celebrating earth day all month long

At the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, every day is Earth Day! Celebrating Earth Day is something each one of us can do daily. And at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, we understand the importance of protecting and honoring the planet. In 2020, Pittsburgh's park use reached historic numbers, as more people than ever escaped to their parks and outdoor spaces for respite during the height of the pandemic.

Together, let's honor our planet and leave it better than we found it. Whether litter picking in the parks, participating in a virtual event, or supporting the Parks Conservancy by giving a gift to restore Pittsburgh's parks system to excellence, there's something for everyone to do this Earth Day...and every day!

Click here to explore our complete list of Earth Day events that are scheduled throughout April!

save the date: the return of picnic in your park   

We're thrilled to announce the return of Picnic in Your Park! This year, the event will take place on Sunday, June 6 in historic Schenley Park. In addition to delicious picnic baskets that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own backyard or in one of Pittsburgh’s wonderful parks, we will have a few extra surprises at this year’s pick-up location in Schenley Park. Stay tuned for exciting new details and how you can enjoy a beautiful picnic while also giving back to the parks that you know and love. Tickets are going on sale soon!

Join the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy virtually on April 7 or April 10, where you will have the opportunity to help shape year-long programming in the historic Allegheny Commons Park!

Northside neighbors can join this committee to help develop diversified programming in Allegheny Commons Park. This committee is open to the public.

At these meetings, Parks Conservancy staff will share a draft schedule of events and programs for the year and seek feedback from the committee. The proposed programming activities were developed from the feedback we have received at previous programming committee meetings.

Click here to register for the April 7 or the April 10 committee meeting!

The Allegheny Commons Programming Committee is generously supported by the Buhl Foundation. Thank you to our partners at the Allegheny Commons Initiative and the Northside Leadership Conference.

ride the beloved pnc carousel all season long 

The PNC Carousel in Schenley Plaza has a storied past and continues to be a gathering place for Pittsburghers and visitors worldwide. For the past 15 years, from April through October, visitors of all ages and abilities enjoy the carousel’s lively colors and old-fashioned pipe organ music as they spin around Schenley Plaza.

Create your lasting memories this spring and summer on the carousel by purchasing a season pass. Click here to order your pass today!

Our Visitor Experience team is keeping COVID-19 safety at the forefront of the PNC Carousel operations. 

Learn about how the team is keeping your family safe during your upcoming carousel visits by clicking here. 

Please note that all 2020 PNC Carousel Season Passes will be honored throughout the 2021 season.

beautify your zoom background   

Are you still stuck on endless amounts of Zoom meetings? 

Beautify your background with a pop of color!

Click here to download a selection of spring flower images.

Special thanks to John Altdorfer for taking these stunning photos at last year's Picnic in Your Park celebration! 

25 years of park improvements  

As we celebrate 25 years of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, we're reflecting upon our long-standing partnership with the City of Pittsburgh and the work we have accomplished together to restore Pittsburgh's park system to excellence.

And we're looking back on some of our most memorable projects to date. Click here to learn more about one of our most amazing transformations: the Highland Park Entry Garden. 

The Conservancy is honored to work alongside the City, local community members, and friends like you who support our neighborhood and park improvement projects year-round.

more than morels: spring mushroom webinar 

When most people think of spring mushrooms, their attention is entirely on the prized edible morel species found throughout the region. But there is a whole world of spring fungi beyond these precious morsels for the curious observer exploring a spring woodland. Join Naturalist Educator Stephen Bucklin to learn about some of the different species of fungi you might find on your next hike in Pittsburgh's parks.

25 things we love about pittsburgh's parks

"Over the last year, our family has turned to Pittsburgh's parks for so many reasons.

For a safe escape from our own four walls. 

For family time. 

For exercise. 

For mental health release. 

And frankly, just for some flat-out fun. 

We still have some parks we have yet to visit – and some trails on the ones we HAVE been to that we still need to explore – but in a year where so much felt like it was taken away from us, the memories we HAVE had over this last year while in nature’s presence has meant everything to us." 

Click here to continue reading about how your parks have been there for the Schmidt Family throughout the past year.

let's move at the parks 

Each pop up event will be centered around engaging the community and providing an opportunity for residents to get out of their house and visit their local park, safely.

This is a free event with lawn games and activities being led by various entities along with opportunities to simply walk, run or jog around your local park. Any and all are encouraged to stop by the events from 11:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. 

Click here for the complete list of dates and for more information.  

step into spring: enhance your park visits  

Pittsburgh's parks have something for everyone! From the rush of visiting a new playground to the thrill of exploring a new trail, parks are fun for people of all ages. 

So, where to begin? 

Click here to begin exploring. 

nature of place symposium

Join our friends at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens virtually from April 5 – 7 for the 2021 Nature of Place Symposium, "Wild Childhood."

This year, the symposium will focus on a conversation about how biophilia — the innate human connection to nature — impacts the most precious and vulnerable among us: children. For three days, you will explore the deep importance of how children significantly benefit from time in nature and how some children are deprived of this experience due to a variety of factors such as racial injustice and disability exclusion.

Click here for tickets.