Schenley Plaza WrapsUp a Great Seasonpage 6

Board Member MixesTechnology andNaturepage 7

Parks ConferenceMakes an Impactpage 3

451 Trees Planted in 2008By Laurie Anderson

in this issue

BBeeccaauussee ooff tthheeiirr ssiizzee, trees dominate the view with changingcolors and beauty in all four seasons. In 2008, the PittsburghParks Conservancy planted 451 of these beautiful and amazing workers.

One source of trees was the MMccKKeennzziiee FFoouunnddaattiioonn,which provided a $20,000 grant in 2007 to help restore thetree canopy in the parks. Gaps in the tree canopy are problematic because invasive vines thrive in the increased sunshine. These vines can literally strangle other trees or coverthem and block out the sunlight they need. When mature, thetrees purchased this year with McKenzie Foundation grant

funds will capturemore than 19,000 gallons of rain water,keeping it from reaching the ground.On the ground, thosesame trees will absorb220,000 gallons ofstorm water runoff.Storm water picks uppollutants and sediment as it flowsacross parking lots,roads, and hillsidesand eventually intostreams and rivers.Trees are especiallyimportant onPittsburgh’s steepslopes and hillsides toabsorb and slow downthe runoff so it can be

filtered bytree rootsand otherplant life.TTrreeeeVViittaalliizzeePPiittttssbbuurrgghhhas beenanother keysource oftrees thisyear. TheParks Conservancy has been an active partner in the PPAA DDeepptt.. ooff CCoonnsseerrvvaattiioonn && NNaattuurraall RReessoouurrcceess’’((DDCCNNRR))TreeVitalize program, managed locally by theWestern Pennsylvania Conservancy. DCNR’s goal forTreeVitalize is to plant one million trees across theCommonwealth by 2013. In 2008, the Conservancy wasawarded 230 trees, which have already been planted amongFrick, Highland, Riverview and Schenley parks. Trees also came to us from RRIISSOO,, IInncc.., a global supplier of

digital printers with local offices on the North Side. As partof their environmental commitment, RISO provided treeseedlings (they’ve made a commitment to supplying 250),which were planted in Riverview Park with the help of RISO employees.

Volunteers have helped with about half of the trees thathave been planted this year; the other half were planted byConservancy staff working with the CCiittyy’’ss DDeeppaarrttmmeenntt ooffPPuubblliicc WWoorrkkss ((DDPPWW)) crews.

Through TreeVitalize and other funding sources, thePittsburgh Parks Conservancy plans to put many more trees towork in the coming years.

theVOICENurturing Nature. Planting Possibility.

Winter 2009

University of Pittsburgh’s Make a Difference Day volunteers plant trees in Frick Park.

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TThhee bbeeaauuttiiffuullllyy rreessttoorreedd MaryE. Schenley Memorial Fountainis setting Oakland abuzz. Thesix-month restoration projectwrapped up in October, restoring this magnificent pieceof public art by sculptor VictorDavid Brenner to the people of Pittsburgh. This project also increases

green space in the area, reduces impervious paving, providesenhanced access to the FrickFine Arts Building, and allowsfor ease of access in accordancewith the Americans withDisabilities Act. The fountain was originally

dedicated on September 2,1918 and rededicated at a ribbon-cutting ceremony onOctober 16, 2008.

Restored Fountain Illuminates OaklandBy Laura Cook

Thanks to the Benter Foundation, the Howard E. & Nell E. Miller Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, The H.Glenn Sample Jr. MD Memorial Fund through the PNC Charitable Trust Grant Review Committee, the Juliet Lea HillmanSimonds Foundation, and the City of Pittsburgh through the Allegheny Regional Asset District Funds for helping to restorethe Mary E. Schenley Memorial Fountain .

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Volunteers from RISO, Inc. plant trees at Riverview Park.

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Thank you for the “Sundays in the Park” programs. I had a great experience listening to theBoilermaker Jazz Band…I would also like to compliment the staff in the Visitor Center restaurant for quick friendly service and for beinghelpful with questions.

