RCI Partners with Hazelwood Community Organizations

Since January 2015, PCRG's Reimagining Communities Initiative has worked with residents and community organizations in Hazelwood on a variety of projects. This September, several of those long-running projects have been completed.Gladstone School ProjectOn September 13th, the Hazelwood Initiative and Center of Life convened members of the community for an update on the status of the purchase of the Hazelwood school building. After a year of community engagement and input from residents, the Hazelwood Initiative will close on the building in September. Residents are encouraged to participate in the ongoing process to determine the use of the school building. There are currently openings on the Housing, Greenway, and Campus Committees. "This is a great moment for the community, as they have the chance to get involved with the development process and take ownership of assets in their community," said Alyssa Lyon, RCI Community Coordinator for Hazelwood.KaBoom! Playground BuildAfter two years of preparation, the KaBoom! Playground has officially been installed in its Hazelwood location below the tracks. Thanks to the tireless collaboration between the Heinz Endowments, the Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children (PAEYC), KaBoom!, and the Hazelwood Initiative, the project was a huge success. On September 17th, the build date, over 150 residents and leaders came out to assist in the construction of the new play site. The Hazelwood community is excited to see the new playground become a permanent part of the neighborhood.

Greater Hazelwood Community Collaborative MeetingOn September 23rd, the organizations that make up the Greater Hazelwood Community Collaborative will reconvene after a long summer to discuss all things Hazelwood. These monthly forums provide an opportunity for organizations to report out on their individual projects, as well as to discuss new development and other community concerns. GHCC meetings serve as a platform for organizations to create consensus on neighborhood issues, so Hazelwood can speak with one voice. Hazelwood residents are invited to attend upcoming meetings. For more information, contact Alyssa Lyon at alyon@pcrg.org.