Penn Hills homeowner frustrated by falling trees from school district property

Marcie CiprianiPENN HILLS TOWNSHIP, Pa. —

A Penn Hills homeowner said trees from nearby school district-owned land have repeatedly fallen onto her property, causing damage to her home, shed, and deck over the years. The most recent fell onto her deck over the weekend.

“Trees put my life in jeopardy, my puppy’s life in jeopardy, have him stressed out, and I’m just totally tired of it,” Wynona Harper told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 on Monday. “It’s a constant battle in reference to getting these trees taken care of.”

County maps indicate the trees are coming from government-owned property adjacent to and behind Harper’s Lincoln Road home.

Both parcels are owned by the Penn Hills Board of Education.

Harper said the district has repeatedly promised to address the issue but has not followed through.

“In ’23, Mr. Brandon came out from the school district, and he actually worked to mark the trees for them to be taken down. And that is a great disappointment when you come out here, and you promise to do your job, and you failed to do so,” Harper said.

Harper said the latest incident is the final straw.

“I’m planning on going to get me some legal advice in reference to all this damage and getting them to do their job and come up here and take these trees down,” Harper said.

Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 has reached out multiple times to the Penn Hills School District and Penn Hills Municipality for comment but has not received a response.

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