SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainable Bethel Park

Sustainability is a key part of Bethel Park. We take sustainability seriously with the environment, our health, and our history. We are committed to maintaining and improving our Sustainable PA Community Certification.

Environmental Sustainability

Bethel Park values our environment. We take pride in keeping our neighborhoods and 14 parks clean and sustainable. Our long-term Comprehensive plan outlines our sustainability program and is updated yearly with our progress.

The Shade Tree Commission is Bethel Park’s advisory board over all public trees on public property or in the public right-of-way. Our mission is to maintain a tree canopy to enrich Bethel Park environmentally and to improve the quality of life for all residents. This Commission hosts annual tree plantings in desired green spaces and maintains a public online tree inventory for Bethel Park.

Recycled Water at Community Center

The municipality has an active recycling program and participates in difficult-to-recycle events in coordination with Pennsylvania Resource Council throughout the year. Residents can sign up for Hard To Recycle Event notices via the Garbage/Recycling list on our Subscriptions page. We have two annual community cleanup days and offer yard waste drop-off over the summer months.

Bethel Park is supported by two light-rail lines to access downtown Pittsburgh with Pittsburgh Regional Transit. Many of the light-rail stations incorporate parking lots for Park-n-Ride access. Park-n-Ride information can be found on PRT’s website.

Historical Sustainability

The Bethel Park Historical Society helps to preserve Bethel Park’s History through actively restoring the Bethel Park Schoolhouse Arts and History Center. The Bethel Park Historical Society also hosts remembrance events honoring veterans and reunions for previous Bethel Park School District classes.

The Montour Trail is a former railroad right-of-way turned walking/biking trail that runs south from the western side of Pittsburgh, turns east to run through Bethel Park, and then ends in Clairton, PA. It is the longest suburban rail-trail in the country. At the western end, the Montour Trail connects to the Great Allegheny Passage which stretches over 300 miles to Washington DC.

Coverdale/Miner’s Park, old-growth trees

Whiskey Rebellion

Health Sustainability

The Bethel Park Live Well series is a health and wellness series that is broadcast on BPTV and via our Facebook page. We feature experts in the fields of medical and mental health, financial health, and others.

Bethel Park is home to numerous neighborhood and county parks with various recreational activities available. One can bike the Montour Trail, swing on a jungle gym, play softball, and even relax and watch a herd of buffalo.

Our Community Center offers a wealth of recreational programs ranging from sports to relaxation and meditation for all ages.

Senior residents have access to additional programs that include lunch programs, social hours, walking track access, and exercise programs.

Food is an essential part of a person’s health, and we support that with our award-winning weekly summertime Bethel Park Farmers’ Market that gives residents access to fresh, locally-sourced food.

During the winter months, we offer a scaled-down version of the Farmers’ Market called No-Cook Tuesdays that features local food trucks and select farm vendors.

SUSTAINABILITY NEWS

Spotted Lanternfly – Update!

By Nicholas Callas • August 29, 2023
Spotted Lanternfly – Update! As most of you know, Spotted Lanternflies are here! And, whether you’re walking around the local trails or even your own backyard, it’s almost impossible to avoid seeing them! These insects are highly invasive and are causing a significant amount of plant and tree loss in our local community. According to the PA Department of Agriculture, there are 300 times more reports of Spotted Lanternflies this year as compared to the same time last year. Spotted Lanternflies are currently in their ‘late nymph’ and ‘adult’ phases. Quick ways to get rid of Spotted Lanternflies: Stomp or swat – Use the bottom of your shoe or a fly swatter to kill hard-to-reach lanternflies! Remove with a vacuum – Use a shop vac or something similar to physically remove lanternflies from surfaces; make sure to empty carefully! Pesticides or home remedies – Spray plants with an EPA-approved insecticide or use home remedies such as vinegar or a 50/50 water and dish detergent solution to kill lanternflies! Spotted Lanternflies are particularly attracted to the Tree of Heaven plant – a highly invasive species that produces large amounts of pollen and harms native plants. While removing Spotted Lanternflies, it’s a great idea to also remove invasive Tree of Heaven plants! For help identifying these invasive species in your backyard, go to Spotted Lanternfly (psu.edu ) and Tree-of-Heaven (psu.edu) .

