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Council committee approves long-term agreement with Student Conservation Association to streamline park projects
Summary
The council approved Bill 389 to authorize agreements with the Student Conservation Association (SCA) to streamline volunteer conservation projects at no cost to the city; SCA described youth crew structure, tree-planting work funded by DCNR, and a proposed long-term (10-year) permission framework.
The standing committee approved a resolution authorizing the City of Pittsburgh to enter into agreements with the Student Conservation Association (SCA) to provide volunteer conservation services in parks and public spaces at no cost to the city.
Joanna Lemon, partnership manager for the Student Conservation Association, told the committee SCA hires young people aged roughly 14 to 35 for service jobs in public spaces and has worked in Pittsburgh since 2001. She described the core work as trail projects, small infrastructure work, tree plantings and tree maintenance, coordinated with the city's Department of Public Works and the forestry department. She said the agreement is intended to streamline permissions and reduce repetitive paperwork: "Right now, we have to do permission letters...this agreement would just allow us to streamline that communication."
City Forester Lisa Coffee joined the discussion and supported the agreement. Council members, including Councilman Coghill and Council President Lavelle, praised SCA's work in parks such as Riverview Park and Southside Park. Lemon described SCA's typical youth crews as "10 youth and two adult leaders" for ages 14–18 and noted spring team funding from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to increase the city's tree canopy. She said trees are sourced from partners such as Tree Pittsburgh and that SCA provides training and post-planting maintenance at no cost to the city.
Council members asked about coordination and safety; Lemon said crews carry insurance and work with park managers to develop annual work plans. The committee approved Bill 389 by voice vote.
Next steps: The resolution authorizes the director of Public Works and the director of Finance to enter into the agreement(s) and the city will coordinate annual work plans with SCA and park managers.
