From City of Reading
Pictured above: Shannon Reiter, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Executive Director, and Judy Schwank, Pennsylvania State Senator, present the KPB Community Pride Award to Bethany Ayers-Fisher, Keep Reading Beautiful Lead and Sustainability Manager for the City of Reading Public Works. Photo courtesy of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful
The City of Reading is highlighting a series of sustainability accomplishments and initiatives from October 2026, showcasing continued investments in urban forestry, environmental stewardship, community engagement, and renewable energy.
Through partnerships with organizations including the Student Conservation Association (SCA), Berks Nature, and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, the City continues to advance projects that improve public spaces, expand environmental education, create workforce development opportunities, and make long-term investments in municipal infrastructure.
Reading Conservation Corps receives a $250,000 state grant
SCA was awarded a $250,000 grant through the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2) to coordinate urban and community forestry efforts in Reading.
The funding will support community tree planting, local tree stewardship, and workforce development opportunities for young adults. SCA manages the Reading Conservation Corps, a partnership with the City of Reading’s Public Works Department and Berks Nature that provides young adults from Reading and Berks County with hands-on training in land and natural resource stewardship.
The program helps prepare participants for careers in public works, land conservation, and environmental stewardship while expanding the City’s capacity to maintain and improve public spaces.
During the 2026 season, the Reading Conservation Corps completed a number of projects throughout the community, including:
- Building two new community gardens.
- Installing a watering system at the Oakbrook Community Garden.
- Establishing a native tree nursery to grow 200 saplings for future park plantings.
- Removing invasive plants at City Park Pond, Mount Penn Preserve, and Neversink Mountain.
- Preserving Pendora Park, Confluence Point, and other locations.
- Planting more than 150 trees at various City parks and Lake Ontelaunee.
- Supporting trail improvements, repairs, and community garden projects.
These projects have provided meaningful improvements to public spaces and expanded the City’s ability to care for its natural resources.
The 2027 Reading Conservation Corps season will run from March through October, with applications opening in January. Individuals interested in applying can contact Darien Manning at dmanning@thesca.org.
Keep Reading Beautiful earns statewide recognition
During the 2026 Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Conference, hosted in Reading, Keep Reading Beautiful won the conference’s Shark Tank competition, receiving a $2,500 Investment Award for its Black Walnut Legacy Initiative.
The initiative aims to preserve a piece of Reading’s history by collecting and propagating seeds from a historic black walnut tree reportedly gifted to Reading from George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate and planted during the 1932 George Washington Bicentennial celebrations. The project will eventually establish new generations of these trees throughout the City while engaging residents in tree stewardship and environmental education.
Additionally, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and State Senator Judy Schwank honored City of Reading Sustainability Manager Bethany Ayers Fisher with the organization’s Community Pride Award for her contributions to community improvement and environmental stewardship.
Keep Reading Beautiful’s Seeds of Change initiative will also return for its second year on Saturday, Jan. 16, at 10 a.m. Participants of all ages and abilities are invited to grow vegetables and native flowers for community gardens, public spaces, and home gardens. The program will run through May, with additional details available through the Seeds of Change Facebook event in mid-November.
Leadership quotes
Mayor Eddie Morán said the City’s sustainability initiatives demonstrate the importance of investing in both the environment and the community.
“Sustainability is about making smart investments that benefit Reading today and for generations to come. Whether we’re planting trees, improving our parks, creating opportunities for young adults, or investing in solar energy to reduce the City’s operating costs, these efforts all contribute to a stronger and healthier community. I’m proud of the partnerships and the people doing this work, and we’ll continue looking for opportunities to build on this progress.”
City of Reading Sustainability Manager Bethany Ayers Fisher said the accomplishments reflect the impact of collaboration and continued community involvement.
“None of this work happens in isolation. Our partnerships with organizations like the Student Conservation Association, Berks Nature, and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful allow us to accomplish projects that make a visible difference throughout Reading. From growing the next generation of trees and supporting community gardens to expanding renewable energy at City facilities, we’re building momentum and creating opportunities for residents to be part of that progress. I’m grateful to everyone who continues to contribute their time, expertise, and support.”
The City of Reading will continue working with community partners, regional organizations, and residents to advance sustainability initiatives that strengthen neighborhoods, protect natural resources, and support responsible municipal operations.
