Long-Term Restoration Project Underway In Frick Park’s Clayton Hill
In the Clayton Hill area of Frick Park, Parks Conservancy and City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works (DPW) staff are teaming up for forest health.
One of the highest points in Frick Park, Clayton Hill is an area that has long been overtaken by a formidable stand of invasive and non-native bush honeysuckle. Working in close partnership with DPW, the Parks Conservancy has started more intensive efforts to re-establish a healthy, native ecosystem in this part of the park.
WHAT'S THE PLAN?
All of our restoration efforts follow the recommendations laid out in the Regional Parks Master Plan. In this area of Frick Park, prevalence of bush honeysuckle - a plant that can reach up to 20 feet and shade out native plants and trees - has been an uphill battle.
Parks Conservancy staff and volunteers have worked for years to manually uproot this invasive plant. This winter, with the help of DPW equipment, a larger restoration effort has begun to clear the way for tree plantings. By opening up this area, staff and volunteers gain better access to save the existing native tree canopy trees, as well as plant and maintain a new mix of native trees in the future.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Complete forest restoration doesn't happen overnight, but we expect native seeds that have lay dormant on this site to start to grow in this space. Throughout the planting seasons (spring and fall), staff and volunteers will be working to protect the trees that are here, and to kick off replanting efforts.