The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy

“Board member Dan Booker's son is married to board member Ann Davis's daughter.”

“The Form 990 is prepared by tax professionals from the CPA firm that performs the PPC's annual audit of the financial statements. The Form 990 is reviewed by senior management and the audit committee, then provided electronically to the Board of Directors for review and comment before it is timely filed with the IRS.”

“Explanation: the organization has all employees, officers and voting directors sign a confict of interest disclosure statement annually. At that time the policy is reviewed by all employees, officers, and directors.”

“The organization's executive committee reviews compensation and benefits for the officers and key employees annually. Officer and key employee compensation packages are benchmarked by independent sources. The organization does not provide for guaranteed or cost of living increases for any of its employees. The organization's compensation policies do not provide private club memberships or expense accounts for any of its employees.”

“The organization makes its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements available to the public upon request.”

“The conservancy plans to further this objective through design, development, funding, construction and maintenance of capital projects in the parks. In addition, the conservancy engages in community centered activities of education, volunteerism, advocacy and fundraising to garner community enthusiasm for the overall mission.”

“The pittsburgh parks conservancy capitalizes capital project costs incurred during the renovation and preservation of the parks when the organization holds a lease or leasehold interest in the properties or land being improved by the project. Capital projects: ppc and the city of pittsburgh are now executing the 20-year regional parks master plan, created in 1998. This plan is a current blueprint that outlines the needs for park restoration at this stage of revitalization. Physical improvements to the four regional, urban parks have been dramatic and have won many awards. Over the past nine years, private and public funds have been leveraged in the partnership between ppc and the city of pittsburgh and resulted in numerous exemplary showcase projects and hundreds of ecologically restored acres designed to return the parks to their former glory.”

“Public education and programs: this service program's intent is to increase the public's knowledge about the parks, their natural and environmental history, ecology, social history and design so that pittsburghers of all ages, especially children, will increase their understanding and appreciation of these spaces. Ppc provides a variety of programs to introduce pittsburgh residents to the beneifts of these great historic urban parks. In addition, environmental research studies are underway that will benefit both pittsburgh-area ecological restoration and national ecological and horticultural efforts. Ppc also sponsors educational symposia with pittsburgh partners featuring nationally recognized leaders in the fields of the environment, biodiversity, conservation, parks restoration and urban ecology to better inform the public about serious issues facing the parks and the region. Ppc's goal in the long term is to develop the next generation of park stewards.”

“Parks Planning: Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy ("PPC") supplements the city's department of public works ("DPW") by providing professional expertise in parks management to initiate sophisticated, comprehensive plans to restore and renovate Pittsburgh's urban parks. PPC raises private funds to supplement the city budget for restoration projects, marshals the latest parks planning knowledge and best-practice techniques, and rallies citizens to support park revitalization. PPC gains financial and civic support for the parks' preservation and helps citizens recognize and appreciate the assets the parks offer.”