Built for the Future: Accessible Park Spaces
For the Love of Parks
Featuring Ross Chapman, Parks Conservancy Chief of Operations, and Leah Northrop, parent and accessibility advocate, highlighting recent accessibility improvements like the new Sensory Nature Trail and what's ahead for creating more inclusive park spaces.
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The People Behind the Petals
For the Love of Parks
Get a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to keep our parks blooming all year round, from careful ecological planning to boots-on-the-ground morale. Learn why fostering relationships with park visitors is just as important as caring for park gardens and how you can have more of a green thumb in your own backyard. We hope you enjoy these notes from the garden.
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Hays Woods: From Coal Mines to Conservation – Part II
For the Love of Parks
Enjoy the exciting conclusion to the story of Pittsburgh's newest and wildest city park, diving deeper into its industrial past, ecological challenges, and the partnerships driving its restoration.
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Hays Woods: From Coal Mines to Conservation – Part I
For the Love of Parks
A sweeping introduction to Pittsburgh's newest and wildest city park, uncovering its industrial past, ecological challenges, and the partnerships driving its restoration.
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The Secret Life of Frick Park
For the Love of Parks
We’re counting down the top five most surprising and interesting things about Pittsburgh's largest regional park. Loved by hikers, bikers, birders, and nature lovers of all ages, Frick Park is also home to the Frick Environmental Center. Throughout this episode, you'll also hear Pittsburghers' reflections about the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse.
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A Work in Progress: Lawrenceville's Arsenal Park
For the Love of Parks
Arsenal Park is a place where solemnity and joy sit side by side. It was the site of the largest single loss of civilian life during the Civil War. 78 people were killed - most were women and children. And even though some of the historical structures from that time remain, many who use the park today have no idea about its history. The tragedy that happened there has been overshadowed by new memories. That’s something a park is particularly good at – creating new stories. For the past seven years, the citizens of Lawrenceville have been engaged in a master plan for their...
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Landslides, Deer, Crazy Jumping Worms, Vines: The Ecological Threats Facing Riverview Park
For the Love of Parks
We are back in Riverview Park for this episode and the story we want to tell this time is about the very serious ecological threats facing many of our city parks, especially this one. Any geologist will tell you that the geology of Pittsburgh, and especially Riverview Park, is unstable shale. That makes conditions even more favorable than usual for landslides. But there are many other ecological threats facing Riverview. And we’re going to hear about those from Robin Eng, the Ecological Project Manager for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Robin was born and raised in the Pittsburgh...
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BONUS EPISODE: Back to the Beginning
For the Love of Parks
We are hard at work on the next few episodes (did you hear about the bridge collapse?). In the meantime, please listen back to our very first episode to hear how it all began. The Parks Conservancy might feel like an institution today, but in many ways, we are still a grassroots organization full of dedicated volunteers. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, learn the origin story of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and how one woman's idea led to a unique public-interest partnership that has changed Pittsburgh in so many positive ways.
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The Finest Breathing Room in the City
For the Love of Parks
The reservoir at Highland Park was built in 1879, and the park was officially created around it about 20 years later. It was the brainchild of Edward Bigelow, Pittsburgh’s first Director of Public Works, who called it the 'finest breathing room in the city.' On any given day, you will meet people there from all over the region. And one of the reasons it is such a popular place for walking is because of the reservoir - there’s just something about being in the sight of water that draws people in. But this reservoir - there’s a story there.
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McKinley Park: Community is Key
For the Love of Parks
McKinley Park is one of the oldest parks in Pittsburgh. As far back as people can remember, McKinley has been the backdrop of picnics, fish frys, family reunions, parades, concerts and childhood memories. In contrast to how large McKinley Park looms in the lives of community members, a lot of Pittsburghers have never even heard of it. And in some ways, people on the Hilltop feel forgotten.
info_outlineMcKinley Park is one of the oldest parks in Pittsburgh. As far back as people can remember, McKinley has been the backdrop of picnics, fish frys, family reunions, parades, concerts and childhood memories. In contrast to how large McKinley Park looms in the lives of community members, a lot of Pittsburghers have never even heard of it. And in some ways, people on the Hilltop feel forgotten.