Dead Man’s Hollow Conservation Area Management Plan
Allegheny County, PA
The goal of the plan was to enhance the recreational and educational opportunities at this historic and richly diverse property and to promote its public use without impairing the Hollow’s unique spaces and habitats. We created a detailed conservation and long-term management plan that focuses on trail sustainability management, conservation management, ecosystems monitoring, cultural and historic resources interpretation, environmental education and interpretation, and marketing, promotion and outreach.
Recommendations included enhancing and expanding the existing 6 mile network of user-created trails into an 11 mile network of sustainable multi-use trails. An archeology study indicated the factory ruins on site have a high potential to yield important new information to the archaeological record of the brick manufacturing industry from 1880s to 1924. That and a book about local haunts and lore from the property were used to create recommendations for historical interpretation. Plant and animal species were mapped, contributing towards the property becoming a PA DCNR Designated Wild Plant Sanctuary.
During the planning process we were able to successfully engage local stakeholders and community representatives to develop respect and stewardship for this hidden gem.
