Vandergrift, the Westmoreland County steel town designed by the firm of Frederick Law Olmsted (who was, by the 1890s, too incapacitated to work on it himself), heads the Young Preservationists Association's annual Top 10 Best Historic Preservation Opportunities list.

The list is designed to shine the media spotlight on Western Pennsylvania places, some of them endangered, that have a good chance for survival and perhaps could benefit from the active involvement of young people. That, of course, includes YPA members.

"As we identify these Top 10, that becomes our work plan for the year," said the nonprofit group's founder and chair, Dan Holland, who hopes to become its paid, full-time director this year. "My job is to help facilitate completion of these projects."

Some of the projects are on the list because they represent opportunities for funding or hands-on involvement, but in other cases their inclusion simply serves as a preservation alert.

"Part of our role is to let people know that these historic sites are important," Holland said. "There are so many young people who just don't know about our history."

One of the reasons Vandergrift made the list is because in 2004, some of its residents launched the Vandergrift Improvement Program to revitalize the town through Natural Step sustainable principles developed in Sweden. VIP started a downtown farmers market with local growers and is working with Sustainable Pittsburgh to make a city parking lot -- originally a parklet in the Olmsted plan -- greener and more permeable, to lessen storm-water runoff. Partnering with Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, they're launching a Main Street program this year to improve Vandergrift's business district.

"We're trying to partner with as many people as we can," said VIP president David Truffa. "Over the last year, we've learned what [YPA does] and what they offer, and we think it could be a great partnership for them and us."

Among the things YPA could help Vandergrift with, Holland said, are writing grants and facilitating seminars.

VIP also is committed to minimizing or eliminating dependence on fossil fuels, chemicals and synthetic substances as well as encroachment on natural resources such as land, water, wildlife and forests. Vandergrift is the first American community to adopt the Natural Step guidelines. VIP hopes to attract new residents who want to live in a picturesque riverfront town with a sustainable vision and practices.

Vandergrift is lucky, Truffa said: "Our architecture is all still here, and we have a lot of momentum."

The list was announced Monday night at James Gallery, West End, where YPA also presented its second annual Promise Award, given to an emerging leader in historic preservation. This year, the recipient is Braddock Mayor John Fetterman, who purchased the borough's First Presbyterian Church, an 1887 Gothic-arched building across from the library, in 2003, and has begun to restore it. The 12,000-square-foot former church, which is No. 6 on the YPA list, needs a new roof before he can turn it into a community center for youth and other Braddock residents.

The complete list follows; for more information visit www. youngpreservationists.org.

1. Town of Vandergrift.
2. Former Eagles Club built as doctor's mansion, 626 Market St., McKeesport.
3. Former St. Cloud Hotel, Cloud Way and Main Street, Homewood, near Beaver Falls.
4. East Liberty business district and East Liberty Town Square (surrounding East Liberty Presbyterian Church).
5. Denton Powell Farm, 9600 Goehring Road, Cranberry.
6. Former First Presbyterian Church, 416 Library St., Braddock.
7. Mooncrest, 1940s planned community for industrial workers, Moon.
8. Graceton Coke Ovens, Graceton, Indiana County.
9. Lemington Center, former personal care home, 1625 Lincoln Ave., Lemington.
10. Willis McCook mansion, planned conversion to bed and breakfast, 5105 Fifth Ave., Shadyside.