Highland Park Pittsburgh's need for a municipal water system brought about the creation of Highland Park in the late 1800s

The increasing popularity of the reservoir for picnics and passive recreation caught the attention of the Parks Commission. Twenty years later, the City made it official, establishing Highland Park by ordinance. Today, Reservoir No. 1 remains an iconic feature of Highland Park, and the Reservoir Loop is a favorite trail for walkers and joggers.

The reservoir is accessed through the beautiful Entry Garden, a Victorian-style gathering place with gardens, a fountain and reflecting pool, and benches for relaxing. Highland Park also features a popular bike track, swimming pool, sand volleyball courts, and the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. A water filtration plant cleans the water from the main reservoir, and waste water is naturally de-chlorinated in part by a brook which trickles into Lake Carnegie.

Beginning with the creation of the Babbling Brook in 2003, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has completed several major park improvement projects in Highland Park. The Entry Garden was restored in 2005, and in 2006 the Parks Conservancy worked with the city of Pittsburgh to create a series of seasonal pools along Washington Boulevard. These pools provide a unique urban wetland habitat while dramatically reducing the impact of stormwater runoff. Future plans for the park include work on the Heth’s Run project, which includes creating a new trail, adding athletic fields, and connecting the park to the Allegheny River.