The Voice Making The Grass Greener In Our Own Backyard • Frick, Highland, Riverview & Schenley Parks
Highland Park Entry Underway
Fall/Winter 2003
Babbling Brook and New Plant Making Waves in Highland Park
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Roddey, Onorato Talk About Parks
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he Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority and the City of Pittsburgh have built a “babbling brook” in Highland Park leading from the new microfiltration plant to Lake Carnegie. Funding for the project was provided by the Eden Hall Foundation and the PWSA. With its boulders and flowing water, the new brook is an example of a functional need that has been turned into a great park asset. “The brook is a very important part in the filtration process, but is also a beautiful place for residents to visit,” said Meg Cheever, President of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Chlorinated water winds down a slope over rocks and leaves, heads underground at the swimming pool steps and then flows into Lake Carnegie. On its trip down the hill, the
water becomes naturally dechlorinated as it is exposed to air, rocks and leaves. The new brick microfiltration plant was built by the PWSA to comply with tougher water purification standards. The plant was a response to a public outcry over original plans to cover the reservoir with a floating tarp. Today, the state-of-theart plant is the largest in Pennsylvania, attracting visitors to the park from all over the world. Park foreman Damon Blankenship worked with PPC staff, landscape architects, contractors and volunteers to remove invasive plants from the site and plant a variety of native Continued page 6
Abbie Pauley
By Jessica Todarello
The babbling brook in Highland Park opened this summer. Walkways lead from the reservoir past the brook.
Volunteers Spend Summer in Parks
October Lecture Series to Feature Environmental Leaders By Abbie Pauley
Wireless at Schenley Park Visitor Center
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Oct. 2nd – Nine Mile Run may be dominated by slag left behind by the steel industry, but great things are taking root as the watershed undergoes a
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multi million-dollar restoration. Hear Marijke Hecht, Executive Director of the Nine Mile Run Watershed Association, discuss Restoring Nature in the City: Creating a Healthy Nine Mile Run Watershed. Oct. 9th – Schenley Park may sit in the middle of a bustling city, but it is also home to 290 million-year-old fossils. Explore these geological riches tucked away in our urban woods in The Geology of the Pittsburgh Region with Discussion on the City Parks by paleontologist and geologist Albert Kollar, Collections Manager of Invertebrate Paleontology at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Continued page 5
Courtesy Caren Glotfelty
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ix leaders in the fields of art, history, outdoor recreation and environment will share their passion for making Pittsburgh a great place to live in the third Schenley Park Lunchtime Series: Lectures with a View in October. The series, which is held twice a year, is sponsored by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, WQED Multimedia and the Western Pennsylvania Field Institute. Lectures start at noon on the following Thursdays at the Visitor Center and last about 30 minutes.
Caren Glotfelty, Director of the Environment Program for the Heinz Endowments, talks about protecting Pittsburgh’s environment on October 30.
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Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Newsletter
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
They Paved Paradise and Put Up a Parking Lot
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Richard Kelly
or the first time in living memory it looks as though, as a community, we may be able to reclaim Schenley Plaza — the grand entrance to Schenley Park — from its current status as an asphalt parking lot into a vibrant public space. Many don’t realize the land occupied by the parking lot is actually part of Schenley Park and has been for years. It never should have been allowed to become a parking lot. Left that way, it is a serious tear in the urban fabric of Oakland. The restored Schenley Plaza will capture the spirits of the institutions and amenities that surround it and provide a place for them to come together. Never before has Oakland had an opportunity to gather adults, children, students, professionals and artists in a central location and solve a decades-old poor design choice in the process. It’s easy to get stuck in our own conveniences, to worry about how removing a parking lot might affect our trip to Oakland or how such a project could move forward in a time of financial crisis. But to step back and see the whole of Oakland for what it is — or what it could be — shows a pic-
ture of poorly used land in a prime location. And the project team has worked diligently on the parking issue. Although 238 spaces will be eliminated, 90 additional on-street spaces will be included in the current plan, which will actually increase short-term parking. The project team is also working to make underutilized parking opportunities more apparent. The plan to revitalize Schenley Plaza has been brewing for years. It was proposed in 1998 in the Regional Parks Master Plan – an effort led by the Department of City Planning that involved more than 30 public meetings. The idea was then submitted to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s contest for “Best Ideas to Improve Oakland” where it won first place and made the front page of the Sunday paper. The Oakland Task Force, a partnership of Oakland institutions, community organizations and businesses that collaborate for the betterment of their community, also embraced the idea in the Oakland Civic District Loop planning process concluded in early 2001. Then, last year Mayor Murphy endorsed the plan. And the Allegheny Conference on Community Development embraced Schenley Plaza as its principal project toward the overall goal of making Oakland “a great place.” All these groups have now coalesced into a working team, which has hired Alistair McIntosh of Sasaki Associates to design the space. While the city’s financial situation is certainly serious, it is not something that should stop the ideas and conversations and plans of Pittsburghers
working to make this an even greater city, especially when this project will draw significant private investment to help the city. In fact, New York City’s financial crisis is what spurred the creation of the Central Park Conservancy, which has turned Central Park back into New York’s crown jewel. The renovation of Schenley Plaza will draw people and money to Oakland. What better way to strive for retaining young people than by showing them a vibrant, diverse public space in the center of their neighborhood? Your Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is a part of the project team and has been working with many groups and individuals to seek funding for the project and to develop a preliminary operating plan to make the space active. People of all ages and backgrounds will be able to mingle in this cosmopolitan, dynamic environment. The public can help in two ways — by joining the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, which will strengthen our organization as we work on this project, and by vocally supporting this idea through letters to newspaper editors and calls to elected officials. To borrow from Joni Mitchell, “they paved paradise and put up a parking lot.” Let’s rip off that asphalt and re-green the front entrance to our flagship park. It will be a tremendous public amenity that will enhance Oakland, Pittsburgh, our region and ourselves.
Letters To The Editor We want your feedback. The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy welcomes letters to the editor. Letters may be edited. All submissions become the property of the PPC. Please send them to: The Voice, 2000 Technology Drive, Suite #300, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
Schenley Plaza Gains Support I think your latest newsletter is super! I was glad to catch up on what the PPC is doing. As for Schenley Plaza, now that the PPC is involved people are really getting on board. Christina Schmidlapp Oakland
Hat Luncheon Impresses “Absolutely fabulous” doesn’t begin to do the Hat Luncheon justice. It was so warm and wonderful no one wished to leave. Congratulations on a great success! Catherine Loevner Squirrel Hill
Clarification Thank you so much for the recent article on the First Tee Program, which featured students from The Neighborhood Academy. It’s always a thrill to read about our students and see their accomplishments highlighted in print. While the article certainly captured the unique value of the First Tee Program, the description of The Neighborhood Academy was missing an essential element. What makes The Neighborhood Academy so extraordinary is that we are a faithbased, independent, college-prep high school for low-income, at-risk urban students. Our mission is to provide a rigorous academic experience for students and families who might otherwise not have access to such an educational opportunity. Tara Marlovits Director of Programs The Neighborhood Academy
Off-Leash Areas Not Supported by All Residents In April, I re-visited Frick, Schenley, and Riverview Parks during a visit to Pittsburgh. Restoration projects undertaken by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, the city, and A dog and owner in one of Frick’s off-leash areas. other partners are beginning to address some of the inevitable deterioration experienced by I walked into the field near the picnic pavilion these heavily used urban parklands, and I applaud and lower Frick parking lot (not an off-leash area) these efforts to maintain the quality of the woodand was surprised to see a large group of dogs lands and meadows in the parks. The parks have and their owners gathered in a group. There were never looked better – with one exception. I don’t dispute the need to have areas for dogs to so many dogs I thought it was an obedience class! exercise off-leash, but it would be hard to site off- But then I noticed the dogs were not wearing leashes. Four or five dogs loped across the field leash areas in less appropriate locations. The offand surrounded us. These were very large, intimileash areas span the stream draining through the valley. As a result, the bare soil can erode directly dating dogs that were not responding to their owner’s calls. I was scared myself, and I was not into the stream, and dog feces wash quickly into sure how my dog would react. the water. It seemed to me that a dog accompaIf such a situation were to get out of control, a nied nearly every user in Frick Park on the dog or person might get injured, and I would evening I visited, yet the off-leash areas were think the park would be less lenient with the dog entirely unused. Perhaps the dog owners found the off-leash areas as unpleasant and unappealing rules. Many dog owners enjoy the off-leash areas and would like to continue to do so. People need as I did. It’s a shame that with the parks on an to understand that dogs act differently in a pack. upswing, two such obviously inappropriate sites Additionally, they shouldn’t be using unauthoare allowed to remain. rized areas of the park as an off-leash area. David J. Robertson Perhaps signs and an occasional patrol would help Huntingdon Valley, PA to educate people on safe handling of dogs. Ann Lyon As a dog owner, I am very appreciative of the Regent Square measures Frick Park has taken to provide safe trails and special off-leash areas. I am writing to express my observation that some naïve dog owners may be taking advantage of the park’s dogfriendly reputation.
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Newsletter
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Restoration of Highland Park Entry Garden Underway
The restoration of the Highland Park Entry Fountain is underway. Work should be completed by fall 2004.
rate formal gardens. The entryway has deteriorated over time. The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy will restore the gardens and walkway around the entrance as their fourth capital project. Work by the PPC will begin in the spring, after the City completes the construction phase of the project. The restoration is expected to be completed by fall 2004.
Artist rendering of the restored fountain and gardens.
Bob Bowden
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round has broken on the first phase of the restoration of the Highland Park Entry Garden. The City is working with Highland Park community groups and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy to revitalize the park’s entrance, the fountain, reflecting pool, walkways and gardens. At the turn of the Century, a grand Victorian entryway to Highland Park once greeted visitors with glorious bronze sculptures by Guiseppe Moretti, clustered Ionic columns, a fountain, reflecting pool and elabo-
Phil Gruszka
By Jessica Todarello
Candidates for County Executive Weigh in on Parks
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his November’s election for Allegheny County Executive features incumbent Jim Roddey against County Controller Dan Onorato. Here, The Voice asks the candidates to spell out their priorities for the county parks, RAD funding and their relationship to the four largest City parks.
If elected (or re-elected), what are your top three priorities for the county parks? Onorato: My first priority would be to review the Wallace Roberts & Todd master plan for maintaining and improving the county parks system and implement from it the recommendations that would best improve our parks and the quality of life in our region. The Wallace Roberts & Todd Report completed in 2001 identified up to $120 million in needed repairs and desired upgrades. I will seek input and active involvement from local government officials and community leaders to both prioritize recommendations identified in the Wallace Roberts & Todd plan and develop a long-range implementation strategy. I will also work closely with the county’s Parks Director and Parks Commission, which was
assembled to assist in the operation of a reconstructed county parks department. As chief executive, I would ensure that the master plan for the parks complements the county’s broader economic development and revitalization efforts. As we prepare brownfields and other abandoned industrial sites for development, parks and trails should be incorporated into development plans. Also, our regional transportation plan should include transit service to the parks, and county parks should be linked by trails with city parks and other recreational assets. Lastly, I will hold public hearings at each county park to seek input from residents before the master plan for our parks is finalized.
Roddey: Allegheny County has nine county parks that cover nearly 12,000 acres of land, and every county resident is within 30 minutes of a county park. Our county park system not only pre-
serves open space, it adds to the quality of life for our residents. As county executive I established a separate parks department to elevate the importance and services at our parks. The new department is charged with: Maintenance: Before I took office, the county parks were being neglected – things got so bad that the grass was left uncut. I have made it a top priority to keep the maintenance at a high level. Enhancement: I established the Allegheny County Parks Commission to serve as a governing body that will identify ways to enhance services and amenities at our parks. Preservation: I have made the preservation of our 12,000 acres a top priority because it is important to our quality of life. I will continue to preserve our parks and only support projects that enhance services without destroying valuable open space. Continued page 4
Remember a Friend at the Holidays
Jim Schafer
Looking for a new gift idea for the holidays? Sign up a friend for membership with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Mail this flier to the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. We’ll send a holiday card with a membership and benefits. Your Name Recipient Name Your Address Recipient Address Include a Special Note
Your Phone
Membership Level
Park Friend $25 + The Voice newsletter and Guide to Pittsburgh’s Great Parks
Park Steward $100 + All that Park Friends receive plus Park Steward T-Sirts and invitations to luncheons and special events
Mary Schenley Circle $250 + All that Park Stewards receive plus invitations to special Schenley Circle events, guided park tours and a rental discount for the Schenley Park Visitor Center
Please allow two weeks for notice and four to six weeks for delivery of benefits
Benefactor Society $500 + All that Mary Schenley Circle receives plus a lovely set of note cards featuring historic park postcards
Make check payable to: Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, 2000 Technology Drive, Suite 300, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. 412-682-7275
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Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Newsletter
County Executive continued from page 3
Onorato:
John F. Madia
We can better preserve the open spaces and trails in our great city parks through improved intergovernmental cooperation. As chief executive, I will work with the city and county to create a single park agenda. This initiative could provide significant cost savings to both governments while improving the level of service to the parks. Dan Onorato
county was in a position to offer city residents help by accepting city pool passes at our county pools. This would not have been possible without sound fiscal management.
Jonas Photography
How can the county help our great city parks – Frick, Highland, Riverview and Schenley?
Jim Roddey
Roddey:
Is money from the Allegheny Regional Asset District sufficient to meet the needs of the county and city parks? Is it spent effectively? Onorato: While the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and other entities have made tremendous efforts to keep our parks vital and vibrant, many park facilities are in poor condition and in need of repair. The money allocated through the Allegheny Regional Asset District has not been sufficient to fully meet these maintenance needs. Allegheny County can protect the public’s investment in our parks by ensuring funding is properly maintained. As chief executive, I will look to private funds to finance park improvements.
Roddey: The Regional Asset District funding has been a boost to the preservation and improvements of our county parks and other regional assets. However, the Allegheny County Regional Asset District cannot provide the total funding needed to preserve and enhance our county parks. That is why I created the Allegheny County Parks Commission, a seven-member panel that is charged with advising and guiding the parks operations. By bringing in qualified, dedicated volunteers, it is my hope that we can find new revenue sources to provide improvements to our parks.
The City of Pittsburgh is facing a serious financial crisis that is ten plus years in the making. The $60 million deficit places a strain on the city’s ability to provide services and maintain the quality of life that residents enjoy today. This crisis has led to the closing of pools and recreational facilities, and it places in jeopardy the preservation of the city parks. The county is committed to merging services that will help the city and providing county assistance to the city to maintain our great park system.
How does your stand on parks differ from your opponent’s? Onorato: I believe that Allegheny County’s parks could be greater assets to our communities. Many recommendations to restore and improve our parks from the Wallace Roberts & Todd report and the parks and recreation transition committee have yet to be realized. I will implement a plan that will help create one of the best park systems in the country. I will take action.
Roddey: I stand on my record of keeping our parks maintained and creating a commission that will enhance the quality of our nine parks. This was done through fiscal discipline, cutting spending without cutting services and sound management. My opponent has a much different record. He spent eight years on Pittsburgh City Council and sat by passing budget after budget that increased spending, deficits and debt that led to the budget crisis and closing of city pools, recreational facilities and the canceling of the Great Race. The
What do fully restored parks mean for our region? Onorato: Great parks are essential to the economic life of Allegheny County. Foremost, they help attract and retain residents. Thriving, sustainable communities are places where people enjoy living, and great parks contribute to creating more livable communities. Young adults in particular are attracted to areas that provide a wide variety of leisure and entertainment activities. Overall, our parks provide enjoyment for all of our diverse populations. They offer a steady array of leisure time, recreational, educational and cultural opportunities for senior adults, teens and families, all of which will enhance their quality of life. Additionally, great parks help infuse community pride and confidence, and they contribute to urban renewal, neighborhood revitalization and increased property values.
Roddey: Allegheny County has a great quality of life, but we face many challenges. None is greater than the need to convince young people to stay in Pittsburgh. In order to meet this goal, we need not only good jobs and lower property taxes; we also need assets like our county parks. With an enhanced county park system, we will continue to preserve open space and provide recreational facilities that will help us match our quality of life with the quality of opportunity needed to grow our county.
Audubon Class to address deer problems
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he Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania will offer a workshop this fall focusing on deer. The workshop, titled Deer and You: Understanding the Deer in Your Community, will provide information and activities devoted to whitetailed deer and their management. Participants will learn basic deer biology, field techniques that can be used to monitor
Visit Our
Website:
www.pittsburghparks.org
deer impacts at educational facilities, deer management strategies and how to develop student projects that investigate local deer issues. The class will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., October 25. The fee for the class is $25 and is offered through the Allegheny Intermediate Unit. For registration, call the AIU at 412-394-5845.
Also note City parks: www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/parks Urban Parks Institute: www.pps.org/urbanparks National Park Service: www.nps.gov National Trust for Historic Preservation: www.nthp.org National Association for Olmsted Parks: www.naop.olmsted.org
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Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Newsletter Lectures continued from page 1 Oct. 16th – Attracting young people to Pittsburgh will improve the economic growth of the region but keeping them here will depend on great amenities like parks. Allegheny County Executive Jim Roddey will speak about how investing in these natural resources will raise the profile of Western Pennsylvania in Why Parks Are Important to Economic Development.
Oct. 30th – The Heinz Endowments has invested millions in advancing environmental innovation, promoting sustainable urban design and protecting watersheds and ecosystems throughout the region. Hear Caren Glotfelty, Director of the
Mary Jane Bent
T Albert Kollar from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History will speak about the geology of Pittsburgh’s parks on October 9.
his fall, Schenley Park Visitor Center patrons will be able to enjoy free wireless access. By mid-October, equipment will be installed to allow all park users access to the system. Laptops that are equipped with wireless capabilities will be able to connect to the Internet. Local consulting company StormLogic donated time and equipment to bring the center online. “I enjoy the Visitor Center for its historic restoration, its facilities and food,” said StormLogic owner, Noah Ternullo. “Creating WiFi access in the Visitor Center increases the center’s longevity and contributes to the community as a whole.” Free wireless service is also expected to be a feature of the renovated Schenley Plaza located between the Hillman and Carnegie libraries.
Environment Program of the Heinz Endowments, explain how the foundation achieves all this in Greening and Cleaning of Pittsburgh: How the Heinz Endowments is Helping. Nov. 6th – Executive Director of the Allegheny Land Trust Roy Kraynyk will discuss Community Conservation: Helping Local People Save Local Land. Find out how this nonprofit land conservation organization is improving our lives and well-being by preserving green space across Allegheny County.
Erin Clymer
Oct. 23rd – Pittsburgh has some 1,600 bridges and one of them is buried under the Mary Schenley fountain. Learn more about the famed Bellefield Bridge and other stories of the city’s great expanses with Walter Kidney, architectural historian of Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation and author of Pittsburgh’s Bridges: Architecture and Engineering as he talks about Pittsburgh Bridges as Works of Architecture.
Free Wireless Comes to Schenley Park Visitor Center
Schenley Park Visitor Center users will soon be able to enjoy free Internet access with their coffee.
Pizzazz Helps Keep Parks in Bloom By Karen Lally Meck
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et in some early Christmas shopping and benefit the great parks of Pittsburgh by visiting Pizzazz on October 16th and 17th at the Fox Chapel Golf Club. Sponsored by The Garden Club of Allegheny County, Pizzazz is a collection of extraordinary boutiques from across the country – all under one roof. Now in its 9th year, Pizzazz has become a muchanticipated fall ritual and, for many, the unofficial start of the holiday season. Purchases support the projects of The Garden Club of Allegheny County, an organization committed to promoting knowledge of horticulture, interest in conservation and historic preservation, environmental education and civic planning and planting programs. A preview party will be held Wednesday, October 15th from 6 to 9 p.m. Pizzazz will run from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday. Tickets range from $50 to $250. Buffet lunch is available at the Golf Club from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday for $20. In addition to the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, funds from Pizzazz also benefit the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, The Student Conservation Association, The Horticultural Society of Western Pennsylvania Botanic Garden and The Joan Kilner Hunt and Rachel M. Hunt GCAC Summer Scholarship.
New to Pizzazz this year is a lecture series featuring: Bunny Williams — One of the world’s top interior designers, Williams creates comfortable interiors that stand the test of time. Inducted into the Interior Design Hall of Fame in 1996, she has designed homes for any number of prestigious clients. Her work is regularly featured in design magazines such as House Beautiful, Architectural
hard-paste porcelain. Her work is collected throughout the world and can be seen at the Peabody-Essex Museum in Massachusetts, which houses an acclaimed porcelain collection. Houston will speak at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Renny Reynolds is internationally renowned for his style-setting ideas in designing the perfect party and the glorious garden. He has designed flowers, dinners and events for four Presidents, notable THE GARDEN CLUB OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY celebrities of international PRESENTS film, fashion and social THURSDAY FRIDAY worlds, and the most prestiOCTOBER 16 OCTOBER 17 gious companies and chari9:30 AM–8:00 PM 9:30 AM– 4:00 PM ties worldwide. AT FOX CHAPEL GOLF CLUB • 426 FOX CHAPEL ROAD Publications including ADMISSION $5.00 “W”, House and Garden A COLLECTION OF EXTRAORDINARY BOUTIQUES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY ALEASE FISHER DESIGNS, Greenwich, CT GREAT TURTLE TOYS, Petosky, MI SILVERWEAR, Charlotte, NC and House Beautiful have BAILEY’S BOTANICAL ART, Palm Beach, FL HILLSLEY/HOOD FRENCH, Chestnut Hill, PA SOUTHERN CROSS LTD, St. Louis, MO BOZO & FRIENDS, Charleston, SC J. MCLAUGHLIN, New York, NY STUBBS & WOOTTON, Palm Beach, FL featured his flower, party CAMPUS PEDDLER, Macungie, PA JUBILEE CHOCOLATES, Philadelphia, PA SUSAN GUBELMANN, Newport, RI and Palm Beach, FL CAROLINE’S CAKES, Annapolis, MD KATHERINE HOUSTON PORCELAINS, and garden designs. Along North Andover, MA TIMELESS TREASURES, Pittsburgh, PA CATCH ALL, Westport, CT KEP DESIGNS, New York, NY 24 SHADES OF GREEN, Crosswicks, NJ CRÈME DE LA CRÈME, Winnetka, IL with the fabulous shop on ZONNIE SHIEK OF CUFFS HERMÉS BOUTIQUE, Chagrin Falls, OH LOCAL COLOR, Sun Valley, ID SLIGHT INDULGENCE, LULU & MERIE•SASSY NOTES, Alexandria, VA DEDE CADIEUX DESIGNS, York Harbor, ME Park Avenue (in New York Hilton Head, SC and Hobe Sound, FL THE MAGIC WARDROBE, Middleburg, VA DUNHAM ROAD DESIGNS, Stowe, VT ELIZABETH MAAR BOUTIQUE, Haverford, PA MARIQUITA MASTERSON, Houston, TX City), Reynolds owns a QUEEN BEE, Atlanta, GA ELJO’S, Charlottesville, VA wholesale and retail nursFunds from PIZZAZZ benefit: Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Student Conservation Association, The Horticultural Society of Western Pennsylvania, and The Joan Kilner Hunt and Rachel M. Hunt GCA Summer Scholarship ery in Bucks County, Pennsylvania where he has Digest and Elle Décor. Williams will speak at 11 more than 60,000 square feet of greenhouses and a.m. and 1 p.m. Thursday. 300,000 pots of perennials. Reynolds will speak at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Friday. Katherine Houston is a living artist who adapts techniques of the 18th century with a 21st century For information, call 412.963.6296 or approach to design. Houston’s work is predomi412.782.3518. nantly botanical — fruits, vegetables, leaves and flowers — and is one of the few artists in the Karen Lally Meck is one of four co-chairs of world carrying on the tradition of hand sculpting the event.
