Hope for Pittsburgh Parks
A newly implemented park tax could provide some funding to support hillside restoration initiatives and the expansion of the Greenway system for further protection from landslides. Property owners can expect to pay an extra $50 dollars per $100,000 of assessed value of their property and the tax has the potential to generate $10 million per year that will go towards improvements of the city’s more than 165 parks and greenspaces (City Residents Vote “yes” on Pittsburgh Parks Tax Referendum, 2019). While city residents voted to approve the new tax, how and where that money is spent should also be decided in part by the needs and concerns of Pittsburgh residents. Whether some of the park tax funding goes towards landslide mitigation efforts will depend in part on the level of concern residents have surrounding their personal risks of being impacted by landslides and a comprehensive understanding of how those risks are reduced by forest restoration initiatives.
Check out this website to see how you can get involved in park clean up and planting events and contribute your input as to what projects you would like to see completed!
Engage PGH (pittsburghpa.gov)
City residents vote “yes” on Pittsburgh parks tax referendum. (2019, November 6). Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. https://www.wtae.com/article/pittsburgh-parks-tax-referendum-residents-vote-yes/29704552#
Inspirational Graffiti at the Seldom Seen Greenway