I also enjoyed the history snapshots that arepresented on the walls of the restaurant. Thanks again!Vince Trotnick, McMurray

On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff ofthe Oakland Business Improvement District, I wishto thank you for inviting the OBID to participatein the spectacular Madcap Masquerade!....whichbrought hundreds of people into Oakland and thisspectacular event transformed Schenley Plaza intoa festive and electrifying space. We thank you foryour support of OBID and, most of all, we thankyou for the excitement and for the beautiful natural parks and public spaces you provide for theOakland community!Georgia S. Petropoulos, Executive Director,Oakland Business Improvement District

I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to you onbehalf of the Staff and Board of the PittsburghInternational Children’s Festival. Despite theweather, the 2008 Festival’s debut in Oakland wasan overwhelming success, welcoming more than20,000 visitors. The wonderful experiences youhelped create for these families will provide themwith happy, lasting memories for years to come.We’re honored to be your partner in supportingprofessional performing arts for children and lookforward to working with you next year.Pamela K. Lieberman, Executive Director,Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater

DDeeaarr FFrriieennddss ooff PPiittttssbbuurrgghh PPaarrkkss,,

In 2008 the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy celebrated 1122 yyeeaarrss ooff wwoorrkk in capital projects, ecological restoration, building and landscapeimprovements, education, and free public programming.

Our public-private partnership with the City ofPittsburgh resulted in the ccoommpplleettiioonn ooff ttwwoo ccaappiittaall pprroojjeeccttss iinn 22000088. We completely restoredthe historic Chapel Shelter and landscape inRiverview Park, which the community celebrated

with a ribbon cutting in June. We also restored theMary E. Schenley Memorial Fountain, A Song toNature, by Victor Brenner — from plumbing, tosculpture, to surrounding walkways and landscape—and the ffoouunnttaaiinn wwaass ppeerrmmaanneennttllyy iilllluummiinnaatteeddfor the first time since the original dedication in1918. A re-dedication ceremony in Octobermarked the successful completion of that project.

SScchheennlleeyy PPllaazzaa wrapped up its third exciting season, which offered 220000 ffrreeee ppuubblliicc pprrooggrraammssfrom April through November. Special eventsincluded Squonk Opera’s presentation of

Astro-rama and the zany and exquisiteMadcap Masquerade presented byUUPPMMCC HHeeaalltthh PPllaann. This was the firsttime that Madcap had been held in oneof our parks, and it was a spectacular wayto benefit the work of the PittsburghParks Conservancy.

In 2008, our staff, in concert with thecity, worked with many organizations andcommunity groups on mmoorree tthhaann 2200 vvoolluunntteeeerr ddaayyss to improve the ecologicalhealth of our parks through plantingtrees, cleaning up trash, and removinginvasive species. Together with the PennState Cooperative Extension, we launchedthe PPiittttssbbuurrgghh DDaaffffooddiill PPrroojjeecctt as an

ongoing initiative. Every year we plan to plant alarge swath of daffodils in one or more of the

parks so that eventually our city will be blanketedin yellow blooms each spring. Spring 2009 shouldreveal 7,850 new blooms at Schenley Park’s Bartlett Playground.

And September’s blockbuster 22000088IInntteerrnnaattiioonnaall UUrrbbaann PPaarrkkss CCoonnffeerreennccee, Body andSoul: Parks and the Health of Great Cities,brought 602 participants from five continents, 10countries and 31 states together to discuss howessential parks are to a metro region and the healthof its people. The Parks Conservancy’s leadershipwas crucial in bringing this conference toPittsburgh, and we have heard nothing but ravereviews from participants who were dazzled by ourcity’s transformation from grey, industrial landscape to green metropolis. The tremendous support we receive each year

from you, our community, and the stellar cooperation from government makes all this workpossible. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Message from the President

We want your feedback. The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy welcomes letters to the editor.Letters may be edited. All submissions become the property of the Parks Conservancy. Please send them to: TThhee VVooiiccee, 2000 Technology Drive, Suite 300, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

