Innovative Community Celebrations In An Urban Green Space

National Recreation and Park Association

A visit to Pittsburgh’s Schenley Plaza gives a colorful glimpse into how lively, diverse, complex and fun the world can be. On any given day, students of all ethnicities, professionals of every stripe and young parents with their kids all weave through the green space that has become a city centerpiece for unique celebrations of culture and the arts. A project of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and the city of Pittsburgh, the 5-acre Schenley Plaza is home to intimate gardens, an expansive Emerald Lawn, a landmark tent and profit-sharing food vendors that feature local produce and a kaleidoscope of tasty fare from around the globe.

One of those vendors — Conflict Kitchen — has brought Schenley Plaza international acclaim. Featuring cuisine from countries with whom the United States is currently in conflict, Conflict Kitchen’s goal is to humanize the citizens from these countries through the celebration of their food and culture. Every few months as Conflict Kitchen’s food changes, new informational handouts are given to each customer and colorful panels on the building’s exterior are switched out with new ones, often featuring the colors from the featured country’s flag... Read the full article