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Community celebrations in local parks welcome spring and bring plenty of fun.   

PITTSBURGH - MARCH 24, 2025 – The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is teaming up with local partners to offer two free, family-friendly neighborhood celebrations this April in honor of Earth Month. Taking place in Westinghouse Park (April 5) and McKinley Park (April 19), these events will highlight the vital role of parks as community gathering spaces while encouraging sustainable practices for a greener future. 

Earth Month festivities include beats by local DJs, face-painting and nature crafts, hands-on learning activities, free hotdogs, and the opportunity to connect with Parks Conservancy staff and other local organizations dedicated to protecting the planet. Attendees can enjoy family-friendly activities from partners like the Pittsburgh Park Rangers, Tree Pittsburgh, and the Outdoor Inclusion Coalition, featuring tree adoptions, engaging science activities, and more. 

“Our Earth Month celebrations are all about bringing the community together to enjoy our city’s beautiful parks in a fun and meaningful way,” said James Brown, Director of Education and the Frick Environmental Center. “With music, hands-on activities, games, and nature crafts, there’s something for everyone. These free events are a chance to celebrate and show love for Westinghouse Park and McKinley Park while connecting with amazing local organizations that are working hard to care for our planet.” 

Westinghouse Park, located in Point Breeze, is a neighborhood park covering a city block that will also serve as the venue for the 27th annual PNC Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Spring Hat Luncheon. McKinley Park, spanning 79 acres in Pittsburgh’s Beltzhoover neighborhood and extending into Bon Air and Knoxville, is the focal point of the Parks Conservancy’s Community Grove project. This initiative seeks to revitalize the park by developing a new community gathering space and implementing various enhancements, such as improved pathway connections and expanded ecological restoration sites.  

"Westinghouse Park is full of history! It was once the estate of George Westinghouse Jr., a brilliant inventor who helped make railroads safer and brought electricity to more people. Today, visitors can still find pieces of that past—remnants of his mansion and underground tunnels—right in the park, which has been a cherished public space for over a century," said Catherine Qureshi, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. "At the Parks Conservancy, we believe parks should be welcoming, vibrant places for everyone to enjoy. Our Earth Month celebrations are a wonderful way to bring people together and honor that vision." 

The events will occur from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m., and no registration is required. For more details, visit Pittsburghparks.org/earthmonth and follow the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy on social media. Additionally, the Parks Conservancy offers a wide range of free and affordable programs—including a special Earth Month Forest Bathing series. Explore the full calendar at Pittsburghparks.org/events. 

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About Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy:   
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy was founded in December 1996 by a group of citizens concerned with the deteriorating conditions of Pittsburgh’s historic city parks. A non-profit organization, the Parks Conservancy works closely with the City of Pittsburgh under an official public-private partnership agreement to restore and improve the city’s park system to its full potential. To date, the Parks Conservancy has raised more than $150 million and completed 24 major park improvement projects. The Parks Conservancy works with thousands of volunteers, hosts hundreds of events, and provides programming for more than 7,500 children annually.