An expansive piece of land in the heart of rapidly developing Indiana Township could stay green if the Allegheny Land Trust secures pledges of $2.5 million by December.

The nonprofit is eyeing 280 acres in the Deer Creek Watershed, where wildlife, trails and streams abound.

Some of the property abuts the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and other sections are home to a 1-mile link of the Rachel Carson Trail. The parcel sits near Emmerling Park, off Route 910, and fronts multiple tributaries to Deer Creek, a popular fishing spot stocked by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

“It’s rare to get a piece of land this big,” said Lindsay Dill, the land trust’s senior director of marketing and community engagement.

“This parcel is important for biodiversity, stormwater, outdoor recreation and education.”

The land trust has an exclusive contract to buy and permanently protect the space, contingent on raising the necessary costs by December.

Most of the money will be sought from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the state Department of Community and Economic Development, grants and private foundations.

The public will need to kick in $150,000.

Dill said community support is critical to close the funding gap, provide matching dollars to unlock government grants and demonstrate local support.

A virtual information session is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 12 for people to learn more about the initiative.

State Sen. Lindsey Williams, D-North Hills, backs the project. She said conserving the woodlands will help protect the environment by improving local water and air quality and mitigating flood risks.

“We know that getting outside improves both our physical and mental health, and that’s why I’m happy to support projects like this one that will improve the quality of life for residents both today and for generations to come,” Williams said.

If the land trust is successful, it will be the largest parcel it has conserved.

Preserving the green space would protect biodiversity and local scenic character, as well as create connections and expanded opportunities for close-to-home passive recreation, such as hiking and bird-watching, Dill said.

“This would help to conserve the quality of the Deer Creek Watershed by allowing 231 million gallons of rainwater to be absorbed each year,” she said. “All of those tributaries help absorb stormwater and protect the quality of the stream.”

The Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy, a Cranberry-based advocacy group, hosted a hike in mid-July to raise awareness for the project.

The group posted on its website that the land acquisition “is near and dear to our hearts as our trail runs through the parcel. (It) will ensure our trail remains intact.”

The trails conservancy pledged to match any donations made in July, up to a total of $50,000, toward the project. Amounts raised were not yet available.

Members are expected to have another informational hike in August or September.

Township Manager Dan Anderson said he supports the project wholeheartedly.

Protecting the pristine forest sandwiched along Emmerling Park aligns perfectly with long-range environmental stewardship and community well-being, he said.

“We recognize the myriad of community benefits that this project will bring,” Anderson said.

“The protection of our community’s scenic beauty and the enhancement of close-to-home outdoor recreation opportunities are invaluable assets that will improve the quality of life for all residents.”

Equally as important is the protection from development pressures, Anderson said.

“By creating a network of connected green space totaling 339 acres, we are not only preserving our natural heritage but also ensuring the long-term health and sustainability of our community,” he said.

“The environmental impact of this project cannot be overstated.”

Tawnya Panizzi is a TribLive reporter. She joined the Trib in 1997. She can be reached at tpanizzi@triblive.com.

Inside the project
To donate, visit alleghenylandtrust.org/deercreek.
To register for the Aug. 12 virtual information session, visit alleghenylandtrust.org and click on Events Calendar under the News and Events tab.