Our park restoration efforts are facing the mostserious financial challenge in the history of thePPC. The money shortfall facing the City ofPittsburgh is taking a toll on the 1,700 acres ofurban parkland that thousands of Pittsburghersenjoy every year.

By now you all know of the large-scale citylayoffs announced last summer, many of whichincluded important staff who worked on behalfof the parks. At that time, the four largest parks– Frick, Highland, Riverview and Schenley –remained relatively unscathed because of theirstatus as Allegheny Regional Asset District parks.

However the situation remains unsure. While it is impossible to overstatethe importance of the Allegheny Regional Asset District funding, in thebudget approved by City Council in January, the parks will be taking avery big hit.

First: The pools in Highland, Riverview and Schenley are slated to beclosed this summer, leaving thousands of children without a vital summertime activity.

Second: Popular events such as concerts, movies and running events are

in jeopardy. However, on a positive note, our Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy budget is

balanced. We are in good financial shape. And we at the PPC are open toworking with both city and county leaders to examine innovative ideas forcost-sharing for better parks.

But as a non-profit partner of the City of Pittsburgh we simply do nothave the current assets necessary to carry a much bigger load ourselves.We cannot save the parks alone.

In plain English: the future of our parks hangs in the balance.The antidote? If Pittsburgh is going to have these wonderful parks, then

our citizens must boldly step forward. First, we urge you to become advocates for parks. Tell your elected

official how much they mean to you. Second, we must all work together tosave our parks. So speak out for parks. Volunteer with the Pittsburgh ParksConservancy as an Urban Eco Steward and utilize your community organizations to join together to save our parks.

With spring around the corner I invite you to take a walk in one of ourgreat parks, experience the fresh air and take stock of what these importantnatural resources have to offer.

Letters To The Editor

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Page 2 Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Newsletter

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.

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Schenley PlazaParking Under Study

A parking study commissioned by theOakland Task Force and the AlleghenyConference Oakland InvestmentCommittee (and being overseen by theOakland Task Force Parking StudyCommittee) is underway. The studyhas found that closing the SchenleyPlaza lot results in the loss of 278spaces and will have minimal impacton visitors during weekday eveningsand weekends.

There is a need to address parkingduring the week between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. As part of the Plaza andRoadway design work, there will be110 new metered spaces added aroundSchenley Plaza for a total of 233metered spaces. In addition, the parking consultants have identified 178underutilized spaces that are regularlyavailable during the weekday peakperiod in private parking lots and on-street transient spaces and in institutional parking facilities.

The consultants have concluded thatthe underutilization of these other locations is largely because there areso few general public parking signs inOakland. As part of the next phase ofthe study, the consultants will bedeveloping a conceptual signage planto help the public find these spaces andexploring whether there are opportunities to maximize utilizationof some existing parking operations.

Ellen BrooksAllegheny Conference forCommunity Development

Desperate Times Call for Creative Measures

For some time now I have wanted to ask you aquestion regarding the changes planned for theentrance of Oakland, and in particular the plaza infront of the Carnegie Library. My family lives inOakland at the boarder of Shadyside and we arevery interested in the proposed planning as reported by the press.

First let me assure you that we are delighted withthe plans to beautify Oakland, as it is probably themost important part of Pittsburgh from an outsiderpoint of view. So many parents bring their students here, and so many patients come fromaround the world for care.

My question deals with parking. Why has not anunderground parking option been addressed? Somany large cities have created underground parking with planting at street level (as our ownMellon square.) The present use of the plaza forparking is rather horrible, but certainly indispensable. Will there be parking under theplaza in the plans to come?

In addition, for people with disabilities, it isalmost impossible to park and go to the library fora brief visit. Yet the Carnegie Library is one greatasset we should be able to access easily by car.

You are to be congratulated many times for thesuperb work you are doing for our Parks.

Colette Jousse WilkinsOakland

Editor’s Note: We are so glad you are delighted with the plans to

reclaim Schenley Plaza as a great public space.Underground parking is a wonderful idea.

Unfortunately when the team checked into it, itturned out to be quite cost-prohibitive because ofthe engineering challenges. The site is basically astream valley, which was filled in with rubble anddirt taken from the Grant Street hump. There iseven a bridge buried under the Mary Schenley

fountain. Estimates have run as high as $50,000 perspace to build underground parking!

