PITTSBURGH PARKS CONSERVANCY COMPLETES ACTION PLAN FOR MELLON PARK
PITTSBURGH – SEPTEMBER 20, 2022 – Thanks to the generous support of the Richard King Mellon Foundation, and in partnership with the City of Pittsburgh and the broader community, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy announced today that it finalized a comprehensive “Action Plan” for Mellon Park. The Action Plan represents a unified vision for the park based on community priorities for park restoration, future improvements, and investment.
“The Mellon Park Action Plan encompasses the goals and needs of the community,” explained Brandon Riley, Capital Projects Manager for Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. “The completion of the Action Plan is just the first step in the process of reinvesting in this well-loved public open space.”
The Parks Conservancy partnered with the City of Pittsburgh, nearby residents, and leading neighborhood and community groups that have a stake in the park and its surrounding area to create the Action Plan. Community groups that took part in meetings and planning sessions include The Friends of Mellon Park; East Liberty Development, Inc.; Point Breeze Organization; Homewood Concerned Citizens; Larimer Consensus Group; Operation Better Block; Shadyside Action Coalition; and the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition along with several other public and private agencies.
“The City is honored to work in partnership with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and local groups and residents to see the Action Plan come to fruition,” said Chris Hornstein, Director of the Department of Public Works. “This is a valuable tool that allows us to make the most informed decisions about a park that means so much to so many.”
In addition to completing long-planned maintenance projects in the park, including upgrades to the Tennis Bubble and repairs to the pavers and plinths within the Walled Garden, the Parks Conservancy and City of Pittsburgh will initially focus on targeted, small-scale improvement projects to increase park access, enhance pedestrian safety, and improve connectivity between the two sides of the park, as part of the Action Plan.
“The vision outlined by the community will take time and thoughtful planning to implement,” added Riley. “Our goal is to address some of the immediate needs and priorities of the community, while we work together with the City to gather resources for larger capital investment projects.”
To learn more about the Action Plan and to view it in its entirety, please visit pittsburghparks.org/mellon-park-action-plan/
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Contact: Alana Wenk
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
412.527.0020
awenk@pittsburghparks.org
About Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy: Recently celebrating its 25th year, 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 $130 million and completed 22 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.