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

StaffMeg Cheever, President and CEOLaurie Anderson, Development Department ManagerDebbie Beck, Chief Financial OfficerPhilip J. Gruszka, Director of Park Management and Maintenance Susan M. Rademacher, Parks CuratorKim Barner, Finance AssistantBeth Bodamer, Executive AssistantJoyce Collier, Development AssistantLisa Conti, Development Officer - Annual Fund, Administrator - Development SystemsLaura Cook, Marketing Communications CoordinatorErin Copeland, Restoration EcologistWilliam Ferguson, Development Officer - Corporate and Government RelationsJim Griffin, Schenley Plaza ManagerTimothy Gyves, Development Officer - Donor Relations and Special EventsMelissa McMasters, Online and Community Advocacy ManagerJake Milofsky, Field EcologistGudrun Wells, Volunteer Education Coordinator

Board of Directors

Government 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 Ackerman • Joe Belechak • Brian Bronaugh • Linda BurkeMeg Cheever • G. Reynolds Clark • John Diederich • Helen FaisonJeremy Feinstein • Audrey Hillman Fisher • Elise Frick • Ethel HansenHarry Henninger • Dan Holthaus • Elizabeth Howard • Mark KamletBecky Keevican • Robbee Kosak • John P. Levis, III • David MaloneDebra Meyer • Scarlet Morgan • Brian Mullins • Marlee S. MyersSusan Nernberg • Eliza Nevin • Illah Nourbakhsh • Robert PetrilliJames Rogal • Ritchie Scaife • Tom Schmidt • Alex Speyer Jr.Gerald Voros, Chair • Christy Wiegand • Michael Zanic

Letters to the Editor

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Volunteers from Giant Eagle work with the Parks Conservancyand Penn State Cooperative Extension to plant daffodil bulbs inSchenley Park.

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Urban Parks Conference Draws 602 Park Advocates to PittsburghBy Laura Cook

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Teresa HeinzUrban Parks: The Places ThatWe Dream

““......BBooddyy aanndd SSoouull 22000088 wwaass lliitteerraallllyy aabbrreeaatthh ooff ffrreesshh aaiirr iinn aann ootthheerrwwiissee vveerryyssttrreessssffuull aanndd nneeggaattiivvee ssnnaappsshhoott iinn ttiimmee..WWiitthh tthhee eeccoonnoommyy ttaannkkiinngg,, oonnggooiinnggwwaarr aanndd ppootteennttiiaall oouuttbbrreeaakkss ssiimmmmeerriinngg,,aa nneeggaattiivvee ppoolliittiiccaall ccaammppaaiiggnn sseeaassoonn........tthheerree aarree ssttiillll ttrruuee iinnssppiirraattiioonnaall lleeaaddeerrsswwoorrkkiinngg hhaarrdd ttoo eennssuurree tthhiiss gglloobbee wwiillllbbee aa bbeetttteerr ppllaaccee ttoo lliivvee ffoorr ccoommiinngg ggeenneerraattiioonnss..””

Nikki MercerResearch Associate, Spencer Stuart

Atlanta, GA

““IIff II hhaadd kknnoowwnn PPiittttssbbuurrgghh wwaass lliikkee tthhiiss wwhheenn II wwaass ssttaarrttiinngg mmyy ccaarreeeerr II wwoouulldd hhaavvee llooookkeedd ffoorr aa jjoobb hheerree..””Monica Thornton

Vice President, Piedmont Park Conservancy, Atlanta, GA

Richard LouvThe Last Child in the Woods:Saving Our Children from NatureDeficit Disorder

Michael DiBerardinisMaking the Most of This Momentin Time

Luis Garden AcostaParks: The Common Ground forDemocracy and All Human Rights

TThhee 22000088 IInntteerrnnaattiioonnaall UUrrbbaann PPaarrkkss CCoonnffeerreennccee, Body and Soul: Parks and theHealth of Great Cities, was a great success. The event partners - City Parks Alliance,National Association for Olmsted Parks, City of Pittsburgh, and the Pittsburgh ParksConservancy - produced a program containing an array of speakers and panelists thatwas truly oustanding both in breadth and depth of experience and in geographic diversity. Praise for the extraordinarily high caliber of speakers has been tremendous.Participants came from around the globe, from five continents, 10 countries and 31 ofthe United States, to discuss their shared conviction that a great park system is a keyelement of the value proposition of a metropolitan area and to debate how best toadvocate for this position within their own communities and governments all over the world.