With that possibility ruled out, plans have beenmade to increase the short-term on-street metered parking to 110 spaces. We’ve also checked withthe Oakland Task Force Parking Study Committee,which says that they’ve identified 178 underuti-lized spaces in private lots and institutional parking facilities that are regularly available during peak times. A plan is now being developedto maximize utilization of existing parking and tohelp the public find available spaces.

A Call to Citizens

The saga known as Pittsburgh's budget crisiscontains two lessons. First, if we don't do anything, then nothing will get done. We, in thiscase of parks and caretakers, means volunteers,parents, coaches, neighbors, teachers and citizens.We can fix this. And we must act to do so. Closedoutdoor pools and rec centers provide opportuni-ties for others to rise and meet the challenge.

Second, at the parks we teach our kids how toplay well with others. Parks and crossing guardswere the first to go and the hardest hit. Playingwell with the public and other agencies is key tothe City fixing our future. Though the oversightboard might straighten the budget and mend services, it will overlook the kids.

We must work among ourselves to care for thelittle ones and the teens. Grassroots efforts to better handle the places and programs where weall come to play are starting. All are welcome toopen community meetings on these issues.

Mark RauterkusMt. Washington

Mark Rauterkus is a member of the Mt.Washingtoncommunity club. If you are interested in partici-pating, contact Mark at Mark04@Rauterkus.com.

Schenley Plaza: The Parking Dilemma

The JapaneseKnotweedFestival will be

cooking up some fun onSaturday, April 10th inHighland Park. This festival, sponsored bythe WesternPennsylvania FieldInstitute (WPFI), willexplore ways to createculinary delights fromthe invasive speciesJapanese knotweed. Themenu will feature knotsoup, steamed knotweedsesame and apple knotweed pie.

Other activities will include educational discussions on the detrimentaleffects of invasive species and short hikes to harvest Japanese knotweedand sample other wild edibles.

Japanese knotweed is an herbaceous perennial and a member of thebuckwheat family. It is an aggressive, bushy plant that grows from 4 to 10feet in height and has triangular, pointed, leaves. The weed grows quickly,spreads underground, shades out native species, and steals valuableresources that results in reduced biodiversity in the parks.Once this invasive plant is established it is extremely difficult to control

and eradicate. Mary Beth Steisslinger, restoration coordinator ofPittsburgh Parks Conservancy, said Japanese knotweed “out-competesany native shrub and groundcover vegetation next to which it grows. Youcan practically watch it grow.”This plant, native to Asia, was introduced into North America in the late

nineteenth century. Japanese knotweed is now distributed throughoutmost of the eastern United States. In western Pennsylvania it is

predominately found on the edges of many islands in the Alleghenyand Ohio rivers and along creeks. Locally, this plant can be found inHighland Park.

“Speaking about eating raises awareness,” said WPFI program direc-tor Sean Brady. He said he hoped the festival would make park usersaware of the detrimental effect Japanese knotweed has on our parks.

The cost of admission is $10 for WPFI members, $12 for non-mem-bers, and kids are free. Participants can enjoy Highland Park’s manyamenities for families, including nature trails, the new babbling brook,a fishing pond, reservoir, and the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium.

The event will run from 2 to 5 p.m. Recipes by New York naturalistSteve Brill will be available. For more information and additionalactivities, visit Western Pennsylvania Field Institute’s website:www.wpfi.org or call 412.255.0564.

Pittsburghers who love gourmet food can now visit the SchenleyPark Visitor Center for fine fare in a beautiful park setting.In January, the Conservancy launched Gourmet in the Park, a

tasting series where guests mingled with top chefs, learned their culinary secrets and then feasted on gourmet samplings. The sold outseries proved to be a lively way to spend a few cold winter nights.

In addition, in February, Copper Pot Catering started serving newlunch options at the Visitor Center. New items include chicken caesarwraps, vegetarian asian salad, and hot entrees on Thursdays duringLectures with a View.

“The Schenley Park Visitor Center is now a destination for a terrificdining experience,” says Meg Cheever, president of the PittsburghParks Conservancy.

The Schenley Park Visitor Center – the second showcase project ofthe Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy – turned two years old in December2003. Since the grand opening in 2001, thousands of visitors haveflocked to the restored building to have lunch on the terrace, listen to alecture, shop for gift items or find park information. Many also enjoyprograms such as the docent-led walks through the parks or “tykehikes” led by the Western Pennsylvania Field Institute. After enjoying lunch, visitors can learn more about the park’s rich

cultural and environmental history by reading the many signs complet-ed by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy last year. The interior signsinclude a large set of historical park postcard images such as the grandcasino, band shell, racetrack and famed buried Bellefield Bridge withdetailed descriptions of the historic treasures.

The outdoor signs focus on the plants and animals of the park, whichwill help hikers identify the critters that inhabit the park.

The Visitor Center is available for rental for private parties, business

events, meetings, weddings and receptions. It is equipped with a state-of-the-art multi-media system including projector, screen and videosystem. A discount is available for non-profit meetings and the café isopen upon request.

The Visitor Center is open daily in the spring from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on the new food, Visitor Center events orfor rental questions, please call 412-687-1800 or visit our website atwww.pittsburghparks.org.

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(above) From left, JaneCitron, event chair, MichaelUricchio, Laforêt chef andMeg Cheever, PPC president, pose behind thechef station duringFebruary’s Gourmet in thePark tasting. (right) TheSchenley Park VisitorCenter celebrates its 2nd

anniversary.

SAVE 10 % OFF OF ANYSANDWICH, WRAP OR SALAD

TRY OUR NEW LUNCH MENU!!

Schenley Park Visitor Center Cafe101 Panther Hollow Road

Spring Hours: Daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Limit one coupon per customer, offer expires June 1, 2004

Feast of Invasive Plants “Knot” for Picky EatersBy Jillian Shoemaker

New Menus for Visitor CenterSecond Anniversary By Abbie Pauley

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Volunteers work to remove the invasive speciesJapanese knotweed. The invasive plant blankets thepark, shading out native plant species.

Page 4 Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Newsletter

Meet Bob LackiRiverview Park Foreman Reveals What Makes His Park Special Interview by Jessica Todarello

Bob is a 23-year veteran employee of Pittsburgh’s Public Works Department. In 1999he was promoted to Park Foreman of Riverview Park.

Q: What makes Riverview Park different from the other city parks?A: The Observatory is unique to Riverview. Also the overhanging trees along the loop roadhave grown to form a beautiful canopy that shades the road as it winds through the park.There is also horseback riding, which is not in any other parks.

Q: What are the biggest challenges facing Riverview Park?A: Vandalism is frustrating. Littering and illegal dumping is also a problem, especially after large events such as Cinema in the Park.

Q: What community groups are active in the park and what are their roles?A: The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, the Friends of Riverview Park, the Riverview Park Alliance and the Observatory Hill Inc. have helpedin maintaining the flower beds and trails and in keeping the park beautiful. They are also involved in Earth Day and the Day of Caring.

Q: What have the volunteer crews achieved in the last year?A: They have planted trees, installed trails, worked to control invasive species and helped with erosion control along the hillsides.

Q: How would a restored Chapel Shelter affect the use of the park?A: It will encourage more people to come into the park and use the restored facility.

Q: What is the most interesting historical fact about the park that the public doesn’t know? A: When my dad was younger, teenagers would go to Snyder’s Point, back then known as “Jinks Hill,” to hang out at the Roadhouse that wasthere. It was destroyed by a fire. He also said that a merry-go-round, at the site of the present day Activities Building, was a popular meetingplace. Guys, dressed up in suits and hats, would bring their dates on the weekends.

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Riverview Park Trail Maps Now Available

Adetailed map of Riverview Park highlighting the trails, pedestrian routes and park features is availablefor $2 at the Schenley Park Visitor Center and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy office. The map,which follows the publication of Schenley and Frick park maps, has been one of the most frequently

requested items from park users over the last five years. Staff of the PPC, local volunteers and members of the City of Pittsburgh worked for more than a year on the

Geographical Information Systems or GIS-based map, which includes the main amenities of Riverview Parkand all pedestrian routes and primary trails (with distances). The back of the map includes colorful photos andcontact information.

The Highland Park map, the final map to be completed, is in the works with an anticipated release of winter2004.

For a copy of the maps, call or visit the PPC offices (412.682.7275) at 2000 Technology Drive, Suite 300 orthe Schenley Park Visitor Center (412.687.1800) at 101 Panther Hollow Road.

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Historic walking tours of Schenley Park are running now throughOctober 17th. Visitor Center docents will lead walks at 1 p.m. onthe first and third Sundays of the month. Tours will include infor-mation on the history, sculpture and environment of the park. Thewalks are free and open to the public and reservations are notneeded. Meet in front of the Schenley Park Visitor Center. Call412.687.1800 or visit our website at www.pittsburghparks.org formore information. See you in the park!

Take Historic Walks In Schenley

Bob Lacki, foreman of Riverview Park, talks aboutRiverview Park’s famous loop road.

Commemorative TreePlantings ComfortF a m i l i e s o fL o s t L o v e dO n e sBy Jessica Todarello

This fall two families plantedtrees at the Schenley ParkVisitor Center in memory

of loved ones they have lost. Mary Rotunda and her husband,

Ross, used to enjoy going toPhipps Conservatory andBotanical Gardens to explore themany exhibits of flora and fauna.After her husband’s death, Marywanted to do something to keep her husband’s memory alive.

She contacted Phil Gruszka, director of Parks Managementand Maintenance at the Parks Conservancy, about planting treesat the Visitor Center. In November, three holly trees were plant-ed around the Visitor Center and dedicated to Ross Rotunda.

In 2003, Andy and Nancy Connolly suffered the stillbirth oftheir baby Henry. To cope with their loss they contacted theParks Conservancy to plant a tree at Visitor Center. In late-November, an oak tree was planted in the front lawn, and isnow affectionately named “Henry” in remembrance of theirbaby boy.

“We are comforted knowing that kind people will be lookingafter our little boy’s place of remembrance,” said NancyConnolly.

To donate a tree in memory of a loved one, contact PhilGruszka at 412.682.7275 ext. 219.

Page 5Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Newsletter

bringing these beasts to life. BillDeWalt, director of the CarnegieMuseum of Natural History, presentedDinosaurs in Their World – Buildinga First-Day Tourist Attraction forPittsburgh.

March 18th – Find out how Pittsburghis leading the country’s movement forgreen building design and what environmentally friendly projects arecurrently underway in Pittsburgh –The National Center of GreenBuilding, presented by Rebecca Flora, executive director of the GreenBuilding Alliance.

March 25th – Pittsburgh Voyager will present Experiential Education andWater Quality Trends on the Three Rivers. Jeff Jordan, education manag-er, will share the benefits of hands-on learning and the water quality trendsthat student studies have revealed in the past three years. Beth O'Toole, executive director, will discuss plans to expand Pittsburgh Voyager’s river-based educational program.

April 1st – Pittsburgh’s means of generating electric energy is inflicting seri-ous environmental damage in our area. Unfortunately saying “Abracadabra!”won’t fix the problem. Real-life ways we can help save valuable resourceswill be presented by Ann Gerace, executive director of ConservationConsultants, Inc., in A Little Bit of Magic: It Takes a Little Bit of Magicto Save Energy.

April 8th – The peregrine falcon is making a comeback in Pennsylvania, andCharles Bier, director of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s NaturalHeritage Program, will reveal Pittsburgh’s contribution to the cause inRecovery of the Endangered Peregrine Falcon: The PittsburghConnection.

Charles Bier, director of theWestern PennsylvaniaConservancy’s Natural HeritageProgram, talks about the return ofthe Peregrine Falcon on April 8.

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Pittsburgh ParksConservancy Days in the Parks

Take advantage of these opportunities to get outinto the park this spring. For more informationcall Bonny Kwolek, volunteer coordinator at412.682.7275 ext. 210 or check out our websiteat www.pittsburghparks.org.

March 19, April 2, and April 16Volunteer in Schenley Park with the Pitt Park Stewards and work on restoration projects, including invasive species removal and trail maintenance.

April 24Join with fellow Pittsburghers for The Great PA Cleanup and help restore Negley Run and Highland Park in honor of Earth Day.

June 5Learn more about invasive plants during the Non-native Invasive Plant Training in Lower Frick Park.

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Lectures Continuedfrom Page 1

Restoration in process, a bird’s-eye view: Highland Park Entry Garden.

Highland Restoration Work toBegin Again

Following a brief winter respite, the city will start work again on the restorationof the fountain in the Highland Park Entry Garden. Once the city completesits portion of the project, the Parks Conservancy will begin phase two, which

includes restoration of the garden and walkway around the fountain.

