Restoring Pittsburgh’s Public Green Space • Frick, Highland, Riverview & Schenley Parks
page 7 Rep. Mike Doyle Talks About Parks
page 3 New Urns to be Installed in Highland Park
Riverview Park Chapel Shelter Nears Completion By Melissa McMasters
he Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s seventh capital project, the Riverview Park Chapel Shelter, is expected to be completed this spring, and many improvements to the building and the landscape are already visible. The dull white walls have been repainted in pale yellow with a charming light green trim. The steeple, a distinctive feature of the Chapel Shelter until it was removed in the 1950s, has been restored, as have the long-absent dormer windows that once gave the building its character. Soon, the cracked and peeling porch will be cleaned, etched, and given a new finish. Columns and railings will be replaced with solid millwork pine in a manner that is more consistent with Major changes are already visible at the Riverview Park Chapel Shelter. Siberian elms were crowding out native trees for space on the historical design, and a wheelchair-accessible ramp the hillside. To create a more biodiverse canopy, a variety will be added. Indoor features, such as the kitchen, of native trees, such as maples, sweet gums, and redbuds, bathrooms, and lighting, are also being modernized. have been planted. Crews from DPW and the Pittsburgh Because the building’s deterioration was primarily Parks Conservancy have also been building water caused by termites and carpenter ants, the building has infiltration trenches and laying jute matting to stabilize the been treated for the pests and all wood products below hillside before seeding native grasses this spring. floor level have been replaced with impervious material. New plantings are also planned around the building In keeping with a park restoration project, the surrounditself; an iris bed will line the front wall, and side gardens ing landscape also needed to be completely transformed. will feature hydrangeas and littleleaf lilacs. Behind the Department of Public Works crews removed dilapidated building will be holly bushes whose bright red berries will tennis courts behind the building, clearing the way for a stand out against the winter snow. lawn that will invite picnicking and social gathering. The building is set to be finished this spring, and the Large stands of invasive trees that had been crowding the hillside have also been removed. Non-native trees like landscape work should be completed by late summer
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Melissa McMasters
Interview with Mayor Luke Ravenstahl
Spring 2007
CHAPEL SHELTER, PAGE 2
PPC, UPMC Health Plan Announce Spring Lecture Series page 4
Panther Hollow Becomes Outdoor Lab for PPC and Partners
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By Amy Ripley
PMC Health Plan announces an engaging and informative lineup for the spring 2007 installment of their Healthy Living Lecture Series, hosted in partnership with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. The free, six-week series will feature presentations by local medical and health experts at noon on Thursdays, March 15 – April 19 at the Schenley Park Visitor Center. “We were pleased with the interest that our fall lecture series generated,” says Diane Holder, President of UPMC Health Plan. “Momentum is building to improve Pittsburgh’s health as a result of initiatives like America on the Move that are highlighted in these lectures. They provide an excellent opportunity for people to have access to the area’s foremost experts on a variety of health-related topics.” The March 15 lecture will feature a guided walk through Schenley Park following a lecture on fitness and strength by Dr. John Jakicic and Stephen Doyle. Lectures will last about 30 minutes and be followed by Q&A sessions. The schedule follows on page 2.
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LECTURE SERIES, PAGE 2
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
ver the last ten years we have learned that people really do love their parks. We have also learned that urban parks are not just places of spiritual refreshment but also key assets in creating a competitive quality of life for our region. But to maximize the attraction of our parks, they must not just be in good capital repair, but must also be well-managed and regularly well-maintained. This is the common-sense recipe for permanently great parks. And it should be no surprise that consistent funding is a key ingredient in that recipe. But consistent revenue--a permanent, sufficient funding stream for Pittsburgh’s parks--remains critical and elusive. Many urban park systems across the country have been faced with increased funding pressure at the local level due to decreasing federal funds. And although the Allegheny Regional Asset District funding our own parks enjoy has been a key component of sustaining our parks during a period of intense financial crisis for the city, it alone is not sufficient funding to bring our parks to a level competitive with other cities. For example, according to the Center for City Park Excellence at the Trust for Public Land, whose website you can visit at www.tpl.org/tier2_pa.cfm?folder_id=3208, Pittsburgh is below average both in how much park acreage we have in our city and in how much we spend on parks. For cities of our density, the average is 14 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents, yet Pittsburgh has only 8.8 acres per 1,000 residents. Similarly, while San Francisco spends $276 per resident on its parks and Cincinnati $166 per resident, (with an average of $86 per resident nationwide), our city spends only $37 per resident. As a result of the partnership between the City of Pittsburgh and PPC, parks dollars are going farther than ever. Over the past ten years we’ve learned how to work smarter as well as how to work harder for better parks. But increasing efficiency will only get us so far. It is time to recognize that our parks are seriously under-funded, undermining our city’s ability to compete in the global economy. As the PPC begins its second decade, we hope to encourage our community to develop a comprehensive plan for a park system that is beautifully restored, excellently managed and adequately funded on a permanent basis.
Letters To The Editor
CHAPEL SHELTER, FROM PAGE 1 when new planting beds are installed and the lawn is ready for use. Once it is opened, the public can use the facility for events such as family reunions, weddings, and corporate picnics. The Chapel Shelter project was made possible by private funding from the Eden Hall Foundation, the Buhl Foundation, and the Pittsburgh Foundation, as well as funding from the Allegheny Regional Asset District and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
LECTURE SERIES, FROM PAGE 1 March 15 – Get Moving: Improving Fitness and Strength – guided walk to follow - John Jakicic, PhD, Chair of the Department of Health and Physical Activity, University of Pittsburgh, and Stephen Doyle, CES, RCEP, Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist and Program Coordinator, UPMC Health Plan March 22 – Food Shopping and Preparation for People on the Go – Sandra K. Carpenter, MEd, MS, RD, Program Manager, Weight Management, UPMC Health Plan March 29 – Geriatric Health Cynthia Rosenberg, MD, Medicare Medical Director, UPMC Health
Plan April 5 - Stress Management and Resiliency – Rose Gantner, EdD, Senior Director, Health Promotion, UPMC Health Plan April 12 - Asthma and Allergies Christopher V. Lamperski, MD, Medical Director, UPMC Health Plan April 19 – Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A 21st Century View – S. Ramalingam, MD, MBA, Senior Medical Director, Medical Management, UPMC Health Plan
Charles Birnbaum, FASLA, founder of the Cultural Landscape Foundation, visited Pittsburgh to discuss obtaining National Historic Landmark status for downtown’s Mellon Square park. He is pictured here (left) with Meg Cheever and Scott Lammie of UPMC Health Plan at a Feb. 1 lecture sponsored by the PPC.
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.
Pittsburgh’s Parks Remembered
Having been born and raised on the edge of Woods Run between the Ohio River and the Western Penitentiary on the North Side, I had the good luck to have two Pittsburgh parks to pick and choose from: Riverview and Highland. They were well utilized by me, two brothers, and an older sister. We also had “West” or Allegheny Park on the North Side; this was great! It was a great childhood and young manhood. Then off to WWII and new action; on returning, the lure of the river and parks was gone, but not forgotten. Woods Run was “torn down.” The Pen was closed down, and leaving this area began. New parks were looked for, and I for one moved to the Schenley Park area and love it. This past summer’s concerts there were extremely enjoyable and I will always attend them. My daughter enjoys Frick Park; so you see we are still with it, and I want to be a Park Friend. Andrew Sabol Pittsburgh
Neill Log House in Need of Repair
Please don’t forget about the Neill Log House. It’s in sad shape. Nearly all the chinking between the logs is cracked. Water flows down the face and the interior of the chimney and the larger fireplace due to missing flashing and seriously deteriorated mortar. The door sill has rotted away. There are signs of termites in the logs and rodents under the house. There aren’t many structures left in the city that date to the 18th century. The Neill Log House is one of them, almost certainly dating to 1769, just eleven years after John Forbes named the city. It has the potential to be a showcase of early Pittsburgh history. Please put it on a fast-track schedule for repairs. Dwight Fong Pittsburgh Editor’s Note: Pittsburgh’s Regional Parks Master Plan, completed in 2001, recognizes that the Neill Log House and its surrounding landscape are in need of renovation. In addition to the Neill Log House, the PPC will
Melissa McMasters
Richard Kelly
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Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Newsletter
Chelsea Bodamer
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Schenley Park’s Neill Log House, one of Pittsburgh’s oldest buildings, is designated as a historic landmark but has begun to deteriorate.
be seeking funding to renovate both the Camp David Lawrence Cabin in Schenley Park and the Watson Cabin in Riverview Park.
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Newsletter
Congressman Mike Doyle Discusses the Importance of Parks
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o Congressman Mike Doyle, who is currently serving his sixth term as representative of the 14th District of Pennsylvania, Western Pennsylvania’s green spaces are some of the greatest assets the region has to offer. During his 12 years in Congress, Doyle has obtained federal funding for many of the initiatives that are ushering in Pittsburgh’s green future. One of the projects that most excites Doyle is the restoration of the Nine Mile Run Watershed. He was instrumental in committing $10 million in federal funds to the project, which is one of the largest stream restoration projects in the country. “That was a place I played as a kid,” Doyle recalls. “Everybody called the place Stink Creek. Now, as you go down through the park and you see the ecosystems that have been built there and how the streams are channeled in such a way that they’re constantly being cleaned, it’s a completely different kind of experience.” He and his wife Susan often take their golden retriever Brody to Nine Mile Run to play in the streams and are thrilled with the progress that has been made through the efforts of the City of Pittsburgh, the Nine Mile Run Watershed Association, the Army Corps of Engineers, and other partners. Congressman Doyle has also worked closely with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy to obtain $720,000 for the development of new trails and the construction of a unified signage system to be installed throughout the four regional parks of Pittsburgh. He believes that public-private partnerships like the PPC’s with the City of Pittsburgh are a highly effective
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way of getting necessary projects completed. country’s priorities,” he says. “I think one of “When you have people working together in the things we all understand and recognize is partnership, the projects are better, and the the importance of our parks system, not only to community input is there,” Doyle says, adding the quality of life of a community but also to that public participation is crucial to the the economic health of a community.” inclusion of projects in the federal budget. Doyle views the federal dollars that go into Why is Congressman Doyle so dedicated to parks development and restoration as money helping the cause of parks restoration? It goes well-spent. He believes his role as a legislator beyond creating a beautiful community. Doyle is to work with community groups to determine feels that parks are crucial to the economic the projects that need funding, and then to help health of the region. “We’re competing every secure the money that will make those projects day for some of the best and the brightest work. Parks projects that are done well, in people to partnership with the private sector and the local move here or community, are “good public policy,” says “Our budget is a to locate their Doyle. “Hopefully we’re going to see a lot statement of our companies more of it here in the 110th Congress.” Doyle As the new legislative session begins, Doyle country’s priorities.” here,” says. “Those looks forward to continuing to work with types of groups like the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy to people and companies have many choices. One examine creative uses of Pittsburgh’s parkland of the things I think is a big deciding factor for and rivers. them when they relocate is the quality of life in the area—the open space and outdoor recreational opportunities. It’s good economics—having good parks dramatically improves the quality of life in Pittsburgh,” which makes the region that much more attractive to current and potential residents. Now that the midterm elections have significantly changed the face of Congress, Doyle hopes that legislators will give more attention to environmental issues like parks. “Our budget Above left: Congressman Doyle attends a PPC event; above right: Doyle helps plant vegetation in a Nine Mile Run meadow in September 2005. is a statement of our
Left: Courtesy of Congressman Mike Doyle; above, Joshua Franzos
By Melissa McMasters
Humane Metropolis Workshop Comes to Pittsburgh March 23 By Melissa McMasters
ith over half the world’s population now living in urban areas, making urban environments safer and more habitable is crucial. The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy’s Humane Metropolis workshop, to be held at the Omni William Penn Hotel on Friday, March 23 from 8:30 to 5:00, is designed to discuss ways to help transform cities into more sustainable and people-friendly places. Based in part on Rutherford H. Platt’s 2006 book The Humane Metropolis: People and Nature in the 21st Century City, published by the Lincoln Institute, the workshop will explore issues such as public space design, wetland restoration, and urban gardens. The four sessions will each feature a speaker and a panel of experts. The PPC’s Director of Management and Maintenance Policies, Phil Gruszka, will serve as a panelist in a session on urban parks. The objectives of the Humane Metropolis workshop include reviewing current urban improvement initiatives in Pittsburgh, promoting partnerships among local citizens and public officials, sharing relevant experiences from other cities, generating new ideas, and fostering awareness of Pittsburgh’s emergence as a role model for other cities. Following the workshop, participants are invited to gather at the Andy Warhol Museum’s “Good Fridays,” where they can meet the artists involved in an upcoming exhibition on global warming. Tuition for the workshop is $50 and includes Friday breakfast, lunch, the Humane Metropolis book, and course materials. Register online at http://www.lincolninst.edu/education/education-coursedetail.asp?id=426.
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For more information, contact Joy Abbott at joywabbott@verizon.net. The day’s schedule is below. Session 1: Introduction to Humane Metropolis - Rutherford H. Platt, Director, Ecological Cities Project, UMASS Amherst - Joel Tarr, Professor of History and Policy, Carnegie Mellon University - Court Gould, Executive Director, Sustainable Pittsburgh Session 2: Urban Parks, Trails, and Open Space - Peter Harnik, Trust for Public Land, Center for City Park Excellence Panel: - Phil Gruszka, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy - Allegheny Trail Alliance, Speaker TBD Session 3: Restoring Urban Nature - Laurel Ross, Chicago Wilderness - Howard Neukrug, Office of Watersheds, Philadelphia Water Panel: - Marijke Hecht, Nine Mile Run Watershed Association - Jan Doffner, Steel Industry Heritage Corporation Session 4: Environmental & Social Justice - David Beach, Director, EcoCity Cleveland Panel: - Terri Baltimore, Hill House - Miriam Manion, Grow Pittsburgh - Ann Rosenthal, Environmental and Community Artist - Carol Walsh, Urban Farming Initiative
The Invasive Advisor
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Newsletter
Highland Park Urns Honor Loved One By Melissa McMasters
Invasive plants are choking out the biodiversity of our natural areas – even in our own backyards. These invasive, non-native plants are not part of our original habitat, but were introduced from other countries, often for gardens and landscaping. With few or no natural enemies, you can now see these plants taking over entire landscapes like roadsides, disturbed woodlands and our parks.
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Join the battle! Learn to recognize and control invasive species by reading this column and by picking up Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas at the Schenley Park Visitor Center ($4.00, published by the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).
This Edition: Japanese Knotweed
Alice Enz
Common name: Japanese knotweed Scientific name: Polygonum cuspidatum Origin: Japan DESCRIPTION: Japanese knotweed is a tall, upright herbaceous plant with a shrub-like appearance. It begins to send up shoots in April and produces slim oblong sprays of greenish-white flowers in August and September, followed two weeks later by white, papery seeds. The shoots are edible in early spring; stems can be harvested, steamed or boiled for five minutes, and served like asparagus. ECOLOGICAL THREAT: This highly invasive plant reduces biodiversity by overrunning and shading out other plants. It propagates extremely easily through vegetative regeneration; a tiny stem fragment can produce a new plant in less than a week in wet conditions. The plant’s dead stems and leaves are slow to decompose, forming a layer of organic matter that prevents native seeds from sprouting and disturbs wildlife habitats. HABITAT: Although it can adapt to many environments, Japanese knotweed prefers moist, open areas with a lot of sunlight. It is also commonly found at the edges of roadways and stream banks. SIZE: The plant’s stems can grow up to 10 feet tall. Because its root system can reach 15 to 20 meters in length, it often creates dense thickets and can quickly dominate a natural area. LOOK-ALIKES: In early spring, young shoots resemble bamboo or asparagus.
Mary Jane Bent
Rudy Maceyko
MANAGEMENT OPTIONS: The plant should be cut before flowering and then again in September or October. Because it produces such an extensive root system that can survive even when top growth is removed, Japanese knotweed must often be treated with herbicide in order to be eradicated. If the plant looks wilted, avoid touching it. SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE PLANTS: Other plants in the Polygonum family, including native Polygonum pensylvanicum L. and Polygonum arifolium L., are valuable to wildlife because their seeds provide food for ducks and their foliage provides cover for birds and small mammals. They grow mainly in wetland areas and are not known to be invasive.
isitors to Highland Park will soon notice some new features when they stroll through the Entry Garden. This spring, four 4-foot-tall decorative urns will be installed. The metal urns, which sit on square granite bases, were generously donated by Roy and Susie Dorrance in memory of Susie’s mother, Emma Sharp. “My mother thought that our city’s parks were treasures and was most enthusiastic about their A new urn ready for installation restoration,” Susie Dorrance said. “She was very proud of Meg, Ritchie [Scaife], and Audrey [Fisher] and grateful for their spearheading efforts and accomplishments.” “Mother was a native Pittsburgher, who was born in 1909,” Dorrance said. “She grew up near Highland Park and often spoke of happy times shared there with her family and friends. As a child, she clearly remembered the welcoming grandeur of the park’s entrance. Recently, she was thrilled with the beauty of its restoration.” The idea of funding the urns was suggested to the Dorrances by Toadflax owners Jeff Pierce and Tom Bedger. As project architect, Pierce used his expertise to guide the rotating plantings of annual flowers that will adorn the urns through the seasons. The structures have a historic precedent, with photos showing a pair of flower-filled urns flanking the Entry Garden fountain close to where the new ones are sited. Susie Dorrance is pleased that the classical elegance of the urns will keep her mother’s memory alive in a park she adored. “We are delighted to be able to contribute to the restoration of Highland Park’s entrance in such a personal way and in memory of someone whom we dearly love.” Mrs. Emma Sharp
DPW Construction Foreman Rick DeCarlo Works to Beautify Parks onstruction foreman Rick DeCarlo has been with the City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works for 21 years. His work with the construction division takes him to the four regional parks and beyond. We sat down with Rick to ask him what’s happening in the parks.
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What does your work entail? My work varies a lot, but I’ve been working a lot in the RAD parks lately. [Pittsburgh’s four regional parks receive substantial funding from the Allegheny Regional Asset District.] I’ll The restoration of Phipps Run in Schenley Park was one of manage crews with between 6-15 men. We the projects that benefited from DeCarlo’s efforts. work on trails, repairing or building walls, stream restoration, drainage systems – things of crushed limestone will be laid in the spring. that nature. What other projects have you worked on in The City is managing the construction for the collaboration with the PPC? Riverview Chapel Shelter, and it’s really com- We did the Phipps Run stream restoration in ing along. You’ve done some work on the trail 2005, and just this past spring we finished the nearby, right? Highland Park connector trail – the one that is by Yes – we’re working on re-establishing the trail the bike track on Washington Boulevard. That that connects the Chapel Shelter to the main trail was so nice. below the building and also to the pool. We’ve finished the rough grading. The top coat of Would you consider the new Highland Park
trail your favorite project to date? Yes. It was great because we did everything – there was nothing there at all. Now there’s the trail, the seasonal pools and bridges. We put all that in ourselves. But Phipps Run was a great project, too – it was a challenge. It was all flooded out and we had to go in there and reroute the entire stream. It looks fantastic now. Melissa McMasters
By Amy Ripley
Tell us about your latest projects. Where can you be seen working now? We’ve been working up in Schenley Park at the Oval where they’re refurbishing the track. The track is finished, and we just removed a temporary bridge that the contractor no longer needed. We also helped save the City some money by excavating for the irrigation lines that will water the landscape at the Chapel Shelter. We have also buried the electrical lines at the Chapel Shelter so the overhead wires can be removed. With all the work DPW crews do, what’s the best way park users can help keep the parks in good shape? Garbage is always a problem. So people should clean up after themselves and their pets.
Jeff Pierce
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Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Newsletter
International Bicycle Trail Care Crew Visits Pittsburgh
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By Jake Milofsky
n October 19, 20, and 21, Pittsburgh had the pleasure of welcoming the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA)’s Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew for several days of trail work in Frick Park. During the Pittsburgh stop of the Trail Care Crew’s national tour, the traveling duo of trail building enthusiasts instructed land managers, recreational mountain bikers, and many others in the techniques of building environmentally sustainable trails that are light on the land and considerate of trail users. Quite often, trails are created hastily by people who are in a hurry to get from one point to another and have little consideration for the most sustainable route to take. An example could include heading straight down a hill rather than meandering down along the contour lines. Approaches such as this often result in trails that wash out during rain events, unnecessarily impact local plant and animal populations, or Participants in the workshop helped build this bridge near the Firelane Trail in Frick Park. intersect dangerously with other trails. Recognizing this trend as a widespread issue, and maintenance. the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew was It was in this spirit that the Trail Care Crew established in 1997 to travel the world and came to Pittsburgh. Through the cooperation of instruct those affiliated with trail use everywhere local IMBA representatives, the City of in the techniques of sustainable trail building Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Nine
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Mile Run Watershed Association, REI, and others, two successful days of trail care training were held in Frick Park along with a night of fun and fundraising for Pittsburgh Trails Advocacy Group at the South Side’s Lava Lounge. Day one found over 40 land management professionals from the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, and many other groups of outdoor professionals at the sustainable trail building workshop, while day two opened the training to almost 40 members of the public. The workshop included an informative presentation by the Trail Care Crew highlighting many of the issues facing trails and the proper techniques for addressing them. Following the presentation was a trip into Frick Park for some hands-on trail construction, providing attendees with valuable skills to bring back to their respective domains. Pittsburgh is fortunate to have a community of civic-minded trail users who volunteer their time to ensure the responsible use of our parks and trails. Many of these individuals attended the public portion of the workshop, and in partnership with skilled land managers, they ensure the continued social and environmental sustainability of trails in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Green Forum Builds Momentum for Vacant Land Revitalization With over 14,102 vacant lots, Pittsburgh has a significant problem – but also faces a sea of opportunity. Vacant lots can be the driver for community sustainability, changing a traditional real estate discussion into a cleaning and greening opportunity,” according to a recent study by Carnegie Mellon’s Heinz School of Public Policy. On November 2 and 3, with a grant from the Sprout Fund, the Urban Ecology Collaborative (UEC) hosted the Pittsburgh Green Forum – a venue for sharing ideas for greening our community through re-use of vacant lots. The
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event allowed over 400 Pittsburgh residents to identify strengths, obstacles, and opportunities to working in vacant land. Following this, city officials, businesspeople, and organizations were asked how they could assist community members in resolving the vacant lot problem. Further progress was made by a group of graduate students at the Heinz School of Public Policy, who investigated the issue of vacant lots in Pittsburgh at the request of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Pittsburgh’s Vacant Property Working Group, and the UEC (of which PPC is a member organization). The recommendations
Second Annual Madcap Masquerade Enchants
Joshua Franzos
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amed one of Pittsburgh’s best parties by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for the second straight year, this year’s Madcap Masquerade thrilled guests with performances by Coz Serrapere as Dean Martin, the University of Pittsburgh Drum Line, Squonk Opera, and much more. Pittsburgh Metropolitan Magazine once again sponsored a dazzling fashion show that showcased two dozen talented local designers. UPMC Health Plan was presenting sponsor for the event. Remember, it’s not too early to make plans for the next Madcap Masquerade, set for October 27, 2007!
Mary Jane Bent
Above, clockwise from left: Lisa Herring, Michelle Leibow, Ron Leibow, and N. Woody Herring displayed the many faces of Andy Warhol. Left: Lynn Davenport, Caryn Rubinoff, Craig Dunham, and Ron Davenport combined masked flair with the nostalgia of Sonny and Cher.
included a pilot program to reclaim vacant lots, the hiring of a Clean and Green Coordinator, use of a handbook to teach citizens how to revitalize nearby vacant lots, and better use of existing City resources to more effectively manage land. Every year, 200 new vacant lots become available in Pittsburgh. How will this land be used--urban farms, new parks, green homes, stormwater abatement? Attendees of the Pittsburgh Green Forum have taken a first step toward making wise decisions about the future of the land. To learn more, visit http://itclass. heinz.cmu.edu/greenlots/Publications.htm.
PPC Celebrates Ten Years of Parks Restoration and Renewal
Chelsea Bodamer
By Erin Copeland
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy celebrated its ten-year anniversary on December 12, 2006 with a holiday open house at the Schenley Park Visitor Center. To honor the occasion, Councilman Bill Peduto proclaimed December 12 “Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Day” in the City of Pittsburgh. Councilman Peduto is pictured with PPC Board Chair Richard Reed (left) and President Meg Cheever at the open house.
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Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Newsletter
Parks Serve as Outdoor Laboratories for PPC and Partners ittsburgh’s parks are great open spaces, places for solitude, arenas for fitness, and gathering spaces. But one thing park users may not realize is that they also serve as excellent outdoor laboratories for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, the City of Pittsburgh, and other partners. Among current investigations taking place in the parks is the City of Pittsburgh’s Natural Areas Study. The City has enlisted Biohabitats as a consultant and will be accelerating the study’s pace now that additional funding has been secured. Dan Sentz, Environmental Planner for the City of Pittsburgh, said, “The study will provide baseline conditions of the natural areas, identify issues affecting such natural areas in an urban context, and make management recommendations.” Public meetings are expected to take place later in the year.
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Above: Panther Hollow Lake; right, CMU student Alan Eaton uses a test kit to measure the lake’s E. Coli levels.
The PPC is currently examining Schenley Park’s Panther Hollow Watershed in preparation for future restoration efforts. The watershed has been impacted by invasive plants, urban stormwater runoff, and soil erosion. In spite of this, there are sections of intact wetlands, forests, streams, and wildlife populations. PPC staff, Department of Public Works crews, and volunteers will be working to foster less impaired sections and restore the rest of the watershed. The PPC has been completing natural areas restoration in all of the parks and improving its methods with each successive project. Moving forward with this trend, PPC has engaged Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in a research project that includes the pre-restoration assessment of the Panther Hollow Watershed. In summer 2006, as part of a collaborative research effort in Panther Hollow Watershed, a team of graduate and undergraduate students from CMU conducted a water quality survey in Schenley Park. They were part of the Water Quest Program, led by Dr. Jeanne VanBriesen. The team’s project had three main goals: to determine the consistency and applicability of E. Coli test kits used by volunteer groups across the country, to engage undergraduate students in research and hear about their experiences, and to quantify and establish the sources of E. Coli in Phipps Run, Panther Hollow Run and Panther Hollow Lake in Schenley Park. Between June and July 2006, the team took five samples each month from 22 locations within the two streams and lake in
a variety of weather conditions. The team found two water quality problems: high E. Coli levels and low dissolved oxygen levels. Urban stormwater runoff contributes to high E. Coli levels and may contribute to the decreased dissolved oxygen levels. With this information, we can design our stream restoration to infiltrate urban runoff where possible and increase stream and lake water oxygen. At the PPC, we will continue to foster academic partnerships and promote the parks as outdoor laboratories through opportunities such as multiple-year or semester-long classes, field sessions, and individual internships. In addition to the CMU partnership, we are also working with a University of Pittsburgh engineering class and a Chatham College environmental writing class. A partnership is also being explored with the University of Pittsburgh Department of Geology and Planetary Science. The parks hold many opportunities for future investigation, including invasive species impacts on soil chemistry, urban effects on water bodies, many different fauna and floral surveys, and so much more.
New Development Coordinator Joins PPC n February, Lisa Conti joined the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy as the new Development Coordinator. Lisa will be responsible for continuing the PPC’s fundraising efforts and helping to grow the organization’s funding base. In addition, she will also be assisting with coordinating special events such as the upcoming Spring Hat Luncheon. A lifelong resident of Ambridge, Pennsylvania, Lisa obtained her BS in Business Management from West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV. Prior to joining the PPC, she worked for ten years at Mercy Hospital. In this role, she focused on building individual gifts for the Mercy
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Foundation. In her spare time, Lisa volunteers with Pittsburgh Cares. She loves the outdoors and enjoys walking, bird-watching, and flower and vegetable gardening. Her belief that outdoor recreational areas should be well-cared-for and preserved was part of what attracted her to her new job at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. “I am looking forward to learning in greater detail about the PPC and its projects and to getting to know our donors,” Lisa said. “I’m happy to be part of an organization that’s working to preserve our natural areas.”
