Route 30 greenway in Ligonier Township just got greener

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy has acquired 50 acres of land including frontage along the high quality Coalpit Run, which is a tributary of Loyalhanna Creek in Ligonier Township along Route 30.

“Loyalhanna Creek is an ecologically significant stream that is a conservation priority for the Conservancy,” said Conservancy President and CEO Thomas Saunders.

The property is a forested swatch on the north side of westbound Route 30, including a half-mile of frontage along Coalpit Run.

The new piece of land is along the greenway corridor adjacent to land owned by the Loyalhanna Watershed Association and protected by a conservation easement with the conservancy. The easement limits development in order to preserve the scenic views and other conservation values along the corridor.

Since the 1970s, the conservancy has permanently protected nearly 27,000 acres of land in the Ligonier Valley, of which more than 10,000 are through conservation easements.

Over the years, The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy has protected more than 85,000 acres in the Laurel Highlands.