The oak tree planted in memory of Henry Connolly.

neighborhoods, the park, the zoo, and theAllegheny River Trail in ways that will enrichand enliven them all. The rebirth of Heth's Runis tremendously exciting,” said David Hance ofthe Highland Park Community DevelopmentCorporation, which is working with thePittsburgh Parks Conservancy and others tocarry out these improvements.

One of the more exciting parts of the plan is tocreate an access to the Allegheny River bybuilding pedestrian and bicycle trails, whichwould enhance the quality of life for those insurrounding neighborhoods and increaseHighland Park's recreational appeal.Constructing the link to the river would requireexcavating and removing enough of the fill currently under the bridge to create a ravinedeep enough to accommodate a trail.

Mayor Tom Murphy has proposed a designassistance team for the Heth's Run BridgeProject, including neighborhood groups, thePPC, representatives of the Pittsburgh Zoo, theCity's Planning Department, and the RiverlifeTask Force. PennDOT's preliminary plan hadcalled for a cost-effective but unadorned bridge,

with no provision for removal of thefill underneath. LandscapeArchitects LaQuatra Bonci, whoparticipated in the Regional ParksMaster Plan, are providing prelimi-nary elevations for the entire Heth'sRun project and a revised bridgeplan that is in keeping with thepark’s historical design.

Recently, due to fiscal problems,the city has started to search foralternative federal or state grants tofund the project. The ParksConservancy, assisted by theHighland Park CDC, has hiredLaQuatra Bonci to evaluate theoverall Heth's Run Plan. Currently,the bridge replacement is onPennDOT's schedule for spring, 2007. The landscape architecture firm Pashek Associates is designing the zoo’s improvements, which markthe first step in the process.

While the project start date is not immediatethis process illustrates the value of involving allstakeholders in the early stages of the project.“The design and funding process for

transportation projects has a huge impact onquality of life, and quality of environmentissues,” says David Hance. “Decisions made forroads and bridges affect all other projects thatfollow in their wake. [Heth's Run Bridge]makes the case that great things are possiblewhen all the players work together from thebeginning.”

Page 6 Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Newsletter

Remember the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy in Your Will or Trust

The PPC’s mission is to preserve, protect and restorethe great parks of the City of Pittsburgh and to edu-cate the public about them.

You can help support us in our mission by making giftsto the PPC during your lifetime or under the terms ofyour will through what is known as planned giving.

To learn more about how you can support the PPC, con-tact our office at 412-682-PARK.

We urge you to consult with your legal and financial advisors to assist you inarranging the best method of contributing. The PPC is tax-exempt under Section501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Service Code. Contributions to the PPC are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. A copy of the official registra-tion and financial information for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy may beobtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, withinPennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

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The Nine Mile Run WatershedAssociation (NMRWA) is working toimprove environmental awareness

within communities surrounding Frick Park.The NMRWA aims to involve the watershedcommunities—Edgewood, Swissvale,Wilkinsburg, and sections of the City ofPittsburgh—in the protection and restoration ofthe Nine Mile Run Watershed, which runsthrough Frick Park. The day-to-day activitiesof these communities directly affect the conditions of the park and stream.

To encourage non-environmental communitygroups such as church groups and communitydevelopment corporations to take part in urbanecology projects, the NMRWA is working inconjunction with the Urban EcologyCollaborative (UEC). The UEC is a multi-cityinitiative that helps to restore urban ecosystemsand trains community leaders to manage urbanresources.

Through a UEC designed project, NMRWAstaff and volunteers will conduct informalstreet interviews during the spring and summer

of this year that will asses community concerns. A series of forums planned for the fall will

focus on linking community concerns andurban environmental issues. Community-basedprojects such as tree plantings and vacant lotenhancements will be established. These projects will continue to improve environmental conditions in Nine Mile Runand Frick Park while also increasing the beautyand health of the surrounding communities.

Heth’s Run Continued from page 1

Check Out Our New Website!

The PPC has redesigned its website. Visit usat www.pittsburghparks.org and learn moreabout:

• Becoming a member of the PPC• Activities in the parks• Volunteer opportunities• Our projects• Park amenities• Educational programs• Event rentals at the Schenley

Park Visitor Center

Environmental Awareness Improving in Frick Park Communitiesby Jeff Bergman

Rendering of the future ball fields and riverfront access inHeth’s Run.

