Thank you volunteers!
October was a busy month for park plantings.
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Volunteers from JP Morgan Chase helped plant 500 trees in a riparian (streamside) area in Hartwood Acres. These trees will help manage storm water, improve wildlife habitat and enhance stream water quality. Other helpers were from the Allegheny County Parks staff, rangers, landscape architects, the Allegheny County Conservation District and staff from the Parks Foundation. This planting was funded by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Allegheny County.
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Alcoa Corporation volunteers assisted rangers in planting trees near the ski slopes at Boyce Park. They planted large trees measuring 8- to 12-feet to enhance the landscaping around the Ski Lodge entrance and in an island that separates the two slopes. The species are White Pine, Quaking Aspen, Larch and River Birch. |
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This little guy tagged along at the Boyce Park tree planting at the Celebration Meadow off Pierson Run Road. Praying mantis are very beneficial to the park's ecology because they eat larger insects including beetles, grasshoppers, crickets and other pests.
He was joined by other volunteers including rangers and landscape architects from Allegheny County Parks and Parks Foundation staff. The crew planted 175 trees, which were funded by donor Kevin Lhota of Plum and Allegheny County.
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As the giving season approaches, please Save the Date - December 1 - for Giving Tuesday. Thanks to a generous donor, the Parks Foundation will be matching all gifts made on that day up to $5,000. Help us reach our goal of $10,000 to help improve, conserve and restore our nine Allegheny County parks!
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White Oak Park and Round Hill Park
ecological assessments advance
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Water Oak in White Oak Park |
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The Parks Foundation is partnering with Western Pennsylvania Conservancy on ecological assessments in two parks, White Oak and Round Hill. These detailed studies of a park's ecological features and vulnerabilities are useful tools. They identify factors that make each park unique and point to improvements that can be made. The Parks Foundation uses these assessments to raise funds to increase tree canopies, shore up stream banks to prevent erosion and turn mowed lawns to meadows to attract pollinators and absorb storm water. WPC has completed initial studies of both parks and will return in the spring to complete their observations. Both studies are expected to be finalized in late 2021 and will be made available to the public. A grant from the Benedum Foundation is funding both assessments.
This rare Water Oak was observed on a visit to White Oak. This species is not typically found in our region, so this one has a story to tell.
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Reflections from the
"Explore Your Parks Adventure Challenge"
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P3R launched a unique challenge in October with the support of FedEx: walk, run, hike or bike at least three miles in all nine Allegheny County Parks during the month of October. More than 60 people signed up for this self-guided challenge.
The Parks Foundation was thrilled because in addition to getting more people to explore the parks, P3R and FedEx are donating 50% of net proceeds to the Parks Foundation's Tree Fund, which plants new trees in all nine parks. Thanks to everyone who participated!
Enjoy these notes from the trail!
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Alicia and Zach Wicks of Shaler |
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"We were planning to run the Pittsburgh half marathon this year before the pandemic. I would like to say that we continued our training after the shutdowns but we found it hard to practice social distancing and running while pushing our three-year-old Lochlin in a stroller. This Parks challenge was just the kick in the butt we needed. Alicia has never been a fan of trail runs but she’s loved exploring all of the trails that the county parks have to offer. We made it a point to run on trails we’ve never explored before. We have one park left - Round Hill - which we saved for last so we could take Lochlin with us. Here’s hoping we have a future runner," Zach said. |
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An Instagram post from a happy hiker at Hartwood Acres Park. |
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Shuster of Edgewood at Harrison Hills Park |
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"If you're not the lead dog, the view never changes," Shuster said. |
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Changes galore at the Sculpture Garden at Hartwood Acres
and a Call for Artists!
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Large Escargot, David Hayes, 1982
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Autumn has been a busy time at the Sculpture Garden at Hartwood Acres Park. Many of the sculptures have now taken their permanent place in the evolving art site, owing in large part to the favorable, dry weather conditions and to excellent conservators who kept to a prompt schedule.
Large Escargot, a David Hayes steel piece erected in 1982 was among several sculptures conserved at the McKay Lodge Conservation Laboratory in Ohio and was recently shipped back to Hartwood Acres. It is on permanent display on a new concrete pad on the Middle Road side of the park. Visitors are also encouraged to watch the emerging sculpture garden as it progresses from the Saxonburg Blvd. side of the park.
An exciting feature of this re-imagined space will be the addition of a new commission. The Parks Foundation is calling artists to submit proposals for a large-scale piece to be added to this historic collection.
This project is made possible in part by the RADical ImPAct Grant program, which was launched in celebration of the Allegheny Regional Asset District’s 25th anniversary with the intention of funding bold, forward-looking, creative projects that will have a radical impact on the region.
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Thank you to our 2020 Park Sponsors for
their continued support!
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As the 2020 Campaign for the Allegheny County Parks comes to a close, the Parks Foundation proudly recognizes our generous individual donors and partners who helped us raise more than $275,000 to improve, conserve and restore all nine parks. We are grateful for their support as we refocused our signature fundraising gala to a campaign that directly supports the parks. Their help was essential, as more visitors turned to the parks this year than ever before. Funds raised during this campaign will finance improvements throughout the year.
We are always grateful for your support.
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Parks Advocate
Burns White LLC
J.P.Morgan Private Bank
Mascaro Construction
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Parks Fan
AECOM
ALCOSAN
Clearview Federal Credit Union
Dentons Cohen & Grigsby P.C.
Eat'n Park Hospitality Group
Ernst Conservation Seeds
Gateway Engineers
Hill International
I.B.E.W. Local Union #5
KeyBank
9Rooftops
SSM Industries
The Heinz Endowments
The Pittsburgh Foundation
Wade Trim
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Honor voting rights this November |
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George Grantham Bain Collection |
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The Suffragist Grove in Hartwood Acres honors those who fought for the passage of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote 100 years ago. This park was selected because Mary Flinn Lawrence, who owned the mansion with her husband before it was acquired by Allegheny County, had a long history of advocating for women's voting rights.
The inspiration to plant this stand of trees rose from the history of the movement. Following their release from jail, activists were encouraged to plant trees as part of their healing process. This grove, which was inaugurated with one ceremonial Tulip Poplar tree, will continue to receive trees as additional funds are raised. Visit the site in the vicinity of the parking lot just beyond the mansion's Great Lawn and look for an interpretive sign.
Suffragist Grove is a joint project of Allegheny County and the Allegheny County Parks Foundation. For more information about contributing to this project, email us at info@acparksfoundation.org or call 724.327.7627.
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Consider a monthly donation to your parks. |
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As this unusual year winds down, the moments that have helped us manage the twists and turns gain prominence. If you leaned on the Allegheny County Parks to help navigate these extraordinary times, please consider a monthly donation in 2021.
Monthly giving is simple, automatic, and easier on the wallet! $5 a month becomes $60 at the end of year - that's about one specialty cup of coffee. $10 becomes $120 - that's cheaper than a Netflix subscription! Whatever amount you're able to give, just know that you are making our parks a better place to be enjoyed by all.
Start your monthly donation today.
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Black Friday is coming!
Remember the Parks Foundation.
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Whenever you make a purchase on Amazon Smile, select the Allegheny County Parks Foundation as your charity recipient. At no cost to you, the AmazonSmile Foundation will make a donation to the Parks Foundation! It's a simple click away.
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Boyce Park | Deer Lakes Park | Harrison Hills Park | Hartwood Acres Park
North Park | Round Hill Park | Settlers Cabin Park | South Park | White Oak Park
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Allegheny County Parks Foundation | 675 Old Frankstown Road | Pittsburgh, PA 15239
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