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As the Nonprofit Debuts New Nature Experience, It Also Announces an Additional $1 Million Transformational Gift to Launch the Next Phase in Making Frick Park More Accessible

Pittsburgh, PA – May 15, 2025 – A new chapter begins in Pittsburgh’s largest city park. The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is proud to announce the grand opening of the Outdoor Discovery Space and Sensory Nature Trail at Frick Park. This transformative new experience reimagines what it means for a public park to be truly accessible, inclusive, and enriching for all.

Nestled beside the Frick Environmental Center (FEC), this innovative space—designed by Pashek+MTR, the project’s landscape architect and lead—offers a new discovery area and a fully accessible 1/3-mile trail that winds through woodland. Along the trail, visitors find a series of thoughtfully designed stations that invite connection, creativity, rest, and wonder — each intentionally crafted to engage the senses and celebrate the healing power of nature. Eisler Landscapes, the project’s general contractor, brings these elements to life.

“This is more than just a new project — it’s a model for what the future of our parks can be,” said Catherine Qureshi, President and CEO at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. “It’s a place where everyone, regardless of ability or background, can experience the joy of discovery and the peace that comes from time outdoors.”

Throughout the space, visitors can pause at spots like the Meadow View Pavilion, where views of Clayton Hill meadow reveal the quiet rhythms of butterflies, birds, and pollinators at work. At the Meadow Kaleidoscope, native plants and mirrors combine to create swirling, natural patterns. The Discovery Pavilion welcomes creativity through loose parts play and nature art, while the Timber Fort sparks imaginative adventures for young explorers.

The Sensory Nature Trail offers an entirely new way to interact with the environment, which centers on stillness, observation, and presence. At the Rest Nest, visitors are encouraged to slow down and settle into the moment. The Pebble Harp allows people to gently add musical notes to nature’s existing soundtrack. The Sit Spot and Observation Deck invite reflection and expanded perspective, while Whisper Tubes offer playful communication across the landscape.

Each stop along the trail includes QR codes with prompts and information to engage the senses further and deepen the experience.

This visionary project has been made possible through the generosity and belief of many community partners. In addition to support from the City of Pittsburgh’s Parks Tax Trust Fund, key funding has come from: The Edith L. Trees Charitable Trust, Clearview Federal Credit Union, Leslie Fleischner, Fleischner Family Charitable Foundation, FISA Foundation, Massey Charitable Trust, Robert and Mary Weisbrod Foundation, Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, Sheetz, and Carole and Jerry Katz.

“This space simply wouldn’t exist without these generous partners,” Qureshi continued. “They understood the vision and helped make it a reality— not just for today, but for future generations.”

The nonprofit has also introduced an expansive lending library at the FEC, offering free day-use items designed to enhance the experience along the Sensory Nature Trail and throughout Frick Park. Available during the FEC’s daily operating hours from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, the collection includes a variety of assistive tools, sensory resources, and exploration gear. All items are free to borrow for the day and are available to all park visitors.

As the Parks Conservancy celebrates the opening of this landmark project, it also looks toward the future. In that spirit, the organization is proud to announce a $1 million commitment from the Audrey Hillman Fisher Foundation — an investment in accessibility that will support the renovation of the FEC’s amphitheater and the hiring of the Parks Conservancy’s first full-time Accessibility Coordinator. Construction on the amphitheater is expected to begin in 2026.

“For nearly a century Frick Park has connected people to the beauty and serenity of nature in the heart of the city,” said Audrey Hillman Fisher, president of Audrey Hillman Fisher Foundation. “The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is mapping out the future of Frick Park to ensure it remains an essential and welcoming way for new generations to be uplifted by the wonder of our natural environment.”

The gift from the Audrey Hillman Fisher Foundation will allow for a number of accessibility-related upgrades to the amphitheater, including new lighting, ADA-compliant pathways and performance spaces, and shade structures.

“This contribution is about what comes next,” Qureshi continued. “It’s about ensuring that the promise of accessibility isn’t a one-time effort — it’s part of how we grow, lead, and serve the community.”

To learn more about the Outdoor Discovery Space and Sensory Nature Trail, please visit pittsburghparks.org/odssnt.

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Contact:

Alana Wenk, Director of Advancement, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy