Hartwood Acres Park In Allegheny County Inducted Into The Old-Growth Forest Network

On July 7, Hartwood Acres Park was inducted into the national Old-Growth Forest Network. 

Brian Kane, Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager with the Old-Growth Forest Network conveyed the distinction to County Executive, Sara Innamorato, Melissa Swedish, Director of the Allegheny County Department of Parks, and Braden Meiter, Lead Supervisory Park Ranger with Allegheny County Department of Parks.

After the ceremony, attendees enjoyed a one-and-a-half-mile hike through the old-growth forest areas on the former estate.

The forest is the 42nd forest in Pennsylvania to be inducted into the Old-Growth Forest Network which has over 340 forests in its continuously expanding network of protected publicly accessible old-growth forests. 

It is the first forest in Allegheny County to be inducted into the Network.

“Hartwood Acres is one of Allegheny County’s greatest natural treasures, and this designation recognizes both the ecological value of these forests and the generations of stewardship that have protected them,” said County Executive Sara Innamorato. 

“As we work to build an Allegheny County where everyone can thrive, that includes ensuring residents have access to clean air, green spaces, and the opportunity to connect with nature close to home. We are proud to become the first site in Allegheny County inducted into the Old-Growth Forest Network.”

The 629-acre property features a mixed hardwood forest where stately red and white oak, sugar maple, black cherry, shagbark hickory, red maple and American beech grow throughout. 

Hartwood Acres Park is about 75% forested land and 25 % land maintained as parkscape or lawn. The forested areas have largely had hands-off management as natural areas during the tenure of the park. 

Some of the oldest trees include a black oak over 200 years old, as well as a sugar maple and red oak that are approaching 200 years of age.

Meiter said, “This distinction continues with the long tradition of conservation efforts that have taken place on this land, starting in the 1920’s with Mary Flinn Lawrence. Today, people from all over can enjoy the fruits of these conservation efforts which are continuing through a variety of projects including tree plantings, invasive management and creating meadows.”

The Old-Growth Forest Network connects people with nature by creating a national network of protected, mature, publicly accessible, native forests. 

OGFN intends to preserve at least one forest in every county in the U.S. that can sustain a forest. OGFN works to identify forests for the Network, ensure their protection from logging, and inform people of the forest locations.

Founded in 2012, the Network contains hundreds of forests in 40 states today.  

Pennsylvania leads the Network in the quantity of forests in the Network, with Ohio following in close second place.  

Click Here for old-growth forests in Pennsylvania.

OGFN also educates the extraordinary ecological benefits of old-growth forests and speaks out regarding immediate threats to specific ancient forests.

Kane said, “The importance of the preservation of these rare forests cannot be overemphasized. As seen at Hartwood Acres, forests perform critical environmental services that benefit communities, such as storing carbon, providing wildlife habitat, and retaining stormwater. OGFN is grateful that Allegheny County values its old-growth forests and will enable its residents and visitors to marvel at these old hardwoods far into the future as they grow even more mature and majestic."

Supporters and future volunteers are welcome to contact OGFN through the Old-Growth Forest Network website.

[Posted: July 8, 2026]  PA Environment Digest