Call For Action: Public Hearing on the Subdivision and Land Development of Green Street Park on May 4th

PLEASE MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD AT THE MAY 4TH PUBLIC HEARING! Tell the Wilkinsburg Borough Council to vote NO to the division of the Green Street Park land for private development!

What: Public Hearing on the Subdivision and Land Development of Green Street Park
Who: Wilkinsburg Borough Council 
When: Wednesday, May 4th @ 6:00 PM
Where: Wilkinsburg Borough Building, 605 Ross Avenue (Council Chambers on the 2nd floor)

Join friends, neighbors, and Friends of Green Street Park at the public hearing hosted by the Wilkinsburg Borough Council at 6 PM on May 4th to speak on behalf of the park. The Wilkinsburg Borough Planning Commission voted in February to OPPOSE the request by Akator Construction to subdivide and develop the Green Street Park land for private use, a move which serves as a strong recommendation to the Borough Council in regard to its vote.  The Borough Council is expected to vote on the request at the conclusion of the hearing on May 4th, so participation is critical.  

The voice of our community at this hearing is more crucial than ever! Let's help the Council appreciate why our park is an important community asset as a dedicated public space and why it deserves their attention.

YOUR VOICE can tell the Wilkinsburg Borough Council that voting NO to the land division request is crucial to preserving Green Street Park. Remind the Borough Council as our elected officials that the park is protected under the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act and Donated and Dedicated Property Act, and that the sale and transfer of the property in 2015 were in direct violation of PA state law. Tell the Borough Council that our park belongs to the people and, as a dedicated public green space, plays a critical role in helping stabilize our neighborhood and building a more livable Wilkinsburg community. The Borough Council members need to hear why Green Street Park is such a special place for us all.

Sign-ups to speak will be available at the beginning of the meeting (5 min. max).  Check out these suggestions if you need a starting point for what to say. Please include your own voice and any info regarding the park which may be personally relevant. 

If you either or unable to attend, please consider contacting the Borough Council members directly (contact info can be found here). 

Visit our community blog to learn more about Green Street Park and ways to get involved.

Please make your voice heard.

"The Wilkinsburg Plan"--A Comprehensive Plan for Wilkinsburg Community Revitalization

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
-Eleanor Roosevelt

"The Wilkinsburg Plan" is the strategic revitalization plan adopted by the Borough in 2010 which identifies the resources and processes necessary to help transform Wilkinsburg into a more livable community.  The elements of the plan detailed below relate primarily to environmental sustainability and are thus relevant to the current Green Street Park preservation efforts.  We hope that learning more about the Borough's position on green space and natural resource conservation will inspire and inform your voice to the Borough Council.  We are asking the Borough to demonstrate accountability regarding its legal obligations to preserve Green Street Park, as well as its commitment to upholding environmental sustainability.  A full copy of the comprehensive plan is available on the Borough website.

"The final comprehensive plan document should guide public policy in the areas of transportation, utilities, community facilities, land use, recreation, natural and historic resources, and housing." (p. 5)

"The use of land in a community affects many aspects of the daily lives of its residents and also reflects local demand factors. The mix of uses can affect the local tax base and the availability of goods and services, while the location of various uses can affect property values, where residents live, work, and play, and the accessibility of goods and services." (p. 47)

Green Street Park is designated as "Government" on the land use map provided. (p. 49)

"...most importantly, public input is the basis of sound public policy." (p. 55)

"Lack of parks, open space, and street trees" is listed as a weakness/threat to Wilkinsburg. (p. 71)

"Wilkinsburg will eliminate blight and vacancies to turn land into productive space, including green space, by encouraging a productive reuse focus." (p. 85)"Providing safe, well‐maintained recreation areas is particularly important in an urban environment and should be considered a valuable asset." (p. 94)

"...the Borough should consider applying for funds through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to undertake a parks plan that will address the preservation, maintenance and operation of the parks and recreation programming for the future." (p. 95)

