PA Chapter of APA recognizes Outdoor Discovery Space and Sensory Nature Trail in Allegheny County as a 2025 Great Place in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA PA), through its Great Places in PA Program, annually designates Great Places. For 2025, five nominations achieved a Great Places designation: 4 Great Public Spaces and 1 Great Greenway/Trail or Preserve. This brings the number of Great Places designated since the Program’s inception in 2014 to 64. These Great Places, located in 35 of PA’s 67 counties, have a sustainable vision for the future and serve as a model for other communities. They are high-quality examples of successful planning efforts that build healthy and vibrant communities throughout the Commonwealth and promote the Chapter’s mission and vision.
APA-PA is proud to announce the designation of the Outdoor Discovery Space and Sensory Nature Trail in the City of Pittsburgh (Allegheny County) as a 2025 Great Public Space in Pennsylvania. Located in Frick Park, it is a unique, interactive destination designed to engage all senses through nature. Visitors of all ages and physical/cognitive abilities are encouraged to explore, touch, listen, and connect with the environment and small wonders of the natural world. The Discovery Space sparks curiosity through plant and wildlife observation areas and nature-based play and art making. Along the fully accessible 1/3-mile Sensory Nature Trail are hands-on stations that encourage exploration through sound, texture, scent, and sight. From musical features made of natural materials to fragrant plant areas and textured walking paths, each stop stimulates a different sense. Designed with accessibility in mind, the wide, smooth paths and thoughtfully created spaces make it easy for everyone to interact with nature.
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy created an inclusive Advisory Committee and engaged the public through focus groups, public meetings, and a public survey throughout the design process. An array of community partners and funders brought the strongly supported project to fruition. The result is a place where education, relaxation, and sensory awareness come together outdoors. It serves as an outdoor classroom for visitors, school groups, and summer campers, as well as during planned public events. Individuals of all ages and abilities frequently visit to play and experience the physical, sensory, emotional, and healing benefits of nature and the environment.
Outdoor Discovery Space and Sensory Nature Trail, together with the Boyce Bouldering Park and Pump Track (Allegheny Co.), River Common (Luzerne Co.) and the Zimmerman Center for Heritage (York Co.), comprise the slate of 2025 Great Places in PA in the Public Spaces category. The Endless Mountains Gravel Bikepacking Loop (Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna/Wyoming Counties) was designated in the Great Greenway/Trail or Preserve category. These Great Places demonstrate the rewarding results that occur through community partnerships, planning, and dedication. In recognizing the 2025 Great Places in PA, the Chapter also celebrates the many community leaders, officials, professionals, and residents who contribute to making the designated places “great.”
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Effective August 13, 2025
Contact: Pamela Shellenberger, AICP, Chair, Great Places in Pennsylvania Program
PA Chapter of the American Planning Association