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TThhee GGaarrddeenn CClluubb ooff AAlllleegghheennyy CCoouunnttyy ((GGCCAACC)),, amember of the Garden Club of America, has provedto be a key supporter of the Pittsburgh ParksConservancy over the past 12 years.

The GCAC hashelped fund educational programs, tree plantings, tools andother vital needs. In2005 the GCAC, theCarnegie Museum,and the ParksConservancy worked on a DNA study of theLondon plane trees surrounding Schenley Plaza withDr. Cynthia Morton. Through this project, localnurseries have been able to grow diverse trees thatwill eventually be planted in the city parks. This important relationship has continued

through 2008. The GCAC sponsored the RichardLouv lecture at the Urban Parks Conference. Mostrecently the GCAC announced that 75% of their“Pizzazz” fundraiser’s proceeds will go to benefit the landscape master plan design for the newEnvironmental Center at Frick Park. They hosted

numerous customers for Pizzazz during the two-day,chic unique boutique-shopping extravaganza,October 16-17, raising approximately $57,000.

Historically, GCAC has donated past proceeds—in the form of grants—to various horticultural, conservation, preservation and environmental projects in Western Pennsylvania.This is the first year that the group specified the recipient and grant amount in advance of their show.

Next year’s fundraiser, the 15th anniversary ofPizzazz, is scheduled for October 21-23.

Garden Club Plants Seeds in Community

The Garden Club of Allegheny County, a member of the Garden Club of America, poses with Richard Louv atthe Urban Parks Conference in September.

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This historic photo of the gatehouse at Frick Park shows part of thelandscape that will be restored during the construction of the newEnvironmental Center at Frick Park.

CMU Team Envisions the Playground of the FutureBy Melissa McMastersCCaammeerraass.. iiPPooddss.. CCeellll pphhoonneess.. What will the increasingly tech-savvy children ofthe future expect from their playgrounds? Four students at Carnegie MellonUniversity’s Entertainment Technology Center spent the fall semester trying toanswer just that question.With a grant from the Grable Foundation and a working partnership with

the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Kelsey Livingston, Laura Lantz, Joey Yeh, andMarlos Hu began researching playgrounds in the Pittsburgh area and thinkingabout possible ways to incorporate new technology. Based on their research,they decided that a playground should do four things: balance safety with fun,be able to compete with other leisure activities for children’s interest, involve thecommunity, and foster a connection with nature.

Designing activities to test this theory over the course of one semester meantdoing more than imagining new playground equipment (although the students

did experiment withinnovative new “watermaze” technology).Instead of thinking justabout how to build anew kind of playground,they focused on how toincorporate some existingtechnology into a fun,community-based activitythat would encourageparticipants to envisionnature as a place for play.The staff of the FFrriicckkEEnnvviirroonnmmeennttaall CCeenntteerr

provided consultation for the team. This past fall, three photo scavenger hunts aimed at seniors, families with

young children, and young adults were held at Frick Park’s Blue SlidePlayground. “The scavenger hunt project developed out of an opportunity wesaw with the growing prevalence of camera and web-enabled mobile phones,”Kelsey Livingston says. By giving participants a digital camera to use to photograph items found in the park, the team could prototype an event where

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EEnngglliisshh IIvvyyCommon name: English ivyScientific name: Hedera helixOrigin: Europe

DESCRIPTION: English ivy is a climbing vine with dark green,waxy leaves that grow alternately along the stem. Because English ivyis evergreen and can grow in thick patches even under the shade oflarge trees, it has frequently been planted by gardeners as a groundcover. The plants produce small, dark purple berries that aretoxic to humans, and some plants produce small, pale yellow-greenflowers in fall.

