winter 2008 - the voice

On October 12, 2007, the PittsburghParks Conservancy celebrated thesuccessful conclusion of its

capital campaign, A CommunityPartnership for the Renaissance ofPittsburgh’s Great Parks, by hosting adinner at the Pittsburgh Golf Club. PPCwishes to extend an enormous thanks tothe over 6,000 donors who contributed.The campaign began January 1, 2003 witha goal of $27 million and concludedSeptember 30, 2007 with a total of $30.2million raised. The Parks Conservancyexceeded its goal by 12%!

The campaign succeeded in large partbecause of the leadership and vision of itsco-chairs, George C. Greer, Chairman ofthe Eden Hall Foundation, and James E.Rohr, Chairman and CEO of The PNCFinancial Services Group, who recognizedthe vital role parks play in our region’s quality of life.Thousands of contributions during this campaign fundedsix major capital projects and many park programs.

“It has been a privilege to co-chair this campaignwhich has done so much for our city,” said Rohr. “Weapplaud the commitment to quality that the PittsburghParks Conservancy and the City have shown in thisrestoration work. Its value is reflected in the increasednumbers of people using our parks.”

“Parks are critical to quality of life,” added Greer.

“Our foundation and other funders have been pleased tobe a part of the strategic approach to revitalizing theparks which the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and theCity have adopted. Their commitment to excellence isobvious and demonstrated.”

Again, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy would like tothank every donor who supported this campaign, whichhas made a substantial difference in the quality of ourcommunity’s free park spaces.

Below you will find photographs of some of the manyprojects made possible by funds raised in the campaign.

Restoring Pittsburgh’s Great City Parks and Public Green Space Winter 2008

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Curator of Parks Hired

Madcap Masquerade

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International UrbanParks Conference

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Capital Campaign Goal Exceeded by $3 MillionBy Lisa Conti

Capital campaign co-chairs George Greer (left) and Jim Rohr (right) are pictured withPPC President Meg Cheever and board member Audrey Hillman Fisher at the Octobercapital campaign celebration dinner.

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New Trees Planted inCanopy Gaps

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The restored Entry Garden provides a beautiful and invitingsetting for visitors to Highland Park.

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Top: The Riverview Chapel Shelter’s steeple and dormers were restored.Bottom: Donors honor loved ones in Schenley Plaza’s garden rooms.

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What can park managers, advocates,volunteers, funders, and electedofficials expect when they arrive in

Pittsburgh for the 2008 International Urban ParksConference this September? Visit the conferencewebsite at www.urbanparks08.org to learn aboutwhat’s in store and why Pittsburgh’s park systemis setting an example to parks leaders around theworld. Sign up to be notified when onlineregistration becomes available so you can takeadvantage of early bird prices through May 1,2008. You can also learn more about theconference program, book accommodations at aspecial rate, and join our e-mail list to receiveupdates about conference activities.

Body and Soul: Parks and the Health of GreatCities is presented by the Pittsburgh ParksConservancy in association with the City ofPittsburgh and our national partners, the CityParks Alliance and the National Association for

Olmsted Parks.In addition to cutting-edge

ideas about how parks canstrengthen a city and itspeople, a schedule ofexciting events is takingshape, including:

- Keynote addresses byTeresa Heinz, co-author ofThis Moment on Earth:Today’s New Environmentalistsand Their Vision for theFuture; Luis GardenAcosta, human rights and environmental justiceadvocate; and Richard Louv, author of LastChild in the Woods: Saving Our Children FromNature-Deficit Disorder (made possible by a grantfrom the Garden Club of Allegheny County)- Pre-conference activities including a tour ofFrank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, a visit to the

Olmsted-designed town of Vandergrift, akayak excursion on the Allegheny River,and a workshop on historic landscape maintenance- Tours of many of Pittsburgh’s “green” features, including green buildings, river-front redevelopments, and the newlyreconstructed Point State Park- Mobile workshops outlining successstories in Pittsburgh’s great parks

To become a conference sponsor, contact Roy Lenhardt at 412-682-7275;to become an exhibitor, contact HelenGoodman at 412-521-6663.

Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Newsletter

Dear Friend of Pittsburgh Parks,----Our non-profit organization hasjust celebrated eleven years in

business. We have raised over $37 millionsince we were incorporated in December of1996. More than $30 million of that totalhas come through our just-completed capitalcampaign, A Community Partnership for theRenaissance of Pittsburgh’s Great Parks, co-chaired by George Greer and Jim Rohr (seepage one).

