2024: A Bold Leap in Pittsburgh’s Parks
2024: A Bold Leap in Pittsburgh’s Parks
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy paved the way for progress and equity this past year, positioning itself as a leading accessibility and environmental champion amongst organizations fighting for positive change in Pittsburgh.
What an incredible year it has been! To say we were ambitious in 2024 would be an understatement. Over the past twelve months, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy embraced bold ideas, launched exciting new initiatives, and set the stage for transformative growth. From hosting fresh and innovative fundraising events to kicking off groundbreaking capital projects, and from dazzling holiday magic to never-before-seen programming, we poured our hearts into advancing our mission of creating a vibrant, thriving park system in the heart of Pittsburgh. Let’s take a moment to celebrate some of our accomplishments this past year.
Parks Conservancy Brings Novelty to the Community
This year, we embraced new opportunities with the exciting launch of the Parks on Tap Tour, a collaborative beer garden series in partnership with Eleventh Hour Brewing. Throughout the summer, we activated park spaces with a focus on community and connection, inviting guests to enjoy live music, lawn games, and fresh brews at Highland Park, Allegheny Commons Park, and the Schenley Park Visitors Center. By the time September rolled around, we launched our inaugural Freedom Harvest Fest and Glow in the Park. The community came together to celebrate the bounty of the harvest season and the From Slavery to Freedom Garden, enjoying live music, community organizations, and tasty local bites. Glow in the Park offered donors a new way to celebrate giving while breaking it down on the dance floor in Schenley Plaza and raising over $115,000 for the parks (in addition to our annual PNC Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Spring Hat Luncheon that took place in Schenley Park this year)! Finally, Aurora: Illuminating the Magic of Mellon Square dazzled visitors this holiday season and allowed Mellon Square to stay open during the winter while offering an exciting lineup of musicians, performers, and culinary delights during our first-ever Saturdays in the Square series.
Capital Projects Pave the Way for Equity and Accessibility
Park restoration projects are at the heart of what we do and ensuring each community has access to well-maintained park spaces is our promise to you. The completion of the Allegheny Commons North Promenade Project in April brought major improvements to Pittsburgh's historic park, including pathway resurfacing, the installation of new benches, and the implementation of improved lighting. A vibrant community celebration was held to celebrate the newly improved community gem. Additionally, community input was gathered as part of the McKinley Park Community Grove Revitalization Project, which aims to construct a new gathering space in the Beltzhoover park that encompasses human connection, educational programming, youth-focused services, and more. Finally, amongst a plethora of park improvement projects in the works, what may stand out the most is the trailblazing Outdoor Discovery Space and Sensory Nature Trail in Frick Park. The ambitious project aims to create an accessible space in Pittsburgh’s parks through the implementation of hands-on discovery stations suited for individuals with disabilities. Ground was broken in May and disability advocates, elected officials, and future beneficiaries of the project came out in abundance. We can’t wait to see these projects come to fruition and continue to advocate for representation in your parks!
Nature-Based Education is for Everyone
Our naturalist educators offer a variety of engaging programs for people of all ages and lifestyles. Not only did they continue beloved series like Birding Pittsburgh’s Parks and Discovery Time, but they introduced programming that hasn't been offered as often in the past, like Wildflower Walks, Tree Identification Hikes and Lichen Walks. The result? Overwhelming participation! Programming continues to reach capacity as our educators work hard to find creative ways to expand their reach and offer variety that peeks everyone’s interest. New on the radar this year was Naturally Connected, an autumnal forest bathing retreat that offered a day filled with meditation and community. Our beloved Summer Camp series offered immersive nature-based education for school-aged children and our Habitat Explorers allowed children the opportunity to learn outside of the classroom with fieldtrip visits to the Frick Environmental Center. This is just some of the world-class educational programming offered by our amazing team of dedicated educators.
Community Connections Forge the Way for Strong Parks
Community engagement is a vital part of the Parks Conservancy’s mission. Building connections in various neighborhoods builds trust. Our annual cleanup of Lake Elizabeth, What the Muck, saw dozens of volunteers come out to Allegheny Commons Park, despite the April showers, to drain the manmade lake of gunk, thus beautifying the body of water just in time for warm weather. Earth Month this year took place in Westinghouse Park and McKinley Park, with a concentrated effort to make every community feel included. Activities centered around a love of the environment and brought families and neighbors together for community celebrations. Riverview Park Day in October was a wonderful day filled with music and comradery and raised awareness and funds for the ecological restoration taking place in the park. Finally, the Solar Eclipse in Riverview Park was a spectacular gathering, drawing hundreds of viewers to the hillside, where they marveled at the rare celestial event. Seeing Pittsburghers come together for heartwarming moments like this keeps our green heart beating!
From Tree Plantings to Revitalizing an Urban Forest: Our Work is Never Finished
Our horticulture and forestry department works tirelessly year-round to carry out ecological restoration initiatives and to engage the community in park stewardship. Our Stewardship Days gathered community volunteers to help with restoration work like invasive species management, weeding and deadheading in parks like August Wilson Park and Hays Woods Park. Additionally, tree plantings in areas like Clayton Hill and Grandview Park create pockets of native biodiversity that combat the spread of invasive species. Also, research and maintenance of the Fezziwig Grove is leading the way in climate resiliency in Pittsburgh, which involves monitoring the growth of non-native yellowwoods in our region. Finally, the team is spearheading an ambitious undertaking of revitalizing the 660-acre Hays Woods Park and turning it into a community asset through collaborative invasive species management, tree plantings, trail restorations, bird-banding initiatives, and through partnerships with BirdLab and Allegheny GoatScape. Ecological restoration is a vital piece of the puzzle and ensures environmental resiliency so your parks can flourish!
It has been our honor to grow alongside the community and to foster connections with park visitors, partner organizations, artists, advocates and environmental champions who inspire us every day. In 2025, we’re thrilled to unveil a renewed strategic plan that not only reflects the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy of today but envisions a bright and sustainable future for generations to come. It is our greatest joy to ensure that Pittsburgh’s parks remain vibrant, flourishing, and welcoming for all. Just like each of our city’s unique neighborhoods, our parks are a beautiful tapestry of diversity, and celebrating that richness is at the very heart of all we do. We can’t wait to share another amazing year with you in 2025! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to all of our supporters—you are the reason we do what we do. Here’s to a new year full of joy, growth, and connection. Cheers!
This blog edition was written by Bethany Wells, marketing manager for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy.
