Press release shared by Allegheny Land Trust on 10 September 2026

Three Rivers Agricultural Land Initiative (TRALI) is a joint venture between Grow Pittsburgh and Allegheny Land Trust. Utilizing both organizations’ strengths, the initiative creates the stability necessary to foster a vibrant, sustainable urban agriculture movement in the Pittsburgh region by removing the threat of future sales of agricultural lands for other development purposes and creating opportunities to expand urban agriculture.

Photo from Grow Pittsburgh

Marking a major win for Pittsburgh-area urban agriculture, Three Rivers Agricultural Land Initiative (TRALI) completed the full, permanent protection of the Garden Dreams Urban Farm & Nursery in Wilkinsburg in August 2026.

Home to Grow Pittsburgh’s USDA certified organic farm and greenhouse, Garden Dreams has nourished the community for more than two decades, producing 35,000 seedlings annually to sell and donate to urban farmers, schools, community gardeners and home growers throughout the community. Additionally, the site provides opportunities for workforce development and educational programming.

“We’re thrilled to see Garden Dreams’ future secured. This represents the next step forward to realizing the true potential of the Wilkinsburg hub. We will be able to expand our ability to get more food into the hands of those in need, provide more opportunities for education and training, and continue being a community resource for all urban growers and our neighbors alike.” Grow Pittsburgh Executive Director Denele Hughson.

TRALI is a joint venture between Grow Pittsburgh and Allegheny Land Trust (ALT). By utilizing both organization’s strengths, the initiative creates the stability necessary to foster a vibrant, sustainable urban agriculture movement in the Pittsburgh region by removing the threat of future sales of agricultural lands for other development purposes and creating opportunities to expand urban agriculture. TRALI protected sites are owned and permanently conserved by ALT, while Grow Pittsburgh provides support for gardens.

Through TRALI projects, ALT aims to extend the benefits of permanently conserved green space to neighbors in the Greater Pittsburgh Region. These small green spaces not only serve the growers and recipients of food from these spaces, but also the surrounding community benefiting from more protected impervious surface, more tree cover, more neighborhood beautification and more habitat for flora and fauna within the city.

Previously owned and operated as a private business by Grow Pittsburgh co-founder Mindy Schwartz since the early 2000s, the urban farm and nursery was a treasure in the local urban agriculture community. Its permanent conservation occurred over three acquisitions.

  • 2019 | Schwartz donated her privately owned parcels to TRALI.
  • 2022 | An adjacent, vacant, and tax-delinquent corner parcel—eligible for the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County’s (RAAC) Vacant Property Recovery Program (VPRP)—was acquired and preserved.
  • 2026 | The final parcel, also vacant and tax-delinquent, was secured through RAAC’s VPRP, completing the full protection of Garden Dreams Urban Farm & Nursery.

“Garden Dreams represents an extraordinary occasion to build and sustain a resilient food system for all. A food system that provides security  and opportunity to growers of all types and continues to connect people through food,” said Grow Pittsburgh Executive Director Denele Hughson. “Garden Dreams will serve as an urban agriculture hub for our neighbors, the next generation of urban growers, and the region. I am amazed by our community coming together to support benefits of growing and eating your own food.”

With the land now permanently conserved, Grow Pittsburgh is embarking on a visioning process to shape the farm’s future, deepening its role as a food security anchor, a workforce development asset, an educational resource and a community gathering space.

“Garden Dreams has long stood as a vibrant food hub, providing benefits in and beyond Wilkinsburg’s border,” ALT President & CEO Carrie Gilbert said. “We can’t wait to see how Grow Pittsburgh and the neighborhood continue to grow this legacy together, and we look forward to supporting those efforts.”

About Grow Pittsburgh

Grow Pittsburgh’s mission is to teach people how to grow food and promote the benefits that gardens bring to our neighborhoods. The organization was founded in 2005 and has been a registered 501c (3) entity since 2008. We use growing food as a platform to bring people and communities together, while inspiring them to be healthier individuals, learn new skills, care for the earth and make our city and region a more livable, equitable and desirable place to be. Please visit our website to learn more about the distinct programs and production sites that provide opportunities for people of all ages to grow their own food.
More information can be found at growpittsburgh.org

About Allegheny Land Trust

Founded as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 1993 in response to the rapidly declining amount of green space in Allegheny County, ALT now conserves more than 4,100 acres of green space to preserve our region’s unique natural beauty, provide accessible outdoor recreational opportunities, improve water quality, sustain biodiversity, and enhance the overall quality of life for all. ALT’s strategic priorities are in land protection, land stewardship, community conservation, and environmental education.
More information can be found at alleghenylandtrust.org

About TRALI

Three Rivers Agricultural Land Initiative is a partnership between Grow Pittsburgh and Allegheny Land Trust that provides long-term security to local community gardens and urban farms. The sites are owned by Allegheny Land Trust while Grow Pittsburgh provides support to the gardeners. The initiative creates the stability necessary to foster a vibrant, sustainable urban agriculture movement in the Pittsburgh region by removing the threat of future sales of agricultural lands for other development purposes and creating opportunities to expand urban agriculture.
More information can be found at growpittsburgh.org/trali.