ECOLOGICAL THREAT: English ivy poses a special threat to woodland areas because it can grow inboth sun and deep shade. It can grow so densely as a groundcover on the forest floor that it smothersnative seedlings. English ivy can also climb the trunks of trees, blocking light to their leaves and weighingdown and breaking their branches. Its berries are eaten by birds, which then disperse the seedlings to other locations.

HABITAT: English ivy can infest woodlands, forest edges, fields, and hedgerows, especially where soil is relatively moist.

SIZE: Vines can reach up to one foot in diameter and can climb to 50 feet or higher.

MANAGEMENT OPTIONS: Pull stems and roots of English ivy from the ground, making sure to weargloves to avoid possible skin irritation. Try to remove as much of the roots as possible, as English ivyspreads primarily through root fragmentation.

SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVES: There are many native groundcovers that offer an attractive alternative.Native sedges and ferns can provide elements of a diverse groundcover planting. Alternative vines includetrumpet creeper (Campsis radicans), Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), and native wisteria(Wisteria frutescens).

Invasive plants are choking out the biodiversity of our natural areas – even in our own backyards.These invasive, non-native plants are not part of our original habitat, but were introduced fromother countries, often for gardens and landscaping. With few or no natural enemies, you can nowsee these plants taking over entire landscapes.

Join the battle! Learn to recognize and control invasive species by reading this column and by picking up Plant Invaders of the Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas at the Schenley Park Café and VisitorCenter ($4.00. You can also find an “Invasive Plants of Pittsburgh” guide on our website. Pleaseavoid planting these aggressors in your own garden.

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Participants in the photo scavenger hunt take a shot of a willing model.

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The Invasive Advisor

people accessed a scavenger hunt on their cellphones and could upload photos via mobileweb. “In the future, we’d like to use these technologies to get kids back to the parks andexcited about playgrounds,” Livingston adds.

Following each scavenger hunt, participantswere asked to complete a survey about theirexperiences. The surveys helped Livingston andher partners to understand what attracted people of different ages to a public park eventand how mobile technology could play a role inthese events as it becomes more accessible in the future.

Although their project ended in December,the Playground of the Future team hopes thattheir research will be beneficial to others whoare interested in creating fun and educationalplaces to play.

TToo lleeaarrnn mmoorree aabboouutt tthhee pprroojjeecctt aanndd vviieeww tthheeggrroouupp’’ss rreesseeaarrcchh ffiinnddiinnggss,, vviissiittwwwwww..ppiittttssbbuurrgghhppaarrkkss..oorrgg//ppllaayyggrroouunndd..

The Playground of the Future team. Pictured fromleft to right: Joey Yeh, Kelsey Livingston, LauraLantz, and Marlos Hu.

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New Staff Joins PPCBy Melissa McMasters

The Parks Conservancy is pleased toannounce the arrival of two new members to itsDevelopment Department. Timothy Gyves willserve as the Development Officer for DonorRelations and Special Events, and WilliamFerguson will be the Development Officer forCorporate and Government Relations.Tim’s primary responsibility will be to plan

large-scale fundraising events like the Spring HatLuncheon as well as smaller events designed tohelp Conservancy supporters become better acquainted with the organization’s mission and work. Tim has spent most of his career working in the non-profit sector in New

York City, including positions at Poets & Writers, Inc., Eos Orchestra, theAmerican Federation of Arts, and Columbia University Press. “In the years Ilived in New York, I saw how places like Central Park and Prospect Park inBrooklyn were transformed by people who cared enough to invest in them,”Tim says.

Bill’s focus will be on developing relationships with corporate funders,including involving them in volunteer opportunities, promoting the use of

Schenley Plaza for private events, and securing sponsorships. He will also manage relationships with elected officials, lobbyists, and other political constituents.

Bill also recently returned toPittsburgh after spending the past fouryears as Manager of Youth NationalTeams for the United States SoccerFederation in Carson, California. Hepreviously served as an Internal Auditorand Research Assistant at the FederalReserve Bank of Chicago.

