Project Advisory: Winter restoration work in Frick Woods to include removal of dead, invasive and non-native trees

Ecological restoration in the northeast quadrant of Frick Park has begun, with a long-term goal of improved forest health. Hazardous, dead or dying, and invasive and/or non-native trees will be removed by the City of Pittsburgh’s Forestry Department and Frick Park Department of Public Works, with assistance from the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Work will begin Thursday, January 14th, 2016 and continue through the first months of winter.

The goal for this removal is to keep park goers safe by removing large dead or dying trees that are leaning or hanging over the Falls Ravine Trail. In addition, non-native and invasive Norway maples will also be removed to improve overall forest health. This is an initial step in a comprehensive ecological restoration of the site which will include soil stabilization, native seeding, invasive plant management, and tree planting over the next several years.

This work effort is a continuation of the City of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s ongoing commitment to restoring ecological health to Pittsburgh’s park system. Park users should note that parts or all of Falls Ravine Trail will be closed on Friday, January 15, and will continue to be closed through Monday, January 18.

Park users are asked to adhere to posted trail detour signs.

About Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy:

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 nonprofit 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. Originally including Highland, Schenley, Frick, and Riverview Parks, the scope of the Park Conservancy’s work now includes a focus on community parks including Allegheny Commons, Arsenal Park, Cliffside Park, McKinley Park, and Mellon Park. To date, the Parks Conservancy has raised $90 million toward park improvements. The Parks Conservancy works with thousands of volunteers annually, stewards nearly 1,700 acres, and has completed 14 major park improvement projects.