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WHEREAS, in recognition of the stewardship of the Beechview Historical Society, Beechview partners with Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh, an initiative of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Partnership for Aging and the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, to join the Age-Friendly Neighborhoods program to make our region more inclusive and respectful of all ages; and
WHEREAS, Beechview is part of the second group of Age-Friendly Neighborhoods in Allegheny County, alongside McKeesport and Sharpsburg. The Age-Friendly Neighborhoods initiative empowers residents to make our region a good place to grow up and grow old; and
WHEREAS, looking back, the community of Beechview has benefitted from Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh in the past through a Walkability Study that was undertaken along Broadway Avenue, including a Crossings: Beechview initiative, as well as a Color Beechview temporary public art project at the Beechview Healthy Active Living Center; and
WHEREAS, the Beechview Historical Society retains local history, encompassing long-time families across generations that still reside in Beechview; collaborates with Casa San Jose, Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corporation and other community members to promote an inclusive way to teach and grow within our culturally diverse and unique community, and is interested in helping pave the way to a better future for all; and
WHEREAS, the Beechview Historical Society was awarded $20,000 in seed funding over two years (2024-2026) for resident led projects and events that amplify older adult voices and foster intergenerational connection and solidarity via collaboration with Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh; and
WHEREAS, the Age-Friendly Neighborhoods team is an important part to the success of this program by supporting the Beechview Historical Society in forming a consensus group of enthusiastic volunteers, as well as engagement demonstrated by the team’s outreach into the community to become familiar with organizations and Beechview’s true uniqueness and challenges; and
WHEREAS, Beechview continues to strive to be age-friendly and promotes inclusivity for people of all ages, not just older adults with a goal of advocating for new initiatives, or ones already in place and participating and supporting community events; and
WHEREAS, Beechview Historical Society leads intergenerational connections promoting new relationships while embracing their history, and this partnership with Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh will allow for more opportunities to interact with others in activities such as surveying aging populations for needs, such as safer ADA accessibility curbs, wheelchair accessibility working with City of Pittsburgh DOMI and promote Safe Street events; and
WHEREAS, recognizing those volunteers and the board of the Beechview Historical Society who stepped up to ensure the community is an active part of shaping the plan for activities and projects provided through our participation in this program; and
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh recognizes the importance of age-friendly communities and commends Beechview for its commitment to enhancing quality of life for all generations through inclusive, accessible and age-friendly; and
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, City Council recognizes Age-Friendly Neighborhood: Beechview and applauds its ongoing efforts to create a more inclusive, accessible and age-friendly community for all residents.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Thursday, May 29, 2025 to be “Age-Friendly Neighborhoods: Beechview” in the City of Pittsburgh.