What We Do
Our Mission
Established in 2017 by Penn Hills municipal ordinance, the Penn Hills Shade Tree Commission is a group of volunteers who are working to make Penn Hills a more environmentally sustainable community by planting trees and organizing environmental projects.
What We’ve Achieved
As of today, the PHSTC has planted 391 Trees in Penn Hills.
Penn Hills has been designated a Tree City USA and received the Tree City Growth Award for the Fifth Year in a Row by the Arbor Day Foundation.
PHSTC has hosted 8 Front Yard Tree Projects.
PHSTC has hosted 5 Arbor Day Celebrations.
Worked with TreeVitalize to plant trees on Allegheny River Boulevard, Milltown Road, and Rodi Road in Penn Hills.
Helped facilitate the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and the Municipality of Penn Hills in establishing a welcoming roadside garden at the Rodi Road entrance to Penn Hills.
From Spring 2018 to Fall 2021, PHSTC has restored native non-invasive species to Plum Creek in Penn Hills Community Park.
The Why
A beautiful, shaded, tree-lined, residential street is a beautiful image but do you know that trees are environmental workhorses? Trees give us much needed shade on a hot day, create oxygen for us to breathe, and absorb atmospheric carbon. Trees absorb huge amounts of stormwater runoff, decreasing the amount of raw sewage that flows from our overloaded sewage system into the Allegheny River. In addition, trees increase our property values, attract residents and businesses to our community, and have actually been shown to reduce crime by fostering safer, more sociable neighborhoods.
The How
The PHSTC is grateful to its incredible, hardworking VOLUNTEERS, generous DONORS, and supportive PARTNERS, all of whom make it possible to improve our community and create a better place to live, grow, and thrive.
In 2018, we became fiscal partners with the Penn Hills Community Development Corporation, enabling us to apply for non-profit grants to fund our projects. Thank you, PHCDC!.