I hope you’ll agree that we have accomplished a lot over these past years —forging a working partnership with the city,

jointly completing a master plan to renew the city’s four largest parks,and then completing a first round of capital improvements to the parksaccording to the plan. Among the notable projects are: Schenley Plaza,including the PNC Carousel; the Schenley Park Visitor Center; thePhipps Run Trail corridor in Schenley Park; the Highland Park EntryGarden; the Highland Park Babbling Brook; the Frick ReynoldsEntrance restoration; and the 99% complete Riverview Chapel Shelterand Landscape Restoration in Riverview Park. We’ve also proudlyplanted over 10,000 new park trees.

We have worked with the city, with you, our community of parklovers, and with many institutional partners to develop a strong volunteer effort in the parks and to produce educational and recreationalprogramming. Some of the most popular programs have been

BioBlitzes, Landscape Exploration programs, movie nights, lunchtimeconcerts, and the UPMC Health Plan Healthy Living Lecture Series, toname a few.

But our organization is still searching for financial sustainability.Unlike the Zoo, Phipps Conservatory, and the Aviary — or even the cityand county parks — we receive no Allegheny Regional Asset District(ARAD) funding. We have applied three times for ARAD but havealways been turned down. So the way we stay in business and continueimproving the parks is through foundation and government grants, corporate support, special events, and your generous individual gifts.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Mayor Ravenstahl and theCity of Pittsburgh for being enthusiastic partners in the cause of parksrestoration. We deeply appreciate all of the donors and friends of thePittsburgh Parks Conservancy who have made it possible for us to continue working to improve Pittsburgh’s Great Parks. You have made agenuine contribution to the health of our community.

And we ask for your continued support in 2008. We plan to carry onour conservation and restoration work throughout the parks. We willalso host the International Urban Parks Conference, Body & Soul:Parks and the Health of Great Cities, in September. We expect 350park experts from around the world to visit our region for this conference and we are eager to showcase all the wonderful green assetsthat Pittsburgh has to offer.

On behalf of all of us at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, I wish youa splendid 2008.

International Urban Parks Conference to be HeldSeptember 21-23By Melissa McMasters

Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy2000 Technology Drive, Suite 300Pittsburgh, PA 15219Phone: 412-682-PARK (7275)Fax: 412-622-0160www.pittsburghparks.org

StaffMeg Cheever, President and CEODebbie Beck, Chief Financial OfficerPhilip J. Gruszka, Director of Park

Management and Maintenance PoliciesRoy E. Lenhardt, Director of DevelopmentSusan M. Rademacher, Parks CuratorLaurie Anderson, Grants ManagerKim Barner, Accounting AssistantBeth Bodamer, Executive AssistantJoyce Collier, Membership AssistantLisa Conti, Development CoordinatorErin Copeland, Restoration EcologistAmy Gelzheiser, Special Events CoordinatorMelissa McMasters, Online and Community Advocacy Manager

Jake Milofsky, Field EcologistGudrun Wells, Volunteer Education

Coordinator

Board of DirectorsGovernment Representatives:Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, City of PittsburghChief Executive Dan Onorato, Allegheny CountyState Representative Dan FrankelDuane Ashley, City of PittsburghGuy Costa, City of PittsburghNoor Ismail, City of Pittsburgh

Alan AckermanRobert AgbedeJoe BelechakMeg CheeverG. Reynolds ClarkJohn DiederichHelen FaisonKaren Wolk FeinsteinAudrey Hillman

FisherElise FrickEthel HansenHarry HenningerDan HolthausDorothy HorvathElizabeth HowardMark Kamlet

Becky KeevicanRobbee KosakJohn P. Levis, IIIDavid MaloneBrian MullinsMarlee S. MyersSusan NernbergEliza NevinIllah NourbakhshRobert PetrilliRichard Reed, chairJames RogalRitchie ScaifeTom SchmidtAlex Speyer Jr.Gerald VorosMichael Zanic

In our summer issue, we listed National City as a company offering matching gifts to the PPC. We have learnedthat National City only offers matching gifts to educational institutions. We regret the error.

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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT:Maintaining and Sustaining Our Treasured Park Spaces

Keynote speaker Teresa Heinz

This summer and fall, the PittsburghParks Conservancy enjoyed a partner-ship with the Men’s Garden Club of

Pittsburgh, whose dedicated members helpedwith maintenance of the Highland Park EntryGarden. Two times per month from Junethrough October, MGC’s group of “wacky,wonderful Wednesday weeders” met at theEntry Garden to volunteer for several hours,beautifying the garden and enjoying itsprogression over two-week intervals throughoutthe growing season.

For close to 70 years, the Men’s GardenClub of Pittsburgh has stayed active in helpingto maintain public gardens throughout theregion. These activities and others, such as

hosting tables at the May Market in Mellon Park, are the avenues

by which MGC achieves its goal of

“making Pittsburgh and the surrounding region a

better place to live through gardening.”

Welcoming its first female member in 1993, the Men’s

Garden Club today boasts a wide variety

of members who meet monthly for tours ofnotable nurseries and gardens in the region.MGC’s June meeting brought the club to theHighland Park Entry Garden, where PPC’s PhilGruszka led a tour covering the garden’s history and the exciting process of its restora-tion. Members also gained insight into the maintenance needs of such a large horticulturalundertaking and offered to work with PPC andthe City of Pittsburgh Department of PublicWorks to keep the garden looking great for themany park users who enjoy it every day.

“The Men’s Garden Club has been mosthappy and honored to be able to work with thePittsburgh Parks Conservancy in maintainingthe Highland Park Entry Garden,” said HarrietKruman, club secretary and a regular attendeeat Entry Garden volunteer events.

During the bi-monthly events, volunteersremoved weeds from the perennial beds, “deadheaded” flowers, assisted with plant IDand labeling, and had a wonderful time. “I justlove to weed!” said Melaine Kachmar, anotherclub member and frequent Wednesday weedingattendee. And weed they did. Crown vetch,nutsedge, various grasses, and even small treeswere removed from the garden so that themany perennials could thrive to their fullest.

Volunteer efforts are a key element in therestoration of Pittsburgh’s four great parks and

a wonderful way to strengthen communitythroughout the city. As MGC Vice PresidentJack Albert noted, “Working in the EntryGarden is much different than working at homein your own backyard. It’s fun to garden in apublic setting where people walking by willstop to say thanks or have a conversation.”Sentiments such as these signal a healthyappreciation for gardening in Pittsburgh, andour parks benefit from that appreciation.

To learn about volunteering with MGC, visitwww.mensgardenclubofpgh.com.


Men’s Garden Club “Wednesday Weeders” Steward Highland Park Entry GardenBy Jake Milofsky

UPMC Health Plan Sponsors Madcap Masquerade

From the devilish to the debonair, over 500 parks supporters camedressed to thrill at the PPC’s third annual Madcap Masquerade onOctober 27. Presented by UPMC Health Plan, the event raised valuablefunds for the parks and dazzled attendees with entertainment from theZany Umbrella Circus, Nego Gato Capoeira, One Voice Gospel Choir,and more. This year the runway played host to both the “Couture duMonde” fashion show and the finalists for the Best Costume Prize, allof whom set the bar very high for next year’s Masquerade.

Top: Madcap Masquerade Honorary Chair Diane Holder and husband Jerry camedressed as the Queen and King of Narnia. Bottom: The Zany Umbrella Circuswowed the crowd with aerial acrobatics.

Melaine Kachmar of the Men’s Garden Club removesweeds from a section of the Entry Garden.

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What’s New With the FrickEnvironmental CenterBy Susan M. Rademacher

As thesnowflies, so

is there a flurryof activity aimedat defining howa new environ-mental center inFrick Park willoperate. Since adevastating fireseverely dam-aged the FrickEnvironmentalCenter (FEC) in2002, Citiparks staff has resourcefully found ways and means tocontinue providing quality programs to park visitors. Since thattime, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, in partnership with the Cityand the community, has been exploring potential approaches forre-visioning and rebuilding the FEC. The work to date has includedresearch in other cities, identified the social value of an expandedenvironmental center, and developed a set of design values for a newfacility. The community has focused on the opportunity to more thansimply replace what was there, but instead to put something better inplace. The mission – “Education through Restoration” – emphasizesusing the Park as a classroom, the Building as a teacher, and theCenter as an education hub for children, teachers, and families.

Now PPC is taking the lead in developing a business plan to putthe final pieces in place. We are working with consulting firm RootCause to create a roadmap for growth and provide a path towardsallowing the new FEC to be financially sustainable. The result, setfor completion at midyear, will be an operating model with budgetsand timeframes for putting the business plan into action.

The FEC project is being made possible through the generosity ofthe Grable Foundation, the Laurel Foundation, the ColcomFoundation, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation andNatural Resources, and the Pennsylvania Department of Communityand Economic Development.

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The Frick Environmental Center building today.


The Invasive AdvisorThe emerald ash borer beetle (EAB) has devastated ash tree populations in five states, killing more than 25 million trees in only five years. Last June, it was spotted for the first time in Pennsylvania, in an office park inCranberry. Studies of ash trees indicate that it has been in the state for several years. To learn more about EAB,visit http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/agriculture/cwp/view.asp?a=3&Q=144707.

EEmmeerraalldd AAsshh BBoorreerrCommon name: Emerald ash borerScientific name: Agrilus planipennis FairmaireNatural range: China, Japan, Korea, Eastern Russia

DESCRIPTION: The adult emerald ash borer is a green beetle no largerthan a penny. Its larvae are creamy white (making them hard to spot)and carve out distinctive S-shaped galleries in the interior of ash trees.

