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History
of the Pittsburgh Shade Tree Commission
Pittsburgh's
relationship with the environment has not always emphasized the importance
of keeping the region green as it does today. In early American history,
westward bound settlers streamed into the region seeking prosperity
on the banks of the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio Rivers.
Pittsburgh
was initially built from a functional viewpoint with commerce and
industry at the center of any planning or development.. This pattern,
established early in the city's history, saw tremendous growth accompanied
by horrible environmental conditions and a poor standard of living.
The citizens of Pittsburgh began to recognize that their quality
of life demanded something be done to improve the conditions within
the city.
In 1869, the City of Pittsburgh acquired over 400 acres of farmland
from the Schenley family to be used in the creation of an urban
park. The goal of this park, was to provide green space for those
living in the smoky and crowded city center. People seeking refuge
from the city enjoyed Schenley Park, making it one of the most popular
areas in the city of Pittsburgh.
In 1910, Pittsburgh
recognized the importance of street trees to the urban community
by creating the original Shade Tree Commission. The purpose was
to transport the nature people came to appreciate so fully in Schenley
Park to the rest of the city. The commission, however, was rather
short lived, being replaced in 1914 by the Street Tree Division
within the Bureau of Parks. The Shade Tree Commission's demise followed
a general decline in enthusiasm and funding for Pittsburgh's shade
tree programs. The past 20 years of neglect, more poignant than
any other point in the city's history, devastated the city's tree
populations and the neighborhoods they beautified. However, the
current Pittsburgh Shade Tree Commission is working to reverse that
trend.
Since our
re-founding in 1998, the Pittsburgh Shade Tree Commission has been
aggressively planting trees and maintaining their health throughout
the city. The Shade Tree Commission has already planted trees in
several neighborhoods, and has many new projects in their planning
stages. With your help, Pittsburgh can re-establish its commitment
to the urban forest and reverse the years of neglect that befell
our tree populations. Join us and keep our city green.
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Tree Commission Home
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