Melissa McMasters
By Melissa McMasters
Meenah Park
By Erin Copeland
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Newsletter
Interview with Mayor Luke Ravenstahl
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By Melissa McMasters
conserved in perpetuity by deed restriction because of its site conditions. It includes soil testing and mitigation strategies based on the site conditions. Also, for the first time ever, the city is developing its own Hazard Mitigation Plan for FEMA, which outlines landslide-prone, steep slope, and flood areas, so that, once again, we can work to protect these areas and ensure, through deed restrictions, that certain green areas of the city remain protected. In addition, we are supporting the efforts of the Mount Washington Community Development Corporation to incorporate 280 acres of land into a park system.
ittsburgh’s new mayor, Luke Ravenstahl, is a lifelong North Side resident who grew up near Riverview Park. The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy asked Mayor Ravenstahl about his views on the opportunities and challenges facing Pittsburgh’s park system.
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Melissa McMasters
What do you hope to accomplish for Pittsburgh’s parks during your term? My vision is to ensure that parks are not just invested in and restored, but that we engage the people of the city to use them by developing more user-friendly programs and activities. Specifically, we will make sure that children of all ages have a reason to go to a park, for sports, recreational activities, or to play. We must refocus our resources to restore a healthy quality of life for everyone in Pittsburgh.
What are your views on consolidating the city and county In November 2006, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl attended a ceremony in which the parks systems? steeple was reattached to the Riverview Park Chapel Shelter. Pictured are County I was just in Chicago and was very Chief Executive Dan Onorato, Councilwoman Darlene Harris, Rep. Don Walko, impressed with how they created a PPC President Meg Cheever, and Mayor Ravenstahl. “Parks District,” which allows for us unique. This has been well studied and the operation and capitalization of park space documented, but it’s also just common sense. regardless of the city budget. In effect for 100 What do you see as some of the major Living and working close to a park, library, years, their model has convinced me that we challenges facing the parks? trail, recreation center or playground improves should move toward that sort of dedicated tax Funding is the easy answer. But the major property values and overall quality of life. revenue system so that not just large parks are challenge is getting all involved – the agencies, nonprofits, our institutions in medicine and funded, but community pools, recreation Are there any plans underway to make education – to work collaboratively to create centers, and trails as well. I am willing to great plans. By working with organizations like Pittsburgh a place where green space and partner with any governmental entity if it fur[the PPC], we can continue to create great plans environmental stewardship are emphasized? thers our mission to build the best parks system Our Green Vacant Property initiative is a to secure funding. We also must find a balance in the country and saves taxpayers money. comprehensive plan to manage both green between the nostalgia of the era of great parks spaces and vacant lots in the city and to actively Does any park have special meaning for you? and the activities of youth of today. work in partnership with stewards of these Riverview Park is my favorite because it’s properties. It also includes and calls for the where I grew up and have many fond memories Do you see parks as an economic benefit? acquisition of green space, which should be Of course! Our parks are amenities that make of time spent there.
Remember the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy in Your Will or Trust
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Staff Meg Cheever President and CEO
Lisa Conti Development Coordinator
Debbie Beck Chief Financial Officer
Erin Copeland Restoration Ecologist
Philip J. Gruszka Director of Park Management and Maintenance Policies
Melissa McMasters Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Roy E. Lenhardt Development Director
Jake Milofsky Field Ecologist
Beth Bodamer Administrative Assistant
Amy Ripley Grants Writer
Joyce Collier Membership Assistant
Gudrun Wells Volunteer Education Coordinator
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy 2000 Technology Drive, Suite 300 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-682-PARK (7275) www.pittsburghparks.org
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s mission is to preserve, protect, renew and restore the great parks of the City of Pittsburgh. Through PPC’s work, the parks will remain beautiful and useable spaces for generations to come. 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 planned giving. To learn more about how you can support the PPC through planned giving, contact our office at 412-682-7275.
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 taxdeductible 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.
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Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Newsletter
Non-Profit Org. U S POSTAGE
P A I D PITTSBURGH, PA PERMIT NO 4906
Online Innovations Create New Ways to Support Parks or the first time, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is accepting recurring donations securely online at its website, www.pittsburghparks.org. Now you can automate your gift to the PPC by choosing an amount to donate at certain intervals and having your donation automatically charged to your credit card.