ECOLOGICAL THREAT: The larvae feed on the tree’s inner bark and phloem, rendering it unable to transport water and nutrients. Adult beetles emerge through D-shaped holes in the bark and are active fromMay through the end of summer. It may take over a year to detect an infestation. Signs include branchdieback, thinning or yellowing leaves, vertical bark slits, woodpecker damage, and shoots growing primarilyfrom the tree’s base. Trees typically die within three years of an infestation.

HABITAT: All species of ash in North America are susceptible to infestation by EAB. Ash trees, which arecharacterized by compound opposite leaves, make up about 3% of the tree population in Pittsburgh’s parks.

LOOK-ALIKES: The six-spotted green tiger beetle (Cicindela sexguttata) has a similar appearance butpreys on small insects.

MANAGEMENT OPTIONS: EAB has no natural predators in NorthAmerica, so management is extremely difficult. Forestry officials instates where EAB has been detected have imposed quarantines on moving firewood and nursery stock and have cut down ash trees in ahalf-mile radius of an infestation. You can help by using only local firewood--transporting infested firewood can greatly accelerate the ashborer’s spread.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SPOT IT: Contact the PennsylvaniaDepartment of Agriculture at 1-866-253-7189 or send an e-mail to [email protected].

EAB adult and larva photos courtesy ofwww.emeraldashborer.info

The Ever-Changing Woodlands of Pittsburgh’s ParksBy Erin Copeland

As the PPC field crew walked through Schenley Park last Augustthe day after a fierce summer storm, we marveled at the storm’spower and its impact on the park’s woodlands and hollows.

Strong winds had toppled 40 trees in landscaped areas and at least 30 inthe woodlands. Without warning, Panther Hollow was dramaticallychanged. In one place, what had once been a wooded hillside was nowa cliff of shale outcroppings.

Although the area appeared barren, it will not stay that way. Withtrees gone, the increased sunlight and reduced plant competition forwater and nutrients will allow the site to change naturally over timethrough succession, the process by which ecosystems transition frommeadows to shrubby areas to forests. In the city, though, the naturalprocess of succession is often stymied by storm water runoff, invasiveplants and trees, and deer overcrowding.

As storms pass through park areas, rain hits impervious surfaces likeroads, parking lots, and manicured lawns. With nowhere to go, the rainwater flows into storm sewers and often overflows into yards and down

hillsides, causing erosion, mud slides, and “gullying” – strong narrow channels of

water that can wipe out any plants in theirpath. In these disturbed areas, seeds from

invasive plants species will flourish andcrowd out native plants and trees.

Further compounding the natural development of park woodlands is the

large population of deer within the city’s boundaries. White-tailed

deer feed on the tender leaves and twigs of native tree saplings and

rub their antlers on the thin bark. Young trees often lose the battle

against storm water runoff, invasive species, and deer and never reach

maturity. Over time, the loss of these trees changes the woodland habitat, which

can reduce the diversity of birds and other wildlife that inhabit the area.

To combat theseproblems, PPC fieldstaff, with the supportof Urban EcoStewardsand other volunteers,work to remove inva-sive species, sow nativeseed mixes in storm-disturbed soil, createnatural water barrierson hillsides, and builddeer exclosures. Wealso plant native trees inwoodland gaps createdby storm damage, theremoval of invasivevines that choked treegrowth, or the removalof invasive trees them-selves (e.g., Norwaymaples, tree of heaven).

This past year, PPCreceived grant fundingfrom the McKenzieFoundation to planttrees in woodland gaps found in each of the four regional parks. Lastfall, PPC planted 150 large, landscape-sized trees of diverse variety:sugar maples, trembling aspens, hickories, basswoods, oaks, tulip trees,and others. Selected sites were the Chapel Shelter in Riverview Park,Panther Hollow in Schenley Park, Seasonal Pools in Highland Park, andthe Nine Mile Run restoration area in Frick Park. Planting larger trees ismore difficult, but they are better able to ward off competitors. And thetree planting is made easier through the help of the Department of PublicWorks (DPW) crews and equipment and many volunteers.

With funds remaining from the McKenzie Foundation grant, another20 trees will be planted this spring as part of the continuing effort torestore the ecological health of our parks’ natural areas.

Left: Trees near the Anderson Playground in SchenleyPark sustained heavy damage in the August storm.Above: Volunteers from the University of Pittsburghworked in teams to plant trees in Panther Hollow.

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Susan Rademacher: Conservancy’s New Designing WomanBy Laurie Anderson

You might find Susan Rademacher,PPC’s new Parks Curator, choosing thegrout color for stone curbing, poring

over a historic plan, or leading a project meet-ing. Just as a museum curator is charged withthe care of collections, Susan is responsible forthe artistic or design aspects of the parks’“collections,” that is, the parks themselves andtheir historic structures, sculptures, gardens,and so on. As Curator, Susan researches theparks and their built elements, explains theirvalue to the public, ensures that restorations aretrue to historic design, develops master plans,and recommends fitting improvements. Whatdrives her is a passion to create beautiful andhealthy spaces for others to enjoy, where theymay develop a greater sense of community.

“The position of Parks Curator is new to thefield of urban parks management,” says MegCheever, PPC’s President and CEO. “Susan’sexpertise and holistic approach to the care andpreservation of park assets will allow PPC toset a new standard of excellence.”

Susan comes well-qualified for the position.When she became founding Executive Directorof the Louisville Olmsted Parks Conservancyin 1991, she faced the same problems that confronted PPC in its infancy: a neglected parksystem and little, if any, funds available fromthe City. Louisville’s 18-park system is of

particular historic importance, as it is FrederickLaw Olmsted’s most fully realized achievementof creating a system of parks connected to tree-lined parkways. Through Susan’s leadership,LOPC developed a nationally renowned masterplan, completed numerous historic restorationprojects, created an innovative volunteer program, and increased public support.

Susan’s interest in landscape and designbegan early. As a child, she delighted in hermother’s flower garden and helped her fatherdesign and plant their grounds. She later

combined her talents as a writer with her loveof landscape design as a founding editor ofGarden Design magazine, and as Editor-in-Chief of Landscape Architecture from 1984-1987. She has lectured and taught in suchinstitutions as the Smithsonian, University ofPennsylvania, Colonial Williamsburg, andHarvard University.

In fact, Susan’s national reputation in parksrestoration brought her to Pittsburgh as aspeaker at PPC’s first fundraising event in1997. Meg had met Susan while visitingLouisville to investigate possible models forthe then-new PPC. A decade later and Susan isback for good--working on a range of projectsfrom park signage to a Mellon Park gardenrestoration, from Schenley Plaza programmingto a new overlook in the Hill District.

Susan already feels at home in Pittsburgh.Its topography, rivers, and lush green characterresonate deeply for her. Like most newcomers,she is taken with the City’s distinct neighbor-hoods, access to great museums and libraries,and rich cultural life. She looks forward toputting her “boots on the ground” and exploring the parks to find new special places.So if you’re walking in a park and see awoman with a sketchbook, mesmerized by theplay of shadow and light on the landscape,welcome Susan Rademacher to Pittsburgh.

It’s easy to think about park trails as just the dirt beneath our feet orbicycle wheels, outlining for us the proper path to take through theforest. But the trails in our city parks are much more than dirt

pathways, and their design and construction play a major role in theparks’ overall health. A well-constructed trail can provide safe passagefor its users, slow erosion, contribute to good drainage, and discouragethe spread of invasive plants.

With all these concerns in mind, last summer the Pittsburgh ParksConservancy and the City of Pittsburgh began the engineering phase ofa multi-year comprehensive trail restoration program in the four regionalparks. Funded by a $3 million federal transportation grant and startupgrants from UPMC Health Plan, the Ryan Memorial Foundation, and theLaurel Foundation, the project will eventually include bridge repairs andthe installation of a standardized signage system.

Representatives from the engineering firm PBS&J have conducted aerial and GPS mapping of the parks to determine which trails need tobe resurfaced, narrowed, regraded, or rerouted to make them safe andsustainable. This data will be used over the next several years as theproject moves through all four parks.

Because its trails are the most heavily used, Schenley Park will be thepilot site for repairs, which should begin in 2008. Plans for SchenleyPark’s Panther Hollow Valley provide a snapshot of what users canexpect to see in the other parks as the project unfolds.

The Panther Hollow Valley is home to 80 acres of woodlands,streams, and trails. It gained some of its most distinctive features in the1930s, when the Works Progress Administration installed several stonebridges to guide users across the streams. Today, these bridges arecrumbling and the trails that go across them often provide rough passagedue to downed trees and the spread of invasive species. The conditionof the bridges mirrors the condition of the surrounding landscape.

Repairing Panther Hollow’s bridges and trails will provide the foundation for restoring the entire area. The bridge and trail work willinclude attention to drainage issues, erosion control, and the use of proper surface materials to keep trails from washing out in storms.Trails that are too wide will be narrowed, and native trees and shrubswill be planted to extend the reach of the forest. New park signs willhelp users navigate established trails rather than unsustainable pathsthrough the forest that disturb the woodland ecology.

Repairs to the trails, which provide some of the best connectionsbetween urban dwellers and the natural world, will have a positiveimpact on park ecology as a whole. With better trails and appropriatenew signage to lead the way and provide information and context, thisproject will be enhancing users’ park experiences for years to come.

This illustration shows the goal of the restoration project in Schenley Park: repairedbridges, sustainable trails, improved ecological conditions, and increased accessibility.

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Broken bridges and fallen trees in the Panther Hollow Valley.

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Planning Begins for Comprehensive Park Trail and Signage ProjectBy Melissa McMasters

Susan Rademacher in her element.


The Grand View Scenic Byway Park(GVSBP) is a unique crown of greenspace encircling Mt. Washington and

Duquesne Heights. After years of grassroots,foundation, and city government dedication,this park has become an exciting reality, readyto welcome all who want to make it better.

Called the Grand View Scenic Byway Parkbecause it also borders the unique PennsylvaniaByway of Grandview Avenue, East SycamoreStreet, and McArdle Roadway, these 230 acresof recreational parks and wild, wooded hillsides– some with trails and truly spectacular views –hold much promise for the near and distantfuture. Outdoor enthusiasts and those whoappreciate the benefits of passive green spaceshould rejoice! Plans are underway to makethe GVSBP into a world-class attraction.

Working with three different mayors andsuccessive supportive city councils, the GVSBPwas unanimously approved in December 2005,with the final 16 acres added in March 2006. Aco-stewardship agreement between the City ofPittsburgh and the Mount Washington

Community Development Corporation(MWCDC), which was modeled on thePittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s partnershipwith the City, was signed by Mayor Ravenstahlon Earth Day 2007.

The staff and members of the MWCDC wereinstrumental in the formation of this unusualpark. Beginning in 2002 with an effort called“The Emerald Link,” the MWCDC researchedand compiled a list of 423 public and privatelots, along with existing parks and greenways,in order to assimilate these open spaces into agreen ring that would be a boon to the city andregion. After the Heinz Endowments funded aMaster Implementation Plan, WesternPennsylvania Conservancy environmentalexperts walked every acre to assess ways torestore, preserve, and improve the land.

The result is a document the size of theManhattan phone book aimed at enhancingplant and animal species, view corridors, andland and equipment conditions; clearing dumpsites; and improving and extending existingtrails and other amenities. Like the PPC in the

parks it stewards, MWCDC seeks

to restore habitat and enhance the area’s recre-ational options for residents as well as the overone million local, national, and internationalguests who visit each year.

This surprising urban park has producedgreat enthusiasm every step of the way, withtremendous support from volunteers, founda-tions, federal and state sources, and numerousother non-profits. According to IlyssaManspeizer, Park Resource Manager, “With thesupport of this great City’s wonderful people, and partner organizations like the PPC showing us the way, we look forward to all the future can bring to this wonderful regional asset and would love to welcome you to visit our City’s newest Regional Park!”

If you would like to be part of this remarkable initiative as a visitor, committee member, or volunteer, please contact Ilyssa at [email protected] or at412-481-3220, or check out GrandView Scenic Byway Park online at www.mwcdc.org/gvsbp.htm.

Grand View Scenic Byway Park Expands Pittsburgh’s Park SystemBy Lynne Squilla, Mount Washington Community Development Corporation

How is the PPC involved?

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is showing its support forthe creation of green space in the city by lending some of its

expertise to the Grand View project. In addition to the knowledge of PPC staff, GVSBP will benefit from the

signage, lighting, and bench standards being implemented inFrick, Highland, Schenley, and Riverview Parks.

An example of a potential Grand View sign, designed in thepark standard style, appears at right.

The Nine Mile Run WatershedAssociation (NMRWA) hosted its firstState of the Watershed symposium on

September 7 and 8, 2007. This public eventwas designed to share the history, current state,and desired future of the watershed, part ofwhich is located in Frick Park.

September 7’s event focused on the historyof Nine Mile Run. The next day, NMRWA’sexecutive director Marijke Hecht spoke aboutthe current state of the watershed. The goodnews is that there is improved stream habitat,including improved stream pH, lack of heavymetal contamination, and an increase in thenumbers and diversity of aquatic organisms,including fish. However, Nine Mile Run is stillexperiencing extremes in flow, and both fecalcoliform and E.coli concentrations continue toexceed the allowable standard even in dryweather, evidence of combined sewer over-flows as well as chronic system leakage.Interestingly, the E.coli levels in both wet anddry weather decreased as the sample locations got closer to the MonongahelaRiver, possibly indicating that the new wet-lands are partially cleaning the stream.

Also on Saturday, residents learned howthey can participate in restoring the watershed.

Tom Cahill of Cahill Associates, Inc. and TavisDockwiller of viridian landscape studiooffered some watershed-friendly practices,such as installing permeable pavement and raingardens.

After the presentations, attendees wereasked to brainstorm an ideal future for NineMile Run. During lunch, participants weredivided into groups and given a map of thewatershed. On this map, community memberswere asked to think of ways to emphasize thatthis urban landscape is a watershed and todescribe how they would like to see the NineMile Run Watershed change in the next fiveyears and in the next 25 years.

This brainstorming event encouraged peopleto envision the best future for their watershed,including art installations, clean water, andreformed sewage and greywater treatment policies. Participants envisioned their childrenplaying in a stream that was once so contaminated that no one wanted to go near it.These ideas will guide NMRWA as they planfor the future and continue to ensure therestoration and protection of the Nine MileRun Watershed.

For more information about the watershed,visit www.ninemilerun.org.

Taking Stock of the Nine Mile Run WatershedBy Erin Copeland, PPC and Lisa Brown, Nine Mile Run Watershed Association

The Nine Mile Run stream winds through Frick Park.

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Robbee Baker Kosak is the VicePresident of University Advancement atCarnegie Mellon University, and has

served on the PPC Board of Directors since2004. Kosak currently serves as the Chair ofthe Development Committee. She is alsoactively involved with the Nominating &Governance and Executive Committees.

Why did you choose to become involvedwith the Pittsburgh Parks ConservancyBoard of Directors?After moving back to Pittsburgh in 2000, I wasreally struck at how much of the renaissancehad gone on in Pittsburgh’s business communi-ty. My husband and I are park lovers, and wewere excited to learn of the PPC’s restorationprojects. The parks are a very bright spot inour community, and they revitalize our physicalas well as ecological living conditions.

Which park do you visit most often? Schenley Park is my favorite because it has somany offerings tucked away, and is full ofgreat surprises. Schenley Plaza is an area that Ivisit regularly on the weekends, and it is agreat oasis even in the wintertime.

Why do you think parks are so important toour city?Parks are the democratic space. They are the

only place that anyone can go to and enjoy thebenefit of the entity for nothing.

What is your favorite PPC project?My favorite showcase project is the restorationof the Highland Park gardens. This project wasthe most dramatic in the level of involvement,with several different neighborhood organizations working together throughout therestoration process. This project shows howrestoring a park to its appropriate conditionbecomes a magnet again for a community, andit has served as a home for groups to use fortheir events.

Do you have any special park memories?My favorite park memory happened atSchenley Plaza one Saturday morning last winter. I walked down to the Plaza with mydogs, and I was sitting on one of the parkbenches tucked away in the garden area. Amother and a young boy from out of townwalked by, and the boy was recently releasedfrom Children’s Hospital. The boy turned tohis mother and said, “You know, Mom, this issuch a beautiful place and it’s my first walkoutside in a month.”

What is the biggest challenge facing thePPC?The biggest challenge is helping the public atlarge understand where funding for the capitalprojects comes from. Because we have so littlepublic funding, this affects selecting the projects that get done, since most of the dollarsraised come from private fundraising.

Unlike other public treasures, like museums orthe Zoo, we do not have a front or back door,nor do we charge admission. Membership isvoluntary, and we hope that people who use the

parks choose to pay for it, and continue to usethe parks in the future.

This city has so much energy and ideas tomove forward, but funding is a challenge.Parks have attracted people for generations andare free, cost-effective investments of privateand public dollars. The parks meet every constituency, and it is wise to invest in thethings that people can use.

What are some of the best ways for people tohelp support the mission of the PPC?One of the best ways is to encourage people togo online and tell us their opinions and providefeedback. They also need to tell their electedofficials how important the parks are to themand donate through annual gifts.


Board Member Spotlight: Robbee Kosak, Development Committee ChairBy Amy Gelzheiser

This August, representatives from the Pennsylvania Department ofConservation and Natural Resources visited Schenley Plaza to learnabout the project, discuss future plans for the site, and even take a spinon the PNC Carousel. DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis, who hassupported PPC’s work in the parks, is scheduled to speak at the 2008International Urban Parks Conference next September. Pictured are:(back) PPC’s Phil Gruszka, Roy Lenhardt, and Susan Rademacher andDCNR’s Cindy Dunn and Michael DiBerardinis, (front) Tracy Stack andKathy Frankel of DCNR’s Pittsburgh office. (Photo: Melissa McMasters)

Robbee Kosak chairs the PPC’s developmentcommittee and is an ardent parks supporter.

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Parks are the democratic space.They are the only place that

anyone can go to and enjoy the benefit of the entity for nothing.

Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy NewsletterNon-Profit Org.U S POSTAGEP A I D

PITTSBURGH, PAPERMIT NO 4906

Jack Solomon is known locally as aneminent birder, although to hear him tellit, it’s his wife who’s really serious about

birding. Jack is the President of the ThreeRivers Birding Club and has enjoyed spotting,identifying, and studying birds for over 50years. In addition to regular outings, the clubparticipates in the Audubon Society’sChristmas bird count and another count inMay during the Spring migration. The resultsof these counts help the Pittsburgh ParksConservancy track the diversity and numberof birds in the parks.

When asked how he became interested inbirds, Jack relays a story from his honey-moon. A natural history buff from a veryyoung age, Jack went on any naturalist walkthat was offered while on his honeymoon atAcadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine.He was rather bored by the one about seabirds, though; it seemed to involve onlysquinting at small specks in the distance. But when he looked through a telescope at aRuddy Turnstone in its full fall plumage, hewas enthralled. Back at home, he borrowed afriend’s binoculars and didn’t return them forthree years!

A successful birder must have good eyesand ears, but Jack also stresses the need forstrong intellectual focus and ability to imme-diately recall myriad details. While you can

pull out a tree identification guide and takeyour time examining leaves, branches, andbark, birds don’t wait around to be studied.

During the last May migration count, atleast 100 species of birds were sighted. Jackloves the bright colors of neo-tropical birds,such as warblers, vireos, tanagers, and orioles.One of Jack’s most thrilling experiences inFrick Park was seeing a marsh hawk, a raptorrarely seen in an urban park, as they usuallyinhabit very large open spaces. (He laterlearned that the bird was injured, and wasnursed to health and released.)

Among the birds that Jack commonly seesin Frick Park are woodpeckers: pileated, red-bellied, hairy, and downy. Other birds thatnest and breed in or near Frick Park are song

birds like bluejays, black-capped chickadees,titmice, white-breasted nuthatches, andCarolina wrens and raptors like the red-tailed,red-shouldered, and Cooper’s hawks.

Although he’s an avid birder, Jack doesn’tproselytize. He encourages people to watchbirds, but likens birdwatching to playing baseball: “You can play in a sand lot or youcan play in the major leagues. It’s okay tojust enjoy watching birds at your backyardfeeder, but to become an expert birder takespractice, practice, practice.” He admits,though, that socializing has become a largepart of the attraction of birding for him. Herarely birds alone because he likes to sharewhat he sees with someone else. Sometimeshis wife has to ask him to stop talking.

Growing up in Homewood, Jack remembers the thrill of family walks to FrickPark. The woods seemed to stretch on foreverinto wilderness. Even now, as Jack walksthrough Frick Park and smells the leaves, listens to a pileated woodpecker, and seesasters in bloom, he thinks how lucky he is.The park is Jack’s giant backyard. “The parkbelongs to me as much as anyone else,” Jackdeclares. “I’m as rich as Henry Clay Frick –in fact, even richer. The 150 acres that hegave his daughter are now mine to enjoy.Frick gave the land to me, too, and made me a millionaire.”

Birder Jack Solomon: “Henry Clay Frick Made Me a Millionaire”By Laurie Anderson

Nearly 400 volunteers gave their time and effort to projectswith the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy this summer andfall, and the effects of their work will be visible for years

to come.Among their many contributions, volunteers planted several

thousand daffodil bulbs near the Bartlett Playground in SchenleyPark. These hardy plants will brighten the area for many springsin the future. Also in Schenley Park, volunteers removed invasivevines from the Panther Hollow canopy gaps and tall weeds fromthe new meadow by the pool, making way for native plants tothrive.

One of the biggest investments volunteers made was their workto plant trees in all four parks. Volunteers were asked to digholes, remove the trees from their packaging, plant and waterthem, and install bark guards to protect them from deer. This isno small effort, but with proper care and maintenance, these treescould be a part of our urban forest for generations.

We thank all the volunteers who worked with us this seasonand encourage anyone interested in helping out to sign up for e-mail alerts at www.pittsburghparks.org or call 412-682-7275.

Volunteers Invest in the Future

An October morning of bulb planting with the YWCA, Hill House, and Churchof Latter-Day Saints will result in a beautiful array of daffodils this springnear the Bartlett Playground in Schenley Park.

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Summer and Fall Numbers

Volunteers: 392Total Hours: 1,522Value: $28,568 (based on$18.77/hr. Source: IndependentSector 2006) 13 Community Partners:Carnegie Mellon University,Church of Latter-Day Saints,Collegiate Eagle Scouts ofAmerica, Giant Eagle, Hill House,Literacy*AmeriCorps Pittsburgh/Greater Pittsburgh LiteracyCouncil, Men’s Garden Club ofPittsburgh, Penn State UniversityCooperative Extension, PittsburghCares, Student ConservationAssociation, University ofPittsburgh Resident Assistants andResident Directors, University ofPittsburgh Staff, and YWCA

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A volunteer waters a newly-planted tree near theWashington Blvd. seasonal pools in HighlandPark.

Among the birds visible in southwestern Pennsylvaniaare cedar waxwings, which feast on wild fruits.

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winter 2008 - the voice

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