"Create and implement a process to ensure that residents have access to clean and safe natural resources, recreation, and open spaces." (p. 102)

"Upgrade zoning and subdivision and land development ordinances to allow and encourage high density and a rich mix of land uses." (p. 161)

"The ideal strategy is one that represents the vision of the community, challenges the community to stretch beyond its limits, and is organized in a way that makes it achievable....most importantly, the strategy is strategically focused on a few critical action items that are certainly achievable through unity, responsibility, and accountability." (p. 179)

"Safe, Clean, and Green" is listed as the first of five high-priority strategies derived from the comprehensive planning process. (p. 182)

Safe, Clean, and Green High-Priority Strategies (The Wilkinsburg Plan, 2010)

April 6th Borough Council Planning Session Update

A big high-five to everyone who came out for last night's Borough Council planning session. We are grateful to our community members who spoke on behalf of Green Street Park. YOUR VOICE is critical to the success of this process!

We expect the Council to host a public hearing prior to voting on the developer's subdivision request in the coming weeks--this vote will be crucial! While the date for the hearing and vote has not been set, we encourage you to contact the Borough Council members directly to let them know that our park belongs to the people (contact info for all members can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/hfy4gpf).

You may find these suggestions helpful if you need a starting point for what to say: http://tinyurl.com/js9d57c. Please include your own voice and any info regarding the park which may be personally relevant. Tell the Borough that our park plays a critical role in stabilizing our neighborhood and building a more livable Wilkinsburg community.

Please make your voice heard...and stay tuned.

"Qui tacet consentit."--Silence gives consent.

REMINDER: ACTION NEEDED at the Borough Council Planning Session on APRIL 6TH!

PLEASE MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD. Tell the Wilkinsburg Borough Council to vote NO to the division of the Green Street Park land for private development!

What: Wilkinsburg Borough Council Planning Session
When: Wednesday, April 6th @ 7:00 PM
Where: Wilkinsburg Borough Building, 605 Ross Avenue (Council Chambers on the 2nd floor)

Join friends, neighbors, and Friends of Green Street Park at the Borough Council meeting on April 6th to speak on behalf of the park.  We are expecting the Wilkinsburg Borough Council to vote on the land division request by Akator Construction before May 6th, so participation at this meeting is critical.  

YOUR VOICE can tell the Council that voting NO to the land division request is crucial to preserving Green Street Park. Remind the Borough Council as our elected officials that the park is protected under the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act and Donated and Dedicated Property Act, and that the sale and transfer of the property are in direct violation of PA state law. Tell the Borough Council that our park belongs to the people and, as a dedicated public green space, plays a critical role in helping stabilize our neighborhood and building a more livable Wilkinsburg community. The Borough Council members need to hear why Green Street Park is such a special place for us all.

Sign-up to speak at the planning session.  Sign-ups to speak will be available at the beginning of the meeting (5 min. max). 

You can use these suggested comments if you need a starting point for what to say at the meeting or as part of your correspondence with the Borough Council members.  We encourage you to include your own voice, as well as any information which may be personally relevant.

If you are unable to attend, please consider contacting the Borough Council members directly (contact info for all Borough Council members is available here). 

Please make your voice heard.

More information about ways to get involved in preserving the park is available here. 

Green Street Park: A History of Ownership and Status as Federal and State Protected Land

LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY OF GREEN STREET PARK (SEE LINK BELOW--INCLUDES RELEVANT PUBLIC DOCUMENTS!)

In 1982, the Borough of Wilkinsburg was awarded a National Park Service (PA DCNR) Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant to improve and maintain the Green Street Park land for open space and outdoor recreational use. While the 1982 LWCF agreement officially secured the property as a protected public space, the use of Green Street Park by the community can be traced back to its purchase by the Wilkinsburg School District in 1905.  

