RCResponsive Cities by Frontline

Park Triangle Rain Garden

Active

UpstreamPGH Raingarden · Pittsburgh, PA

View Public Record Open in Map
Aerial site view for Park Triangle Rain Garden
11 field-recorded trees97% of detected canopy linked to field inventoryCommunity outreach planned

Visual record

Drone surveys and field observations create a repeatable baseline for tracking how the site changes.

Drone view of Park Triangle Rain Garden
6,525.9
Site area · ft²
528.8
Elevated canopy · ft²
8.10%
Canopy cover
  • 11 trees were documented in the field and connected to the mapped rain garden record.
  • About 97% of the detected elevated canopy was linked to mapped crown areas from the field inventory.
  • Repeat drone views can help compare future conditions after storms, maintenance, planting or tree loss.

97.02% linkage for detected canopy above 6.6 ft. A strong connection between ground records and measurements from above.

Park Triangle Final Vegetation and Drone Survey Report

Community perspective

Awareness, appearance and reported experience.

  • Appearance + maintenance

    Community feedback

    Reviewed

    Community concern

    Some residents are concerned that rain gardens can look unkempt without visible stewardship.

  • Who is responsible?

    Community feedback

    Reviewed

    Awareness gap

    Some residents are not familiar with UpstreamPGH or who maintains the site.

  • Flooding experience

    Community feedback

    Reviewed

    Reported community outcome

    A nearby church reports fewer basement flooding events since the upstream rain garden was installed.

    Reported experience, not verified causation or drone evidence.

On-site QR record

Residents scan this sign to see the record and add what they notice.

Open public record

People + Work

Students are helping build the project record and the community connection.

View all work activity
6
students in field collection
35
field records across Park Triangle
11
rain garden tree records

5 active collection weeks · Most fieldwork by teenagers approximately 14–18

Field observationVisual data collectionNature trail / interpretationCommunity engagement

  • Field + drone survey

    Completed

    6 students · Field observation + Visual data collection

    Students used structured observation forms and tagged vegetation records alongside repeated drone surveys.

  • Nature trail

    Completed

    Nature trail / interpretation

    Green Jobs Lab students built a nature trail around the rain garden.

  • Community outreach

    Planned

    Community engagement

    Students will introduce the rain garden, invite neighbors to use the QR record, and help generate ongoing feedback. Paid community outreach roles are planned.

What may need attention

  1. Build community familiarity

    Residents need a clearer understanding of what the rain garden does and who is responsible for it.

  2. Make stewardship visible

    Appearance concerns can be easier to address when residents can see recent care, monitoring and who is involved.

  3. Gather feedback before the next installation

    A second rain garden is proposed nearby. Use outreach and the QR record to understand concerns and questions before deployment.

Frontline is exploring how visual data collection, field observation, community engagement and stewardship can become recurring paid work and career pathways.

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