The Inclined Plane Hillside
From a Bold Vision to a Unified Plan
$11M in Planned Projects
15-Year Roadmap
1 Unified Strategy
The Challenge: Stewards in Need of a Roadmap
The Conemaugh Valley Conservancy, a passionate and dedicated 501c3, is the steward of a massive 250-acre urban hillside—a landscape rich with potential. The CVC had a wealth of ambitious ideas for the hillside, from new trailheads and conservation easements to environmental cleanup projects and recreation initiatives. However, their efforts were complicated by funding and phasing challenges and a fragmented landscape of varied ownership.
The core challenge was to synthesize dozens of great, community-driven ideas into a single, coherent master plan that could unlock major funding from partners like PA-DCNR and the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.
The CVC needed a strategic partner to help them translate their deep passion into the professional, "pen-to-paper" framework that funders require.
Our Solution: Creating Clarity from Complexity
We were brought in to be that strategic partner. Our role was to provide the technical expertise needed to forge their various ideas into a single, powerful, and actionable master plan. We implemented a two-perspective approach to build a complete strategic framework from the ground up.
First, we focused on the "Big Picture." Through a series of collaborative planning sessions, we worked with the CVC and partners to get to the heart of their core, conservancy-driven goals: creating a powerful, unified vision for the entire 250-acre hillside.
Second, we translated that high-level vision into a granular implementation guide. We delivered a comprehensive master plan that served as a detailed instruction manual for the future. The plan included a concrete Land Acquisition Strategy, a clear Phasing Timeline, and detailed Project Plans with designs, timelines, and budgets. We didn't just give them a dream; we gave them a step-by-step guide to build it.
"It's a landmark, it's an icon, it's a symbol of our resilience and our ability to overcome."
Brad Clemenson, Conemaugh Valley Conservancy
(Keystone Edge, June 2021)
The Outcomes: A Path to a Funded Future
The master plan we delivered was more than a document; it was a tool that empowered the conservancy to move forward with confidence and clarity.
Created Internal Alignment: The plan provided a clear framework that allowed the CVC to strategically assign project management roles, making their internal operations more efficient and focused.
Provided a Clear Roadmap for Action: The detailed, step-by-step implementation guide answered the critical question of "what's next?" and gave the organization a clear, prioritized path forward.
Unlocked Funder Credibility: The professional, comprehensive master plan transformed their community passion into a serious, fundable strategy, immediately validating their efforts in the eyes of major funders like PA-DCNR, OSMRE and private foundations and opening the door to new levels of investment.
