South Fayette Wetland Trail's grand opening slated for Sunday
In college, Jeff McGowan had to travel long distances by bus to study local wetlands.
As a high school biology and environmental science teacher at South Fayette High School, McGowan now has an opportunity to take his students just a short walk over the hill from the school to teach them firsthand about ecology, living organisms and the environment.
For the past year, the South Fayette Conservation Group has been coordinating the construction of a wetland and trail on the high school campus. During the construction, McGowan took several of his classes to explore the wetland.
"We used it as a backyard or on-hand example of a lot of things that we've talked about in biology class," McGowan said.
The grand opening of the South Fayette Wetland Trail on Sunday is the culmination of a project that has been in the works for several years, South Fayette Conservation Group member Maria Berdusco said. The event will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at South Fayette High School, 3640 Old Oakdale Road.
"It's just a beautiful site that is now protected," Berdusco said. "You have a sense of being in a national park when you are there. We're really excited about finally making it available to the community."
When the conservation group was founded in 2002, one of its plans was to propose a trail for behind the school, but it lacked the funding for the project. After many years of searching, the group found a solution.
Anytime a wetland is destroyed from the development of the land, it is the responsibility of the property owner to build a new wetland one and a half times the size of the original wetland at a different location, as was the case with the construction of the Offices at Clair Boyce building on Route 19 in Upper St. Clair, conservation group President David Boehmer said.
Clair Boyce Associates placed about $42,000 to an escrow account for the development of the wetland and its upkeep, Boehmer said.
The wetland, which covers nearly an acre, was constructed last spring to allow for one growing season and required nearly 1,700 plants from 50 different species to be planted during the construction.
"There are many benefits of a wetland," conservation group director Cindy Cox said. "When you take away a wetland, you increase the risk of flooding."
Besides providing storage for rain water, wetlands also provide a habitat for wildlife, Cox said.
The wetland and accompanying trail on school property provide an opportunity to educate local students.
"As a community, as parents and as a school district, we have the responsibility to teach our students about the environment," Berdusco said. "This teaches them not only to respect the environment, but how they have an impact on it individually."
South Fayette High School senior Kevin Hunter, 18, said he is pleased about the addition to the school.
"I think that it's a great idea," Hunter said. "I'm really happy they put this in here."
Hunter, who plans to attend St. Vincent College in Latrobe in the fall and major in environmental science, has been able to use the wetland during this past school year for experiments in his Advanced Placement Environmental Science class.
"Even though I might not be here to get the full advantages of it in the future," Hunter said, "for years to come, others will be seeing the benefits of it."
This project is geared not only towards the education of local students but also at educating members of the community on the environment and giving them a place to enjoy their leisure time outdoors, as well.
"One of the goals of this is to become a part of the community, as a whole," McGowan said.
Additional Information:
If you go
What : South Fayette Wetland Trail grand opening, which includes hands-on activities and guided tours.
When : 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Where : Cafeteria/Commons at South Fayette High School, 3640 Old Oakdale Road, South Fayette.
Admission : Free.
Details : Visit online or call Cindy Cox at 412-221-9886.