Property ownership of Green Street Park was officially transferred from the Wilkinsburg School District to the Borough of Wilkinsburg in 1957.  The 1982 LWCF grant was awarded to the Borough of Wilkinsburg for park improvements.  The Wilkinsburg School District, however, sold the property to Akator Construction, LLC in July of 2015 for $71,000.  While the ownership of the park property at the time of sale remains questionable, the direct violation of the laws prohibiting the sale and transfer of designated public land as per the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act (LWCFA) and Donated and Designated Property Act (DDPA) is clear and of tremendous concern.  Given the provisions of the 1982 LWCF agreement, the Borough of Wilkinsburg and Wilkinsburg School District did not have the right to sell the property to a developer AND do not have the right to rezone the property for private development.

On January 28th, 2016, PA Governor Tom Wolf announced a $28 million Department of Conservation and Natural Resources investment to improve recreation and community revitalization efforts across Pennsylvania. "Our communities thrive economically when people want to stay and businesses want to grow, and these beautiful public spaces and new recreational areas help improve the quality of life across our commonwealth," stated Wolf.

Friends of Green Street Park questions why the park, as an existing public space designated through federal LWCF grant funding, is at risk of illegal development with the intent for private use at a time when the PA DCNR is dispensing similar assistance in vast quantities for statewide community revitalization efforts elsewhere.  In response to Governor Wolf's statement, we are eager to learn more about the plans which exist to ensure that revitalized community spaces can remain protected and designated for public use in the future.  

We look forward to helping the Borough Council understand that our park belongs to the people and, as a dedicated public green space, can continue to play a critical role in helping stabilize our neighborhood and building a more livable Wilkinsburg community.  As an alternative to unnecessary and illegal development, we hope to collaborate with the Borough on a design for Green Street Park as a public space which could instead advocate environmental equity, build community, improve public health, advance social justice--AND promote economic growth.  

View relevant public documents and learn more about the history and legal status of Green Street Park here: 

Green Street Park: A History of Ownership and Status as Federal and State Protected Land

PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn, announcing the $28 million DCNR investment towards 176 community revitalization efforts in January of 2016.  The projects receiving the assistance will help support new recreational opportunities, conserve natural resources, and help revitalize communities.

ACTION NEEDED: Tell the Wilkinsburg Borough Council to Vote NO to the Subdivision of the Green Street Park Land on APRIL 6TH!

PLEASE MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD. Tell the Wilkinsburg Borough Council to vote NO to the division of the Green Street Park land for private development!

What: Wilkinsburg Borough Council Planning Session
When: Wednesday, April 6th @ 7:00 PM
Where: Wilkinsburg Borough Building, 605 Ross Avenue (Council Chambers on the 2nd floor)

The Wilkinsburg Planning Commission voted in February to OPPOSE the request by Akator Construction to subdivide the Green Street Park property into six land parcels for private development. This vote serves as a strong recommendation to the Wilkinsburg Borough Council, which will cast a formal vote on the request before May 6th.

While the date for the official vote has not yet been announced, the voice of our community at upcoming Council meetings is critical. Let's help the Council appreciate why our park deserves their attention.

YOUR VOICE can tell the Wilkinsburg Borough Council that voting NO to the land division request is crucial to preserving Green Street Park. Remind the Borough Council as our elected officials that the park is protected under the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act and Donated and Dedicated Property Act, and that the sale and transfer of the property are in direct violation of PA state law. Tell the Borough Council that our park belongs to the people and, as a dedicated public green space, plays a critical role in helping stabilize our neighborhood and building a more livable Wilkinsburg community. The Borough Council members need to hear why Green Street Park is such a special place for us all.

Join friends, neighbors, and Friends of Green Street Park at the Borough Council meeting on April 6th to speak on behalf of the park. Sign-ups to speak will be available at the beginning of the meeting (5 min. max).

If you are unable to attend, please consider contacting the Borough Council members directly (contact info for all Borough Council members is available here). More information about ways to get involved in preserving the park is available here.

Please make your voice heard.

Yes, Hello? Wilkinsburg? It's Your Community Calling.

Powerful voices from the March 24th Save Green Street Park community meeting at Biddle's Escape!