6 ways families can take care of Pittsburgh’s rivers and green spaces

As Earth Month draws to a close, we wanted to share this guide written by our friends at City Cast Pittsburgh: 

Pittsburgh has come a long way since its days of soot and smoke, and we’re lucky to have so many lush green spaces and waterways for recreation and respite.

Springdale-born environmentalist and author Rachel Carson once wrote: “Conservation is a cause that has no end. There is no point at which we will say our work is finished.”

Here’s how to get involved in that work ⬇️

🍃 Plant Trees & Flowers

No matter the time of year, there’s an opportunity to boost our urban tree canopy with Tree Pittsburgh. You can volunteer to sow seeds, transplant seedlings, and weed and prune saplings at their Heritage Nursery. And once the trees are ready, you can help plant them all over the city every spring and fall.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy also has a tree-planting program — in addition to volunteer opportunities to plant flowers in community gardens, maintain nature preserves, and clean rivers and streams.

🌊 Clean & Restore Our Waterways

Everyone deserves access to clean and safe water for drinking and recreation. Join Three Rivers Waterkeeper to help protect our rivers and their watersheds through cleanups and water monitoring. (They’re currently crowdfunding to add a second boat to their fleet so they can take more folks out on the water!)

You can also curb water pollution and flooding by helping to manage stormwater flows with UpStream Pittsburgh, In addition to weekly volunteer workdays, they host seasonal Stream Sweeps to remove hundreds of pounds of trash in Nine Mile Run, making the stream healthier for wildlife.

🗑️ Pick Up Litter

Need a workout and some fresh air? Every Friday through Monday, Allegheny Cleanways gathers volunteers to tackle a heap of trash. It’s a messy affair, so don’t wear anything you don’t want to get ruined. And closed-toed shoes are a must! Long sleeves and hats are encouraged to protect yourself from poison ivy and ticks.

We should all take ownership of keeping our neighborhoods clean, but you can make it official by registering to be a GrateKeeper or StepKeeper.

🌳 Become a Park or Trail Steward

Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has regular stewardship days at parks all over the city, where you can help clear trails of debris and remove invasive species. Show up in comfortable shoes and clothes, and they’ll bring the tools, gloves, and expertise.

Think you’re ready for some independent work? They’ll teach you the skills to adopt and care for sites in parks or communities as a long-term Urban EcoSteward volunteer.

Also check out trail workdays with Hollow Oak Land Trust and Friends of the Riverfront.

🥕 Build Community Gardens

On Saturdays during the growing season, Grow Pittsburgh needs volunteers to help with tasks at Shiloh Farm or Braddock Farms. Or, you can do farm work in exchange for food through their workshare program.

Plus, Grow Pittsburgh has a ton of educational workshops to equip you with the knowledge you need to invest in your own corner of the Burgh.

♻️ Divert Waste From Landfills

Don’t put your TV or leftover paint out for trash collection! The Pennsylvania Resources Council holds hard-to-recycle collection events for household hazardous waste, electronics, tires, and more. Plus, check out PRC workshops on backyard composting, watershed awareness and education, rain barrels and rainwater harvesting, and more.

Find more tips in CityCast’s complete guide to trash and recycling in Pittsburgh.

This story by Francesca Dabecco was originally published at City Cast Pittsburgh. Click here to sign up for their free newsletter. And click here to become a City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbor.