Monday, March 16, 2026
Aspinwall Neighbors has awarded resident Pam Dickinson a Community Grant to create a butterfly and pollinator garden in partnership with the Borough of Aspinwall.
The project will transform currently empty beds near the seating area adjacent to the Commercial Avenue parking lot into a vibrant garden of native perennials and shrubs. Designed to bloom from spring through early fall, the space will add color, attract pollinators, and provide a welcoming educational feature for residents and visitors.
Dickinson, a lifelong gardener, has cultivated a backyard habitat in her yard filled with native plants, birds, and pollinators since moving to Aspinwall a decade ago. Her interest in pollinator conservation deepened after traveling to Mexico in 2025 to see monarch butterflies overwintering in the mountains. Inspired by the experience, she expanded milkweed plantings at home and helped her grandson raise and tag monarch butterflies through Monarch Watch citizen science efforts.
“The garden won’t look like much at first because native species take time to develop. Our vision for the garden will be fulfilled in about three years,” says Pam. She hopes this project inspires others to make sustainable changes in their own backyards.
The idea for a public butterfly garden emerged when Dickinson noticed the unused planting beds along Commercial Avenue. With support from the Aspinwall Neighbors Community Grant Program and the Borough of Aspinwall, the space will now become a pollinator-friendly garden designed to benefit both wildlife and the community.
Site preparation will begin during Aspinwall Neighbors’ Green Streets community clean-up event on Sunday, April 26, from 1–4 PM, with planting scheduled for May. Volunteers will assist with soil preparation, planting, and mulching.
The garden will include up to 30 native perennials and small shrubs selected for seasonal interest and drought tolerance. Educational elements will include plant labels, an insect hotel for mason bees, and a shallow “puddler” where butterflies and other pollinators can gather moisture. The space is designed to be interactive, giving residents and visitors of all ages simple ways to engage with the garden.
“Pam’s project vision aligns well with the goals of our Community Grant, and we’re excited to partner with her to support sustainability, beautify public spaces, and encourage residents and visitors to engage with nature,” said Ian Winner, Aspinwall Neighbors board member and Community Grants program lead. The Aspinwall Neighbors Community Grant Program provides up to $1,000 for resident-led projects that bring neighbors together and strengthen the community. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis throughout 2026.
Plans also include adding the site to the Pittsburgh Pollinator Pathway map to help connect pollinator-friendly habitats across the region.
Aspinwall Neighbors thanks the Borough of Aspinwall for its collaboration and welcomes community members to participate in the Green Streets event, which will also include maintenance of the Alley A Rain Garden and litter clean-up in shared spaces.
“I appreciate Pam Dickinson and the volunteers from Aspinwall Neighbors for taking the lead on a butterfly garden planned for the Borough,” says Borough Manager Melissa O’Malley, “It’s a great example of what makes Aspinwall special, neighbors stepping up to work together to spaces that are both beautiful and beneficial for the environment.”