Community Gardens

Planted each spring, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s community gardens have become a signature feature of our region, captivating residents and visitors throughout the growing season. Corporate and organizational sponsorships and the work of more than 13,000 volunteers from neighborhoods, schools, businesses and organizations have made it possible for communities in 20 counties to enjoy 135 gardens.

Community garden at Marshall Ave and California Ave in Pittsburgh's Marshall-Shadeland community, summer 2012

Planting season is complete and thanks to many volunteers, the WPC community flower gardens are beginning to bloom all over the region. Contact Lynn McGuire-Olzak at 412-586-2324 or lolzak@paconserve.org for more information if you or your group would like to get involved over the summer.

 Volunteers plant the garden at Highland Park Bridge

WPC’s community gardens are seen more than 5 million times a day based on PennDOT statistics. Each year more than 200,000 flowers are planted by volunteers. We greatly appreciate the many volunteers who will put in their time and energy this spring to get the gardens off to a great start, not to mention the financial sponsors who keep our gardens blooming!

Garden in Homewood at Frankstown Avenue and Bennett Street

There are numerous ways you can participate with WPC’s Community Gardens program:

We are thankful to our friends at The Pittsburgh Project who take all of our plants from the WPC’s Community Gardens and Greenspace projects and compost them. The composted materials become beneficial fertilizer for their community-run farm, ecology education projects and additional community greening projects.