Get Active with the Montour Trail! – Sustainability Tip

By Nicholas Callas • July 11, 2023
Get Active with the Montour Trail! – Sustainability Tip With the weather warming and the birds migrating back North, now is the perfect time to get active and explore the Montour Trail! No matter your ability, the Montour Trail is a great way to exercise and socialize with family and friends. The Montour Trail spreads across West Pennsylvania from Coraopolis to Clairton with the main line extending over 47 miles! This trail is a multi-use, non-motorized recreational pathway meaning that you can walk, run and bicycle at your own pace . The Montour Trail is also ADA accessible and pet-friendly! 

Sustainable Gardening Tips!

By Nicholas Callas • May 21, 2023
Sustainable Gardening Tips:  With the recent spike in temperatures, now is a wonderful time to start planning and planting your outdoor garden! Gardening is a fantastic way to enjoy the springtime air while reaping tasty fruits and vegetables and enjoying beautiful flowers and plants all season long! But did you know many common fertilizers and soils contain harmful chemicals and pollutants? Below are a few tips that will help you create a more sustainable garden this season! Reduce chemical pesticides by ‘companion planting’ with naturally insect-repelling plants! Garlic cloves, citronella grass and chrysanthemums are all plants that naturally repel insects such as ants, beetles and ticks. By using these plants, you can reduce the number of chemical pesticides used while maintaining all the positive benefits of gardens (such as produce!) . Reduce weedkillers using the ‘No-Dig’ method of starting a garden! Rather than digging over soil each season, try covering last year’s garden with a thick layer of garden compost and mulch. Turning over the soil brings weed-producing seeds deep in the ground to the surface and allows them to begin germinating. By using the ‘No-Dig’ method, you can cut back on natural weeds in half the time.

Spotted Lanternfly Awareness – Sustainability Tip

By Ammie Faunce • March 14, 2023
With the gradual transition to warmer weather in the area, we’re starting to see the growth of many new spring plants and other types of vegetation. Unfortunately, this warmer weather also means that many invasive pests are beginning to emerge from winter eggs as well. One of these invasive pests, and the focus of this blog, is the Spotted Lanternfly (referred to as SLF). This insect has been in the United States since 2014 and is once again emerging from its winter eggs in the Pittsburgh region. SLF’s feed on over 70 plants including Maple trees, Birch trees, Willow trees, and grapevines. This feeding can cause damage and even death to young plants! Once fed, SLFs excrete honeydew, a sugary waste, that attracts wasps, bees and black fungi.

Improving your Indoor Air Quality this Winter – Sustainability Tip

By Nicholas Callas • January 18, 2023
New ParagraphClean air is vital to having good health and quality of life. With temperatures falling and snow around the corner, many of us in Bethel Park will be spending longer hours indoors. However, spending longer hours in our insulated homes tends to cause build ups of common air pollutants and allergens which can negatively impact indoor air quality. Not to fear! Following are some methods to keep indoor air clean and rid common indoor pollutants this winter: Vacuum carpets 1-2 times per week Carpets trap large amounts of dust and particulates which can upset allergies during the winter. By vacuuming weekly, these allergens are mitigated and less dust is stirred into the indoor air. Replace filters on central heating systems and air purifiers Filters tend to build up with dust and particulates during the year. By cleaning and replacing these filters, you can ensure that your air will be better filtered and cleaner within your home. Open windows occasionally to allow fresh air into your home Often pollutants become concentrated in homes during the winter due to lack of ventilation. By allowing fresh air in on warm winter days, the pollutants will be ventilated out. Light candles and wood fires in ventilated (and safe!) Combustion from candle wicks and wooden logs increases the concentration of VOCs (volatile organic carbons) within your home. Although these VOCs can emit wonderful smells and aromas, an excess of them can be harmful for your health. To mitigate this risk, always light these in ventilated areas. For more information, go to http://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq