Residents are encouraged to get their hands dirty to help complete the transformation of McCahill Park in Fox Chapel.
Borough officials will join the nonprofit Western PA Conservancy to host a planting day at the site off of Hemlock Hollow Road.
The event will be 9 a.m. to noon July 15.
“We’ll come out with all the tools and materials for a big community-based planting,” said Art DeMeo, the conservancy’s senior director of community greening projects.
The planting takes place after two postponements due to heat or heavy rain, Park Commission Chair Wesley Posvar Jr. said. In total, more than 800 native trees, plants and shrubs will have been put into the ground.
The park was targeted for greenery after wrapping up an extensive renovation to thwart flooding and upgrade equipment.
Council in August voted to spend $820,000 to repurpose the basketball court to four pickleball courts, renovate the baseball backstop closest to the playground and remove the one furthest away, usually used for tee ball. That field was turned into a stormwater detention pond and wetlands.
Cost was paid for in part by grants from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Department of Community & Economic Development.
New plantings will support stormwater management efforts by the borough. Council previously approved up to $14,000 to contract the Western PA Conservancy to plant about 1,500 trees, shrubs and other perennials.
”This final planting event will focus on the rain garden and its banks, planting seedlings and plugs that will absorb stormwater during severe weather events,” Posvar said. “Any flooding from Sycamore Run across Hemlock Hollow Road, plus excess rainfall, will flow into a swale system parallel to the road and then into the rain garden.
“Stormwater will be retained in the rain garden for slow absorption, with any excess above a gated drain flowing back into the stream. The objective is to reduce downstream flooding.”
DeMeo said the chosen plants are ones “that like to get their feet wet every now and then.”
His group conducts about 130 community garden programs in 20 counties to engage residents.
The conservancy will provide the plants, instructions, tools, gloves and safety vests. Volunteers should wear sturdy shoes. The event is rain or shine.
According to Posvar, the work to plant more grasses and wildflowers, in addition to the native trees, plants and shrubs, has transformed McCahill — which he described as once an almost-forgotten park in Fox Chapel.
“However, with renovations spearheaded by the Whittingham family in memory of their daughter, Annie, McCahill Park has become a destination park for many, especially children screaming and laughing in Annie’s Field of Dreams playground,” Posvar said.
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