Property that once housed about 20 Penn Salt company homes in Natrona continues to be upgraded by a group of volunteers.

About a dozen people braved the cold Friday to scatter 60 tons of river rock on the stretch just near the railroad tracks, sandwiched between Federal Street and a gravel parking lot, now owned by ATI.

It’s the same spot where volunteers planted trees in 2021 to boost aesthetics and protect air quality for nearby residents.

“It was an incredible day,” Harrison Commissioner Chuck Dizard said. “We accomplished a lot, and our backs ache to show for it.”

Resident Jason Kreinbrook provided the heavy equipment and arranged for the delivery of river rock.

“It’s great to see people come together to make improvements and updates to our community,” Kreinbrook said.

The cost was about $5,000, with ATI footing the bill.

“The revitalization efforts in this community that ATI calls home are tremendous,” said Tom DeLuca, president of ATI Specialty Rolled Products. “The Natrona Comes Together Association and the Harrison Tree Committee are great assets to our community, and we’re honored to support their ongoing efforts.”

Other participants included residents Joe and John Kostka, Robbin and Chris Nemeth, Cynthia Adams, Derek Christopher, Brian DeFelice, Vince Geramita, Dacia Kreinbrook, Mike Hursh and Steve Jones.

A long-running partnership of the township, ATI and Western Pennsylvania Conservancy has kept the area a priority after the Penn Salt homes were demolished years ago.

Volunteers planted 15 trees, such as ginkgo and honey locust, to provide a barrier from dust and pollution generated by the mill. That planting project was partially funded by the Allegheny County Clean Air Fund.

“All the work has made a huge positive impact on the Natrona landscape,” Dizard said.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)