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Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Newsletter
Barn Owls to be Reintroduced in Highland Park By Alice Enz
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he first barn owls to take flight over Pittsburgh in more than 50 years were released at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium in Highland Park this June. Their release is part of an effort to reintroduce populations of the bird across Allegheny County and provide natural rodent control around the zoo. Barn owls were historically found in Allegheny County but have been on the decline since World War II. Their population numbers dropped as farmland was lost, barns were constructed more tightly and the use of pesticides and rodenticides increased. Mark Browning, the head researcher and zoo keeper for the release, said the first release of four owls was successful. In the weeks following the release, three owls were spotted 10 miles south, while the fourth has been seen hunting on zoo land. “By releasing the barn owl here we are setting something right,” said Browning. He hopes in the coming years to release as many birds as possible to re-estab-
lish a self-sustaining owl population in the region. But it takes time to acquire and prepare the birds to live in the wild. They must be obtained from local rehabilitators and breeders and then sent to special “hacking” barns or aviaries where they develop hunting skills before being released into the wild. At the zoo’s hacking aviary, the birds have limited human interaction and learn to hunt live rodents. Bird experts say it will be necessary to release around 50 birds to establish a self-sustaining population. The zoo is providing habitat and nesting boxes for the barn owls and other birds including sparrow hawks and screech owls. Pittsburgh is part of the growing trend to re-introduce declining populations of animals into urban areas. The New York City Urban Park Rangers have released four Bald Eagles into Inwood Hill Park in northern Manhattan. Peregrine Falcons have also been re-introduced in urban areas across the country. They have adopted city skyscrapers in lieu of their traditional rock cliff habitats and hunt in the large city rivers.
Barn owls were released into Highland Park in June in an effort to re-introduce the species to Pittsburgh.
Parks Conservancy Conducts Soil Testing
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he PPC is conducting about a dozen soil tests in the four regional parks to help determine the best growing conditions for plant life. “We want to be able to optimize the growing conditions for trees and turf. We need to know our soils before we can grow healthy plants,” said Phil Gruszka, Director of Management and Maintenance Policies. For each test, a soil probe is placed 6 to
10 inches into the ground. About a cup full of soil is sent to Penn State in University Park for analysis. Results will reveal the soil type, pH (a measure of acidity) and nutritional value. “In the long term, the PPC hopes the park will have grass with fewer weeds and trees that are healthier, requiring less maintenance, which could reduce the need for herbicides and extensive pruning,” said Gruszka.
Babbling Brook continued from page 1
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Staff Meg Cheever President and CEO
Erin Clymer Manager of Public Education and Programs
Fred Comunale Executive Vice President Chief Operating Officer
Bonita Kwolek Membership/Volunteer Coordinator
Abbie Pauley Director of Institutional Advancement Philip J. Gruszka Director of Park Management and Maintenance Policies Joanne Jamis Cain Director, Schenley Park Visitor Center
Mary Beth Steisslinger Project Coordinator Jessica Todarello Communications Assistant Liz Style Docent Coordinator Alice Enz Administrative Assistant
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy 2000 Technology Drive, Suite 300 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-682-PARK (7275)
trees, shrubs and plants. A new trail that meanders along the brook and down to the lake was also created. In September, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and PWSA held a grand opening ceremony to celebrate the completion of the project. More than 300 people turned out for tours of the site, music, food and wagon rides. “The greatest thanks of all goes to the
Highland Park community,” said Greg Tutsock, Executive Director of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority. “It’s been a disruptive five years while we did the construction, but I think we can all agree it was worthwhile.” To visit the brook, enter the park on Highland Avenue and turn right. The site can be viewed from the newly reopened one-way road.
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Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Newsletter
Thanks to Volunteers
above: A volunter from Westinghouse Electric Co. joins a Student Conservation Association worker to stop erosion in Riverview Park. Westinghouse brought more than 50 international employees to the park to dig erosion trenches, lay jute matting to shore up a degraded hillside and plant a wildflower meadow at the entrance to Snyder’s Point.
Mary Jane Bent
Mary Jane Bent
Jessica Todarello
right: A student from the Student Conservation Association builds a water bar to divert water off of the Steve Faloon Trail in Schenley Park, marking the beginning of much needed improvements on the trail. The SCA provided summer crews for the four regional parks. The local high school students restored a historic trail from the Elm Grove shelter to the Velodrome in Highland Park, removed invasive species, built water bars and steps to improve trails and shored up hillsides in the parks. Year-round SCA crews will continue the work through the winter.
