Spring is on the horizon and Pittsburgh’s parks promise to be an inclusive community haven for all
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy's spring program guide features opportunities for wellness, community connection, and enriching learning experiences in city green spaces.
PITTSBURGH – March 6, 2025 - The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has unveiled its latest seasonal programming guide, introducing new opportunities for residents and visitors to connect with nature, foster community, and enhance well-being in the city’s green spaces.
Pittsburgh’s parks provide year-round spaces for relaxation, inspiration, and connection, ensuring everyone has access to the benefits of the outdoors. This season, the Parks Conservancy invites the community to come together through a diverse lineup of programs designed to engage and inspire.
Leading the spring programming are the annual Earth Month celebrations at Westinghouse Park on April 5 and McKinley Park on April 19. These lively, family-friendly events will feature local DJs, hands-on nature crafts, face painting, neighborhood partners, and other interactive activities—all in celebration of a shared commitment to the environment.
“The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s Earth Month celebrations offer everyone the opportunity to take pride in their local green spaces and foster a personal, meaningful connection to nature,” said James Brown, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s Director of Education and the Frick Environmental Center. “By bringing the community together in our local parks, we hope to help park visitors cultivate a deeper appreciation for the environment and inspire hope that collectively, we can make a difference, no matter your age or background.”
Additional community celebrations highlighted in the seasonal guide include the grand reopening of the historic Schenley Park Visitors Center and the return of the beloved PNC Carousel. Many of the Parks Conservancy’s spring programs provide engaging learning experiences in welcoming environments, such as Black Birders Week, led by Naturalist Educator Nyjah Cephas. The popular Birding Pittsburgh’s Parks series, led by Naturalist Educator Stephen Bucklin, also focuses on spring migration, along with a special edition at Hays Woods Park in collaboration with Bird Lab, where attendees can explore the park’s bird banding site. Visitors can further immerse themselves in nature through Befriending the Forest: The Birds and Plants of Hays Woods Park, a program designed to deepen appreciation for its rich biodiversity.
Jared Belsky, Ecological Restoration Coordinator, shared his enthusiasm for Pittsburgh’s newest official park, stating, “Excitement around Hays Woods Park continues to grow, and we’re grateful for the support of Duquesne Light Company and partners like Bird Lab, who help us provide hands-on learning experiences related to the park’s vital conservation efforts. I look forward to engaging with visitors and sharing the importance of this unique green space through upcoming programs such as the Befriending the Forest series, Trail Tours, and Stewardship Days, which offer meaningful ways to learn about and support its ecological restoration.”
The Parks Conservancy has plenty of ways to support its vision of a sustainable future too. World Migratory Bird Day at the Frick Environmental Center is part of an international day of awareness that highlights the importance of bird conservation, where attendees can participate in bird-related hikes and activities for all ages. Also on the lineup are Discovery Time: Jr. Garden Buds, Urban Ecology in Westinghouse Park, Frick Park Bioblitz - City Nature Challenge, and the official opening of the Outdoor Discovery Space and Sensory Nature Trail at the Frick Environmental Center in May.
“We are excited to offer educational programming that is both enriching and accessible,” said Stephen Bucklin, Naturalist Educator and Mycologist. “Our Urban Ecology Walk in Westinghouse Park will allow visitors to learn about the wide variety of flora, fauna, and fungi that thrive in our urban landscape, and the Bioblitz City Nature Challenge in Frick Park will teach park visitors how to document and identify native biodiversity.”
Finally, the nonprofit has turned its lens to providing programs prioritizing well-being and how Pittsburgh's local green spaces offer a perfect sanctuary for relaxation and renewal. The Parks Conservancy's unique Forest Bathing series, generously sponsored by the Staunton Farm Foundation and Citrone 33 Foundation, is expanding, offering the chance to slow down and experience the natural world through the five senses in Frick Park, Riverview Park, Allegheny Commons Park, and West End Park. This season, attendees have the opportunity to enjoy a memorable moonlit experience with Evening Forest Bathing in Frick Park. The Parks Conservancy is also teaming up with Write Pittsburgh to offer a Sunrise Gratitude Walk and Write, where participants will experience early morning moments of joy and gratitude.
Welcoming, accessible, and inclusive green spaces help communities thrive and make Pittsburgh a vibrant place to live. As essential gathering places, parks foster connection, recreation, and relaxation. This spring, the Parks Conservancy looks forward to bringing people together through various programs designed to inspire, connect, and bring joy to all who experience them.
To view the entire programming calendar, visit PittsburghParks.org/events.
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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 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 $150 million and completed 23 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.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Alana Wenk
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
412.527.0020
awenk@pittsburghparks.org