Oakdale Boys Home Planning Moves Ahead

At the request of South Fayette Township, PHLF has agreed to work with the community and match dollars to develop a land preservation and possible housing development plan for the 217 acre Oakdale Boys Home site. No buildings exist on the site today except a gymnasium which we plan to study for a new use for the community.

The goals of the project include preserving the farming on the site, creating trails and park land, and possibly some housing development with minimal land disruption. The Steering Committe has agreed to invite Randall Arendt of the National Lands Trust to establish guidelines for the development and will appoint a consulting team when Mr. Arendt’s report has been received.

Alex Graziani of the Smart Growth Partnership is also helping in the initial effort with Mr. Arendt. We hope to establish model land use for Southwestern Pennsylvania through this joint effort. Funds from our Farm Preservation program established by the Richard King Mellon Foundation are being utilized for this effort.