Teachers looking to introduce theirstudents to the environment are beinginvited to participate in a new

workshop this summer sponsored by thePittsburgh Parks Conservancy and otherpartner organizations.

The workshop will introduce teachers toFrick, Highland, Riverview and SchenleyParks. Participants will learn about the localenvironment, native wildlife and plantlife,and the importance of conservation. One ofthe workshop’s main goals is to teach partic-ipants to view the parks not just as a placefor relaxation or recreation, but as an acces-sible educational resource to be used toteach students about urban ecology.

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancylaunched the Summer Teaching Institute in1998 to help teachers utilize the parks as living laboratories. Teachers spent a weekstudying the ecology, park features and educational opportunities of the park. Morethan 75 teachers have attended the programto date, and have brought more than 1,100students to the parks for fieldtrips.

With funding from the Roy A. HuntFoundation, PNC Charitable Trust and theW. I. Patterson Charitable Fund, thePittsburgh Parks Conservancy continues toplay a leading role in this year’s new workshop.

The new program will include abroader range of local organizations andmore directly meet Pennsylvania environmental education standards.Today, the PPC is collaborating with theCarnegie Museum of Natural History,Conservation Consultants Inc., EarthForce, Frick Environmental Center andthe Pennsylvania Resource Council toprovide the Pittsburgh EnvironmentalTeaching Workshop. This effort is partof the Urban Ecology Collaborative, aninitiative to link partners in environ-mental restoration and education.

The workshop, which provides teachers with expertise on the environ-ment and knowledge of Pittsburgh’snatural resources, is designed forupper-elementary and middle-schoolteachers but will be beneficial to teachers ofall grades as the material is intended to beadapted for different skill levels.

Teachers will receive Act 48 credits forparticipating. The course curriculum will bestandards-based and focus on:

• Ecosystems and their interactions

• Humans and the environment

• Watersheds and wetlands

• Environmental health

• Renewable and nonrenewable resources

• Environmental laws and regulations

Another component will be the hands-onfield activities where teachers will learntechniques and ideas centered around urbanecology, built environments, resource conservation, composting, invasive speciesand biodiversity.

To learn how to participate in thePittsburgh Environmental TeachingWorkshop call the PPC at 412.682.7275.

Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Newsletter Page 7

Meg CheeverPresident and CEO

Fred ComunaleExecutive Vice PresidentChief Operating Officer

Abbie PauleyDirector of Institutional

Advancement

Philip J. GruszkaDirector of ParkManagement and

Maintenance Policies

Joanne Jamis CainDirector, Schenley Park

Visitor Center

Bonita KwolekMembership/Volunteer

Coordinator

Mary Beth SteisslingerRestoration Coordinator

Amy Ripley Projects Coordinator

Jessica TodarelloCommunications

Assistant

Alice EnzPublic Education and Programs

Assistant

Julie LeistnerAdministrative Assistant

Nancy FisherFinancial Assistant

Liz StyleDocent Coordinator

Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy

Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy2000 Technology Drive, Suite 300Pittsburgh, PA 15219412-682-PARK (7275)www.pittsburghparks.org

With the weather growing warmer, the Western PennsylvaniaField Institute weekly Walks in the Woods are set to begin.The walks, a partnership with the Pittsburgh Parks

Conservancy, will begin in May and continue through October. Join usfor this social outing where walks are led by docents familiar with parkhistory, activities, flora and fauna. The outings are casual, fun and educational – the perfect antidote to the workweek. Some hikes will beon uneven terrain with moderate difficulty. Contact the WPFI for furtherinformation at 412.255.0564.

WPFI Weekly Walks in theWoods Resume

When: Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.May 5th through October 27th

Where:

PPC and Partners Launch NewEnvironmental Teaching Workshop

By Abbie Pauley

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Teachers look on as entomologist Bill Toderodescribes the park insect population during aprevious summer teaching workshop.

1st Wed. Schenley Park, Visitor Center2nd Wed. Riverview Park, Observatory3rd Wed. Highland Park, Entrance at Highland Avenue4th Wed. Frick Park, Environmental Center5th Wed. Washington’s Landing (when applicable)

The two-day symposium, which wassponsored by the Pittsburgh ParksConservancy and Carnegie Mellon University,with support from the Grable Foundation and theCity of Pittsburgh, featured well-known authorand green design guru David Orr, professor andchair of the Environmental Studies Program atOberlin College in Ohio.