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With so much to search for, the money can add up quickly, so spread the word! And because GoodSearch is powered by Yahoo!, you get great results.
Here’s how it works: 1. Visit www.pittsburghparks.org and click “Donate Now.” 2. Select “Set up a recurring donation online.” 3. Choose the amount you would like to donate at each interval (ex: $5 monthly would add up to an annual contribution of $60). 4. Choose the interval of your donation. 5. Choose the length of your donation period (up to three years). 6. Enter billing information, and click “Submit.” 7. Your account will be automatically charged the amount you selected at each interval. You can stop your recurring donation at any time by Online giving opportunities are just a click away. contacting PPC at 412-682-7275. To start using GoodSearch: 1. Go to http://www.goodsearch.com. In addition, two websites are giving Internet 2. Type “Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy” in the users a unique opportunity to support the PPC “Who do you GoodSearch for?” box and click by performing everyday activities—without “Verify.” spending any extra money. 3. Type in your search criteria in the “Search the Web” box. GoodSearch.com How many times a day do you Note: If cookies are enabled in your browser, use an Internet search engine? then you will only have to type in “Pittsburgh By using GoodSearch.com, you can make each Parks Conservancy” the first time you visit the search count. For every search conducted, site. To learn about enabling cookies, visit GoodSearch donates a penny to the PPC and sends a check annually for the total amount. http://www.goodsearch.com/Cookies.aspx.
Giveline.com
Melissa McMasters
By Melissa McMasters
Giveline.com allows you to turn every shopping trip into a donation opportunity. Purchases you would have made anyway—including electronics, music, and over one million other items—now translate into dollars for the PPC. For every purchase made, Giveline will contribute an average 16% of revenues directly to the PPC—sometimes up to 33%! When you select an item, you can even see exactly how much Giveline will donate. There are two ways to sign up: 1. To automatically list PPC as the recipient of funds, go to the following website: www.giveline.com/default.asp?v=V034941274 2. Go to http:///www.giveline.com and click “Select” in the brown “Charity Center” tab located at the top right of the page. In the “Charity Name” box, type “Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy.” Click “Search Now.” When Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy comes up as an option, click “Select Charity.” Now you can begin shopping!
Kerry Gaydos
By Melissa McMasters
Urban EcoSteward Peter Greninger waters native plants on the slope in his plot in Schenley Park in summer 2006.
ow much difference can 67 people make in Pittsburgh’s four regional parks, which together make up over 1,700 acres of land? As part of the Urban EcoSteward program, these committed volunteers are able to completely transform a parcel of parkland over time. In 2006 alone, 67 Urban EcoStewards worked a total of 1,900 hours in the parks, giving dedicated care to 50 acres of land. The Urban EcoSteward program is coordinated jointly by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, the Frick Environmental Center, and the Nine Mile Run Watershed, with support from the City of Pittsburgh’s Partners in Parks and the Student Conservation Association. The volunteers’ efforts were partially funded by a generous
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grant of $5,000 from REI, a recreational and Since the program’s inception in 2004, the sporting goods retailer located in the SouthSide number of EcoStewards has more than doubled, Works, and by businesses like Whole Foods. and the time spent on the sites has increased The ability to take ownership of a piece of the dramatically, from about 330 hours the first year parks was part of what attracted Peter Greninger to 1,900 this year. to the program. When he began working in the Greninger hails the program as a way for canopy gap area near Schenley Park’s Bartlett individuals to make a big difference in their playground last year, the entire area was overpublic spaces. “A little bit of effort can bring an run with invasive porcelainberry vine. With the essentially devastated landscape back to its help of PPC staff and numerous volunteers from natural beauty,” he said. REI, Greninger worked to clear the invasives If you would like more information about away and was surprised at what he uncovered. becoming an Urban EcoSteward, or about other “It was amazing to see that even underneath a volunteer opportunities with the Pittsburgh solid blanket of porcelainberry, there were so Parks Conservancy, call 412-682-7275 or visit many wildflowers,” he said. Greninger and his www.pittsburghparks.org and click on group found Solomon’s seal and Jack-in-the“Volunteer.” A list of 2007 training dates is also pulpit plants, along with two walnut trees that available on the website. were covered with the vines. The Urban EcoSteward program’s goal of building sustainable urban ecosystems through citizen stewardship is accomplished through a series of trainings held throughout the year on subjects such as invasive species identification and control, native seed collection, and erosion control. EcoStewards apply the knowledge from these trainings to at least three (but often many more) annual visits to their site, while also collecting data that monitors the results of the work they have done. This information is REI store manager Ron Rodriguez presents PPC’s reported to field coordinators, who can then track the long-term health of these natural areas. Gudrun Wells with a check to fund program activities.
Melissa McMasters
Urban EcoStewards Create Sustainable Parks Through Volunteerism