Conservancy Timeline
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
Thirteen Years of Restoration and Renewal
1996
The Schenley Park Conservancy is incorporated. Shortly thereafter, the organization changes its name to the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and expands its focus to all four regional parks.
1997
The Parks Conservancy holds its first BioBlitz, a day-long effort to catalog as many species as possible, in Riverview Park.
1998
The Parks Conservancy formally launches its public-private partnership with the City of Pittsburgh to raise money for the parks.
Frick Park hosts BioBlitz.
The Parks Conservancy launches the Summer Teaching Institute (later the Pittsburgh Environmental Teaching Workshop).
The Parks Conservancy hosts an Urban Parks Symposium, with addresses by three national experts.
The Parks Conservancy releases a survey of over 750 park users.
1999
The first annual Spring Hat Luncheon, founded by Parks Conservancy board members Audrey Hillman Fisher and Ritchie Scaife, is held.
2000
The Parks Conservancy and the City of Pittsburgh jointly publish the Regional Parks Master Plan, outlining 20 years of projects with a $113.5 million budget.
Richard Florida and the Parks Conservancy release “Talent and the Parks: Leveraging Pittsburgh’s Urban Parks to Attract and Retain Talent.”
The Parks Conservancy’s first showcase project, the restoration of the gatehouse at the Reynolds Street entrance to Frick Park, is completed.
Park-specific work crews are created within the City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Public Works.
2001
The Parks Conservancy’s second showcase project, the Schenley Park Café and Visitor Center, opens.
Schenley Park hosts BioBlitz.
After seven months of research with a park advisory committee, the Parks Conservancy releases the Joint Study of Best Practices in Parks Management and Maintenance.
The Parks Conservancy receives an Award of Merit from the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation for its restoration of the Reynolds Street entrance to Frick Park.
2002
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority builds a state-of-the-art microfiltration plant at Highland Park rather than covering the reservoir with a plastic sheath.
The Parks Conservancy begins publishing detailed park maps highlighting trails and park features.
The Eden Hall Foundation commits $5 million to the Parks Conservancy.
Highland Park hosts BioBlitz.
2003
The Parks Conservancy joins the Urban Ecology Collaborative, a multi-city network of groups sharing environmental knowledge and practices.
The Parks Conservancy assists the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority in constructing a babbling brook in Highland Park to naturally filter impurities from the water at the micro-filtration plant.
2004
The Parks Conservancy receives a $5 million state grant for the revitalization of Schenley Plaza.
Jim Rohr of the PNC Financial Services Group and George Greer of the Eden Hall Foundation agree to co-chair the Parks Conservancy’s $27 million capital campaign, A Community Partnership for the Renaissance of Pittsburgh’s Great Parks.
The restoration of Phipps Run in Schenley Park’s Panther Hollow is completed.
The Parks Conservancy wins an award from the Historic Review Commission of Pittsburgh for its creation of the babbling brook.
2005
Restoration is completed on the Highland Park Entry Garden and fountain.
The Parks Conservancy is awarded a $3 million federal earmark by Congressman Mike Doyle and Senator Arlen Specter for new park signage and trail restoration.
The Parks Conservancy’s first annual Madcap Masquerade is named best event of 2005 by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Concept Gallery hosts Art of the Park, an exhibition of works inspired by the parks.
2006
The Parks Conservancy wins the Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards’ Community award, Carnegie Science Center’s Environmental Award, the Historic Review Commission of Pittsburgh’s restoration award, and the International Society of Arboriculture’s “Most Outstanding Arbor Day Activity” Award.
Schenley Plaza officially opens to the public.
Construction begins on the restoration of the Riverview Park Chapel Shelter.
The Parks Conservancy and Department of Public Works construct a series of seasonal pools along Highland Park’s Washington Boulevard, creating an urban wetland habitat.
2007
The Parks Conservancy and the Penn State University Cooperative Extension launch The Daffodil Project with the planting of 5,000 bulbs at Schenley Park’s Bartlett Playground.
The Parks Conservancy concludes its capital campaign, which at $30.2 million exceeds its goal by 12%.
2008
The Parks Conservancy hosts the first PNC Children’s Carousel Tea at Schenley Plaza.
The Riverview Park Chapel Shelter opens to the public.
The Parks Conservancy hosts the 2008 International Urban Parks Conference, drawing more than 600 participants from around the world to Pittsburgh.
The Mary E. Schenley Memorial Fountain is restored.
2009
A "Home Runs for Trees" partnership with the Pittsburgh Pirates nets 75 new trees for the parks.
The Parks Conservancy is honored with nine awards ranging from local recognition for the Riverview Park Chapel Shelter to international accolades for Schenley Plaza.
The Parks Conservancy hosts the first annual Target the Parks fundraiser at the Rolling Rock Club in Ligonier, PA.
Schenley Plaza's daily average attendance climbs over 1,000 for the first time.
The Parks Are Free campaign launches, promoting parks and healthy living with billboards, print, and television ads.
Restoration begins on the Mellon Park Walled Garden in Shadyside.
2010
Plans are announced for creating a new children's nature space in Frick Park in memory of Kate and Peter Ambrusko.
The Mellon Park Walled Garden restoration is completed.
Construction work continues on more than four miles of trails in the parks.
A rain garden is installed at the Schenley Park Café and Visitor Center.