More than 300 people heard Orr’s views onhow government, industry and consumerism candamage environmental health in his keynoteaddress on the opening day of the symposium.He encouraged the university community to utilize its position as educators, academics and

activists to introduce young people to opportuni-ties that would lead to significant environmentalimprovements. At the symposium Orr outlinedhow Pittsburgh’s parks could become tools toincrease environmental awareness and education(see “Model,” opposite).

“Parks are more valuable to us now than everbefore,” he said. “We need to begin to create tangible responses to the world of science –responses that people can see, touch, feel andexperience. There are opportunities for parks tobe major educational assets.”

The possibility of utilizing one of Pittsburgh’sfour urban parks as a hub for anurban-ecological education program was proposed. The FrickEnvironmental Center, formerhome of the urban-park-basedenvironmental educational program, suffered extensive damage in a fire in 2002.

Orr urged the creation of a“self-sustaining” design structurein which a building is equippedto generate its own energy and bean on-site source of waste treatment.

For example, the EnvironmentalStudies Center at OberlinCollege, for which Orr raisedfunds and spearheaded, utilizes a“living machine,” a system of

Page 8 Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy NewsletterNon-Profit Org.U S POSTAGE

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In an era of suburban sprawl, risingpopulation and increased trans-portation use, David Orr, professor

and chair of Environmental Studies atOberlin College in Ohio, predicts theuse of parks will dramatically rise tosatisfy people’s need for open space.As keynote speaker and guest

panelist in a symposium addressing the development of an urban ecologicaleducation program in Pittsburgh, Orrproposed a new model of parks thatexpands their role to more than just arespite from the industrial and commercial grind.

According to Orr, we should strive tomake our parks:

Models of Ecological Design – “We need to raise the level of ecologi-cal mindfulness,” Orr said. Designingparks to work with, rather than against,the natural environment is a steptoward improving the effectiveness ofparks.

Models of Utilization for GreenBuildings – The ultimate goal of greenpark buildings should be self-sustainability, the ability to produce itsown primary energy source and meansof recycling waste.

Educational Centers – “Parks are away of raising our ecological I.Q.,”Orr said. Parks should exist as a living, tangible resource for ecologicaleducation and exploration.

Economic Anchors – The 1,700 acresof Pittsburgh parks are economic indicators of a standard of living.“Healthy parks are one of the bestsigns of healthy real estate value,” hesaid. “It’s where people want to be.”

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Nearly 60 local leaders met inJanuary to discuss ways thecity’s environmental groups can

collaborate in developing an urban-ecological education program and toexplore the idea of building a state-of-the-art green building for environmentaleducation in Frick Park.

In developing an urban-based environmental education program acrossthe city, participants agreed that top priorities should include:

• promotion of an urban ecology ethic• park stewardship• historic preservation• self-sustainable or green technology

David Orr Leads Ecology Symposium: Green Opportunities Ripe in Frick Park By Amy Ripley

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David Orr, Charlie Lord, and Patricia O’Donnell, principal, of Heritage Landscapes, fielded questionsfrom the audience.

water tanks, bacteria and plant life that recycles and purifies toilet water. The solar-paneled roof collects enough sunlight that the building uses virtually no outside electricity. The landscape around the Oberlin Center is designed as a self-sustaining ecosystem.

Participants stressed that environmental programming would need to tie into the building’s green features. Charlie Lord, guest panelist and director of the Urban Ecology Institute at Boston College, presented his successful programming model. Lord

explained how his organization weaves urban ecology field studies, animal behavioral studies and social ecology into existing public school curriculum for middle and high school students.

To date, the program has increased students’ self-confidence and civic leadership, Lord said. The students have a higher interest in science than students who follow the standard science curriculum, whose interest in science generally drops after having completed the standard curriculum.As part of the Urban Ecology Collaborative, Lord’s institute exchanges ideas between other regional city programs and organizations, including

many groups in Pittsburgh.

Orr Proposes NewModel of Parks

Charlie Lord and PPC staff member Amy Ripley listen toDavid Orr’s comments.