Francesca Gandolfi’s Remote Worker Meetups

Aspinwall Neighbors is proud to support resident Francesca Gandolfi as she launches Neighbors at Work, a new initiative connecting remote and hybrid workers through local in-person meetups focused on networking and community.

Our community grant is funding the first three pilot events to help jumpstart her new organization. The first meetup will be September 16 from 5:30-7:30pm at AVVA. Registration is required to attend.

Pam Dickinson’s Pollinator Garden

A new butterfly and pollinator garden is coming to the beds near the seating area along the Commercial Avenue parking lot, transforming an underused space into a vibrant habitat for pollinators and a welcoming place for neighbors to pause and enjoy nature.

The garden will feature up to 30 native plants and small shrubs selected to bloom from spring through early fall, providing food and shelter for butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects. Native plants take time to establish, so the garden will gradually grow and fill in over the next few years.

Community volunteers will help prepare the garden during Aspinwall Neighbors’ Green Streets event on April 26 from 1–4 PM, with planting scheduled for May.

The project was developed in partnership with the Borough of Aspinwall. Educational features will include plant labels, an insect hotel for mason bees, and a shallow “puddler” where butterflies and other pollinators can gather moisture.

Once established, the garden will also be added to the Pittsburgh Pollinator Pathway map, helping connect pollinator-friendly habitats across the region.

Ian Winner’s Pedestrian Safety Flags Project

Bright orange pedestrian flags appear at select crosswalks to help make crossing our streets safer and more visible for everyone—especially kids and older adults.

Here’s how it works: Pedestrians grab a flag from a holder on one side of the crosswalk, carry it as they cross, and place it in the holder on the other side. These flags are a simple, low-cost tool that have been successfully used in other communities for over 20 years.

Flags were previewed at the Safety & Wellness Event, April 26, 2025 from 10 AM–2 PM in the municipal parking lot and were then executed in the form of a pilot program at Brilliant Avenue and First Street, and Brilliant Avenue and Loop Street.

The pilot project was developed in collaboration with the Borough, police, and council to support ongoing traffic safety efforts.

Christina Sharbaugh’s Chalk the Wall Sidewalk Arts Festival

Aspinwall experienced creativity in action at the inaugural Chalk the Wall Sidewalk Arts Festival Saturday, May 17, 2025. We watched as local artists, families, and teens transformed the sidewalks of the business district into a colorful outdoor gallery using chalk. Residents could claim a square and unleash their artistic side, or simply stroll through town to enjoy the live creations.

Funding for this event was provided in part by a Community Grant from Aspinwall Neighbors, with additional support from the Merchants of Aspinwall.