With repairs to the Homestead Grays Bridge in Pittsburgh completed, the community garden located at 8th Avenue in Homestead has reopened after a two-year hiatus, thanks to the support of Pennsylvania American Water.

Their support is helping to fund the Homestead garden and seven other Western Pennsylvania Conservancy community gardens across Western Pennsylvania this year.

“The goal of the community gardens is to enhance and beautify all types of communities by partnering with local residents, corporations and organizations” said Judy Wagner, senior director of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Community Gardens and Greenspace program. “We are grateful that our long partnership with Pennsylvania American Water has helped us make this vision a reality. Pennsylvania American Water has been an ideal partner by making a long-term commitment to the region’s environment through both its volunteers and its crucial financial support.”

Pennsylvania American Water has been a sponsor of WPC’s community garden program since 2000. In addition to the Homestead garden, PAW currently helps to fund two Pittsburgh gardens: Wenzel Avenue and Broadway Avenue in Beechview and Mifflin Road and Interboro Avenue in Lincoln Place.

PAW also sponsors WPC gardens at: Brentwood Middle/High School in Brentwood, Route 286 and Indian Springs Road in Indiana County, Hanson Avenue and Route 68 in Butler, Route 40 and Broadway Street in Brownsville and Route 18 and Tyler Avenue in Washington.

"While the aesthetic improvements that these gardens offer our communities is important, we’re equally pleased with their environmental impact," said Deborah P. Lippert, senior director field operations, Pennsylvania American Water. "The green space and run-off prevention measures the gardens offer are important in helping to capture rain water before it enters the storm sewer system."

Youth from Multicultural Young Life, a Christian ministry focused on youth in urban communities, helped to plant the Homestead Bridge community garden and will act as caretakers of the site throughout the season. Volunteer groups from Macy's and the West Mifflin Environmental Club also participated in planting this garden.

Last year, PAW also made a $10,000 environmental grant to WPC to help restore and protect the Shenango River watershed.

WPC’s community gardens have become a signature image of the Western Pennsylvania landscape. Appearing in 140 locations with varied, colorful configurations, the gardens provide a backdrop and enhancement for other cultural and civic assets.

WPC coordinates more than 5,000 volunteers and dozens of community organizations and businesses to plant, maintain and support gardens in 19 Western Pennsylvania counties.

For more information, visit the WPC’s Community Gardens and Greenspace Program webpage.

8/8/2008