north promenade ribbon cutting at allegheny commons

On July 20, we recognized the completion of the Allegheny Commons Park North Promenade Rehabilitation Project with a ribbon-cutting event!

As the oldest public park in the City of Pittsburgh, the renovation of the space included the repaving of the historical 15-foot promenade, the planting of new trees, and the implementation of lights, benches, and trash receptacles throughout the path. The event included a speaker line-up of local leaders sharing their own personal connections to Allegheny Commons, followed by live music, strolling performers, vendors, and free cookies! 

Thank you to all who joined us for the event, and to our partners at the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny Commons Initiative, and the Northside Leadership Conference for helping to make this community event a success. 

Learn more about the North Promenade at Allegheny Commons here. 

"for the love of parks"

As part of our 25th anniversary, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is rolling out an exciting podcast titled, "For the Love of Parks." This series commemorates the past 25 years of park improvement, restoration, and enjoyment through unique stories told by the past and current members of the organization, local community leaders, and Pittsburghers that simply cherish their beloved green spaces. 

We'll be kicking off the launch of the podcast with a live listening event on Tuesday, August 31 starting at 6:00 P.M. In addition to a preview of the first episode, there will be free pizza from The Porch at Schenley, Millie's ice cream, free carousel rides, discounts at the nearby food kiosks, and lawn games! 

Register for Pizza and Podcast at the Plaza here!

summer at the square

In the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh lies beautiful Mellon Square, a place to sit back and relax on a sunny city day. Now through September, Mellon Square events are in full swing!

Stop by on Wednesday afternoons for lunch hour food specials provided by Talia, or join us at an upcoming Summer at the Square evening block party. There's fun for everyone at the Square, from games and activities to live music and more!

Click here to check out the full line-up of summer programming at Mellon Square! 

run around the square

Run Around the Square is back for 2021!

On Saturday, August 28, get ready for a family-friendly running (or walking!) event! Run Around the Square is one of Pittsburgh's largest races of the season, offering a 1.5-mile walk/run for kids and families as well as a more competitive 5K race. Friends and neighbors of all ages will make their way through Regent Square and Frick Park only to be greeted by a finish line party at the end! 

Proceeds from the race will benefit several community organizations, including the Parks Conservancy.

Click here for more information or to register.

save the date: making your parks shine

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is celebrating 25 years! Join us for various community celebrations on the evenings of October 1 and 2, 2021. Known as "Making Your Parks Shine," the weekend-long gatherings will honor our many volunteers, donors, supporters, and partners that have been imperative in improving your local parks. To mark the occasion, the Parks Conservancy, in partnership with LUXE Creative, will install dramatic, dynamic lighting installations at six park locations across the City of Pittsburgh.

Click here to get ready for this exciting event! 

celebrating supporter appreciation week

The week of July 19 marked Supporter Appreciation Week, and we had a blast celebrating each and every one of our volunteers, donors, and park visitors with our Supporter Appreciation Passport. 

The passport took visitors to some of our favorite park locations, such as the Teenie Harries art installation at August Wilson Park, Highland Park Reservoir, Mellon Park Walled Garden, and many more! To our supporters, we thank you for your dedication to your parks and hope you enjoyed your passport journey.

If you didn't get the opportunity to embark on your own park adventure, you can still visit the digital version of the passport here!

city parks: a one-stop escape

"My wife and I have lived next to Phillips Park in Carrick for 52 years and spent much time there with our kids and grandkids. Through the years my family has played all types of sports from softball to disc golf, basketball to tennis, and watched others compete. We have also enjoyed outdoor Shakespearean plays, attended shows and activities indoors, and participated in countless community events in the park. While Covid halted most group activities, I did my 'pandemic walks' around the park and often relaxed while appreciating the wonders of nature in the trees and wildlife." -Mike Woshner, Pittsburgh

Read Mike's full story here. 

stop the spread of the spotted lanternfly

The Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive species that has once again infiltrated the Pittsburgh region and several of the parks within it. This year, SLFs have been most prevalent in Allegheny Commons Park and Emerald View Park. The SLF feeds on plants such as grapevines, maples, black walnut, birch and willow, damaging or killing them. These plants have proved themselves vital to Pennsylvania's economy and wildlife, therefore we need to find ways to stop the spread of the SLF. 

You can join the effort to help stop to the spread by following simple steps such as reporting sightings, inspecting your surroundings before moving about quarantine locations, and complying with the SLF Quarantine Order. 

Learn more about how you can help here.