Brighton Heights is receiving a facelift thanks to the Student Conservation Association (SCA) in partnership with the Bright Heights Citizens Federation (BHCF).
The gardens at the California and Termon Avenues corridor as well as the greenspace along Brighton Heights Boulevard have been the areas of focus for a group of nine area Pittsburgh Public Schools students participating in the SCA program.
“The Student Conservation Association gets (students from) Pittsburgh Public Schools to help with these beautification projects, but it also helps them get ready for life after high school. There’s job readiness,” SCA project co-leader Katherine Yoho, of Brightwood, said.
The program began at the end of June and will continue into August, when the students return to school. Numerous new flowers were planted in addition to new rock walkways and a rock garden, which is against the building of State Rep. Adam Ravenstahl’s office.
“(The students) take a lot of ownership in the projects when they’re complete,” SCA program coordinator Rick Southers said. “Once they get in to it they’re really in to it.”
BHCF volunteers also said the community has taken notice, even if it’s simply beeping their horn as they drive by, but there’s always work to be done on the community’s 10 gardens.
This is my front yard extended,” BHCF volunteer Ed Gergerich said of his home on the opposite corner. “I can look out my bedroom window and see the flowers.
“…We can always use more volunteers. Anybody that can spend an hour or two or three can come over and pull some weeds.”