By Cassandra Paradise-Mull / Staff writer

In addition to a home for its resident students, Pitt Greensburg is home to Smart Growth Partnership of Westmoreland County, a community based, private non-profit organization.

Located in Millstein Library, Smart Growth is guided by the principle that communities need to make good decisions for their futures. As it’s name implies, its major focus is growth and exactly when, where and how it should take place.

UPG president Frank Cassell has served as chair for this organization since its inception in 2000. As such, Cassell welcomed the group to make a home at UPG.

And Beverly Poole, office coordinator for Smart Growth, likes the arrangement.

“We feel that Smart Growth and UPG can help each other a lot,” Poole said. “It’s a great way to give the campus more exposure and it brings people to campus that might not have had a reason other wise.”

The big project for Smart Growth right now is a master plan for development along Route 30 Master Plan. This project covers approximately a 40-mile stretch of Route 30 that runs through Westmoreland County. The plan is divided into three phases and is currently in the second stage of development.

At a workshop held in Chambers Hall last Thursday, there were games to get people in the community involved in pinpointing areas along Route 30 that they would like to see grow to include houses and jobs. Attendants were also asked for their opinions on what areas — such as such as farms, parks and wildlife areas — should be preserved.

“Now is the time that we would like to see more involvement, not just from the community but also from the students and faculty,” said Poole. “This is the time to get ideas out there; anyone who lives or is involved in Westmoreland County could have something to say.”