Mary Beth Steisslinger
Erin Clymer
left, below right: Volunteers from the National Community Civilian Corps (NCCC), a program of AmeriCorps, spent six weeks on projects in Highland Park this summer. They created a trail from the farmhouse to the meadow above Rhododendron Grove and planted 150 trees above the velodrome on Washington Boulevard. Trees were purchased by the Highland Park Community Club and volunteer housing was provided by Partners in Parks. The crew also provided tutoring through the East Liberty Development Corporation.
above: PricewaterhouseCoopers spent a sunny day in Schenely Park fixing muddy trails and curbing erosion. Twenty-five volunteers worked around the Steve Faloon Trail building water bars and infiltration trenches to divert water from the trail and laying erosion control matting to prevent hillsides from washouts.
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Non-Profit Org. U S POSTAGE
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Newsletter
P A I D PITTSBURGH, PA PERMIT NO 4906
RAD Sustains Regional Parks in City’s Budget Crisis By Abbie Pauley
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ittsburgh’s four large regional parks – Frick, Highland, Riverview and Schenley – will not be severely affected by recent layoffs at City Hall, thanks largely to the Allegheny Regional Asset District. Cut-backs have taken a toll on recreation centers throughout the city and small municipal parks. Frick, Highland, Riverview and Schenley parks have been spared severe budget and staff cuts because they are recognized by statute as “regional assets.” These parks receive dedicated funding from RAD, the body responsible for doling out money raised from the county sales tax. “The wisdom of setting up the Regional Asset District with its funding mechanism for basic
parks maintenance for both county and city should be now immediately apparent to all,” said Meg Cheever, president of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Although the large parks have gone relatively unscathed, numerous city staff who worked with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy lost their jobs in the August layoffs. Projects such as the rebuilding of the Frick Environmental Center and the natural areas study — which would provide an inventory and management plan of the parks’ forested areas — are being held up. The good news, Public Works Director Guy Costa said, is that 10 additional workers from the
city’s construction division have been reassigned to jobs in the four regional parks on such projects as wall and trail reconstruction, sidewalk repairs and erosion control. “You will not see a decline in the maintenance of the RAD parks,” said Costa. Cheever is hopeful that important volunteer projects and capital restoration projects will continue. “The layoffs in the City underscore the importance of public-private partnerships, such as ours with the City of Pittsburgh,” said Cheever. “We need private dollars more than ever before to maintain and restore these vital community assets.”
Riverview Visitor Center Restored
Remember the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy in Your Will or Trust The PPC’s mission is to preserve, protect and restore the great parks of the City of Pittsburgh and to educate the public about them. You can help support us in our mission by making gifts to the PPC during your lifetime or under the terms of your will through what is known as planned giving. To learn more about how you can support the PPC, contact our office at 412-682-PARK.
We urge you to consult with your legal and financial advisors to assist you in arranging the best method of contributing. The PPC is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Service Code. Contributions to the PPC are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. A copy of the official registration and financial information for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
Erin Clymer
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he Visitor Center at the entrance to Riverview Park is getting a new lease on life following restoration work that will provide a new office and meeting space. The improvements, which were paid for by the City of Pittsburgh, include a new slate roof, copper gutters and downspouts and a new sidewalk. The exterior stonework on the building and walls have been cleaned and repaired. Inside, an ADA accessible bathroom will be available to the public. “The restoration of this historic park structure is another step in our community’s long-range goal to revitalize our parks,” said Meg Cheever, president of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. “It will be an important focal point for the community. We are looking forward to partnering with the city and the community to plan for making it a vibrant center for the park.” A.P.
The City of Pittsburgh restored a building at the entrance to Riverview Park that will serve as a park welcome and information center.
WPFI Offers Hikes Through Fall and Winter
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he Western Pennsylvania Field Institute will offer hikes through Pittsburgh’s regional parks throughout the fall and winter. The fall hikes follow the successful Weekly Walks in the Woods program that rotated through the parks during the summer months. Cold weather hikes will be offered once a month.
Oct 2 6:30 - 8 p.m. Oct. 9 6:30 - 8 p.m. Oct. 16 6:30 - 8 p.m. Oct. 23 6:30 - 8 p.m. Nov. 1 6:30 - 8 p.m. Dec. 6 2 -4 p.m.
Schenley Park Riverview Park Frick Park Highland Park Schenley Park Frick Park