New Trail in Montour Woods Conservation Area
A new hiking and biking trail is now open from our Hassam Road parking area to Downing Drive. Named for a historic oil well located on the trail, the site may make an interesting interpretive feature in the future. The undulating, wooded trail is over a mile long and features a stand of hemlocks and several small stream crossings. The conservation area now has over 5 miles of trails, with several more miles to go this summer. Thanks to Darin Shaffer, Ruth Sutyak, Laurie & Ethan Plummer, Rich Dahlgren, and Fred & Christine Kohun for their volunteer hours. Work has begun on the next trail...volunteers needed! See below for details. |
Colcom Grant Awarded to Hollow Oak Land Trust
 Colcom Foundation recently awarded a $50,000 grant to Hollow Oak Land Trust to develop the Montour Woods Greenway. Over the next two years, Hollow Oak will work with Moon Township and local landowners to establish the Montour Woods Greenway to connect our 260-acre Montour Woods Conservation Area (Montour Woods + Meeks Run + Frank Santucci C.A.'s) with Moon Township Park and the Montour Trail. This project is the first step in creating a larger network of interconnected greenspaces spanning Moon Township as a model for conservation-oriented development. Hollow Oak will seek to develop a planning model that municipalities can use by demonstrating how strategic preservation of greenspace can boost economic development.
(click image of the map for a larger view and to save or print it)
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Partnership Spotlight
Hollow Oak Land Trust works with other organizations toward a regional approach to conservation. Here are some recent collaborative efforts:
- Sustainable Airport Corridor Initiative Hollow Oak participated in a recent meeting convened by Sustainable Pittsburgh to explore a new initiative for airport corridor businesses to work together in the sustainability movement. Co-sponsors of the initiative include The Mall at Robinson, Bayer MaterialScience,IKEA and Allegheny Conference on Community Development.
- Keller Williams Realty Volunteers
Thanks to Keller Williams Realty for including Hollow Oak in their annual Red Day volunteer effort. Together, we removed 45 tires and 17 bags of trash from a former dump site in the Montour Woods Conservation Area.
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Forestbrooke Conservation Area - New Montour Trail Sign
The Forestbrooke Conservation Area soon will have its own sign at Milepost 6 on the Montour Trail near the Cliff Mine Road trailhead. The sign for this 6-acre wetlands area is provided in partnership with the Montour Trail Council to help get the word out about the good work of the Land Trust. We hope to find an Eagle Scout to build a bench at the site and perhaps some other infrastructure to provide access to the nearby stream and woods. Thanks to Darin and Chuck Shaffer for their construction skills. Volunteers invited to help with installation 6/20-6/22: info@hollowoak.org |
Weekly Trail Wednesdays
Hassam Road Parking Lot, 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Hollow Oak volunteers meet every Wednesday at the Hassam Road parking area (just uphill from Montour Trail) to develop new sustainable trails for hiking and biking in the 260-acre Montour Woods Conservation Area. Activities include pruning vegetation, trail clearing and digging rainwater features. Work gloves and water provided, refreshments served afterward. If interested, please contact info@hollowoak.org or (412) 417-5825. |
