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The
Irwin Main Street Program
under the direction of The
Irwin Project had two
interns to help with the
environmental development of
Irwin for eleven weeks in
the summer. The interns have
been placed in Irwin via
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful,
in conjunction with Philly
Green and the Pennsylvania
Downtown Center. The project
offers college students an
opportunity to work with
urban communities on the
planning and implementation
of community enhancement
projects to be decided upon
by the community.
Jacki Slagle, of Erie, is a
senior at Penn State
University Park. She is
pursuing a major in
Geography and a minor in
Environmental Inquiry. She
is interested in the
principles of sustainability
and how to communicate the
importance of living
sustainably to the general
public. Regarding the
environment, Slagle is also
interested in Smart Growth
and urban planning.
Caroline Suh, of Pittsburgh
(15213), is a senior at the
University of Pittsburgh.
She is pursuing a dual major
in Architectural Studies and
Studio Arts. She plans to
pursue a career in art after
graduation. Suh also
attended Franklin Regional
High School in Murrysville.
Slagle and Suh worked
closely with the Borough of
Irwin while involved in
three projects. The Bell
Park Design and Improvements
was a project in which the
interns developed a
consensus and developed a
plan to improve the park,
involving as many community
members and organizations as
possible in the planning.
The Downtown Greening
Analysis was a project in
which the design of a major
streetscape improvement
project was established.
Slagle and Suh contributed
suggestions for simple and
cost effective “greening”
that the community can work
on in the future.
Finally, the interns worked
with the Pennsylvania Avenue
“Adopt a Block” Program. In
addition to the work that
has been done with the new
sidewalks, Slagle and Suh
started a planting program
with local organizations to
make tentative improvements.
Irwin is one of only 12
communities across
Pennsylvania invited to
participate in the program.
The interns had a $2,000
budget from Keep Pa.
Beautiful to assist with
project planning and
development.
For more information on the
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful
program, refer to the
website:
http://www.keeppabeautiful.org/focusareas/college-internship-program.asp
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