Westmoreland Land Trust to spotlight nature, art at new Hempfield park

Outdoor art and the beauty of Mother Nature soon could share a scenic hilltop in Hempfield.

The Westmoreland Land Trust proposes to establish a nature and art park on a 96-acre farm it acquired along Beech Hills Road, off Old Route 66, just 3 miles from downtown Greensburg.

“The property sits at a high elevation relative to neighboring properties and provides expansive views of the surrounding area,” said Betsy Aiken, executive director of the land trust. That includes views of the Chestnut and Laurel ridges to the east.

“To make the best use of its scenic qualities, we see the value of incorporating works of outdoor art,” likely sculptural pieces, she said. “It’s our hope that, by doing so, we will encourage more people to visit the park and to become familiar with the property’s conservation and the value of land conservation in general.”

While a small fraction of the property is wooded, much of it is covered with meadows that can support pollinators, or with crops such as sweet corn. The farm is crossed by tributaries to Brush Creek in the Turtle Creek Watershed. Aiken said the trust will continue to lease the fields for farming until it is ready to move forward with conservation efforts.

“With that much land, the property can be managed to have significant and sustainable populations of native biodiversity,” said Andrew Mack, a conservation biologist and land trust board member from the Ligonier area. “We hope to encourage a nice population of bluebirds, tree swallows and other attractive and iconic birds of rural Pennsylvania.”

With the help of funding from the Colcom Foundation and Allegheny Foundation, the trust purchased the farm from the Roberta N. Schwarz Charitable Foundation. The trust previously helped to conserve 12 other sites, but each was turned over to another entity. The Schwarz property is the first which the trust intends to keep, Aiken said.

“We believe it can become a very important destination for the area,” she said. She suggested it could be an ideal setting for school field trips, an inspirational spot for artists to visit and “a catalyst for related cultural and economic development.”

According to foundation spokeswoman Elaine Bohatch, Roberta Schwarz and her husband, Carl, had no children, though he reportedly had a relative who was a sculptor. Upon Roberta’s death, in 2004, the farm was transferred to the foundation. “We were told that she wanted the farm and house preserved so that others could enjoy it as much as she did,” Bohatch said. “She would walk the farm daily until she could not.”

The park formally will be known as Carl A. Schwarz Memorial Park, but the land trust is inviting suggestions for a shorter one- or two-word alternative name reflective of the property’s natural assets or of Westmoreland County heritage.

Aiken said the land trust intends to engage a consultant to plan for the conservation of the property while seeking input from residents of nearby communities and others who are interested.

The trust has put out feelers with local talent regarding the park’s art component. “We welcome and encourage artists’ interest in the project,” Aiken said.

To submit a suggestion for the park name or be placed on the park mailing list, contact westmorelandlandtrust@gmail.com or Westmoreland Land Trust, 218 Donohoe Road, Greensburg, PA 15601.