large-scale community infrastructure.”

By combining infrastructure and environmental education expertise, the Parks Conservancy and S&B USA are creating meaningful learning experiences that will inspire the next generation of engineers, construction professionals, environmentalists, and community leaders.

To learn more about this partnership and the Parks Conservancy's education programs, visit pittsburghparks.org.

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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 $150 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.  

CONTACT:

Alana Wenk
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
412.527.0020
awenk@pittsburghparks.org