Community Partner of 2022: McKeesport

by Erica Pasquali, Land-based Programs Coordinator
​and Myrna Newman, Executive Director

​Congratulations to McKeesport, our 2022 Community Partner of the Year!

Allegheny CleanWays started working in McKeesport in August 2020, conducting land-based cleanups. Since then, 219 volunteers have worked with our staff in cleaning up more than 186 tons of illegally discarded trash and 1,749 tires from the city. 

McKeesport’s Mayor Michael Cherepko, City Administrator Tom Maglicco, and Assistant to the Mayor Jennifer Vertullo have been great advocates for our work in the Mon Valley. They've gotten us media coverage; provided roll-off dumpsters; and helped us look for other resources we need, including local office/storage space, volunteers, and grant funding. Tom also often steps in to help with cleanups and even recently joined the Allegheny CleanWays board of directors!

We also work closely with the city Code Enforcement Agent, Eric Gumbert, who reports illegal dumpsites and offers his help anytime we call. We have a great working relationship with the city public works department that allows us to utilize their dumpsters, dispose of tires, and use their restroom (which is a luxury we don’t often get).

Outside of land-based cleanups, our Tireless program plans to focus on the Monongahela River for 2023 which will continue our work in McKeesport cleaning the riverbanks throughout the Mon Valley. Our Tireless program has a lot of experience working in McKeesport over the years and has had nothing but great things to say about the partnership.  ​