Walking trails through the fields of the Schwarz farm are now open to public! Please start your exploration of the future park with a stop at the back porch of the farmhouse for a booklet about the park with a trail map (cover photo courtesy of Jim Murphy, Westmoreland Photographers Society).
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On March 11, 2021, WLT acquired the 96-acre Schwarz farm on Beech Hills Road in Hempfield Township with the help of funding from Colcom Foundation and Allegheny Foundation, and other supporters. The farm is located three miles (six minutes by car!) from downtown Greensburg. It will be conserved as a nature and art park, with meadows to provide habitat for pollinator and upland meadow bird species.
In January 2023 LaQuatra Bonci Associates completed a Schwarz Property Phased Development Plan for the future park.
Thank you to all who have supported or participated in Visitor Days at the future nature and art park! Pics are from Visitor Days.
See an aerial video of the farm courtesy of IBDronin Photography and another aerial video of the farm courtesy of Colin Sheehy and Pittsburgh Camera.
The park will be formally known as the Carl A. Schwarz Memorial Park, and the WLT invites suggestions for a short banner name for the park. The one or two word banner name should reflect the property’s beauty, conservation value, or Westmoreland County heritage. Please send your suggestions to [email protected] or Westmoreland Land Trust / 218 Donohoe Road / Greensburg, PA 15601.
The WLT is deeply grateful to the many organizations and people who have helped with this important conservation acquisition; it would not have been possible without your assistance and support. (Photos are of Schwarz farmhouse before remodeling, and of Roberta Schwarz.)
Please email [email protected] or write Westmoreland Land Trust / 218 Donohoe Road / Greensburg PA 15601 if you would like to be placed on a mailing list for the future park.
Please donate to advance the future nature/art park online* or mail your donation to Westmoreland Land Trust / 218 Donohoe Road / Greensburg PA 15601. The Westmoreland Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Contributions to the trust are tax-deductible under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code to the extent of the law.
*If you would like your donation to be directed to the Schwarz Park, please show this designation; the WLT tracks and adheres to all donor designations for use of funds.