Scouts Lend a Helping HandBy Jake Milofsky

FFoorr tthhee ppaasstt sseevveerraall yyeeaarrss, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has enjoyed ahealthy partnership with the CCoolllleeggiiaattee EEaaggllee SSccoouuttss AAssssoocciiaattiioonn((CCEESSAA)), a group of University of Pittsburgh students dedicated to continuing the practice of community service that they have learnedthrough their years of scouting.

CESA was founded by a group of Pitt students who were not satisfiedto let their track records of community service lapse with the attainmentof their Eagle Scout status. On many volunteer days, CESA membershave used their leadership experience to support Parks Conservancy fieldstaff as assistant crew leaders by helping to educate volunteers, promotesafety, organize tools, and other tasks.

CESA president, Nick Wytiaz, expresses his appreciation of the partnership in stating, “...Both CESA and Parks Conservancy have acommon goal of serving the Pittsburgh community and continued cooperation will help benefit both organizations and, ultimately, the cityas a whole.”

In addition to CESA’s work in the parks, they have had a direct impactin their university community through the Oakland Planning and andDevelopment Corporation’s adopt-a-block program. CESA also dedicatesitself each year to hosting a day-long Merit Badge program in which localdignitaries speak and regional scouts earn their citizenship merit badges.

Far more than a hobby, scouting is a lifestyle focusing on self discipline and service to one’s community. The members of CESAdemonstrate their commitment in the joint efforts between their members and the Parks Conservancy.

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Madcap Masquerade Lights Up Schenley Plaza

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TThhee ffoouurrtthh aannnnuuaall MMaaddccaapp MMaassqquueerraaddee,, sponsored by UUPPMMCC HHeeaalltthh PPllaann,, had a newlocation that took its patrons into the park for a fabulous indoor party with anautumn feel. Clear tents were placed across the Schenley Plaza Lawn with a great viewof the newly restored Mary E. Schenley Memorial Fountain as it shone in the moonlight. The Cathedral of Learning was a beautiful backdrop as part of PPiittttssbbuurrgghh225500’’ss FFeessttiivvaall ooff LLiigghhttss..

Madcap Masquerade creates a kaleidoscope of colors and lights at Schenley Plaza for an evening of music and dancing.

UPMC Health Plan President and CEODiane P. Holder enjoyed MadcapMasquerade as it illuminated Schenley Plaza.

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Bill Ferguson

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Tim Gyves

Peggy and Steve McKnight

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Schenley Plaza 2008By Jim Griffin

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IInn 22000088,, SScchheennlleeyy PPllaazzaa enjoyed a fabulousprogramming year with 200 lively, exciting and free public events. With events like the International

Children Festival in May, the Plaza welcomedmore than 50,000 children and their parentsto Schenley Plaza to sample the best of children’s theater from around the world.The CCaarrnneeggiiee LLiibbrraarryy ooff PPiittttssbbuurrgghh’’ssSummer Reading Extravaganza kicked off asummer of fun at Schenley Plaza, and inAugust the Plaza welcomed the PittsburghRiverhounds for a soccer clinic at Mazeroski Field.

Season-long events included the monthlyKids Day events (thank you to the HH..JJ.. HHeeiinnzzCCoommppaannyy FFoouunnddaattiioonn for its support),

culminating with our famous Halloween Family Fun Night event with our programming partner, the CChhiillddrreenn’’ss MMuusseeuumm ooff PPiittttssbbuurrgghh. The monthlyEleventh Stack Read Aloud program provided live readings by Carnegie Libraryof Pittsburgh librarians on a variety of themes, and at the Sundae Flea Markets,Plaza visitors could purchase unique arts and crafts at modest prices. The 11th Annual WWYYEEPP Summer Music Festival proved to be one of

the most popular events in the history of Schenley Plaza when more than6,000 visitors packed the Plaza to see the Old ‘97s headline the festival. In addition, our lunchtime concerts under the tent have been a visitor favorite

for years. We had more than 75 days of music under the tent this season.October featured Squonk Opera’s Pittsburgh premier of Astro-Rama. With

the Cathedral of Learning “painted” in lights as a backdrop, the Squonkersentertained over 5,000 Plaza visitors over four nights in October. The lightingwas provided courtesy of PPiittttssbbuurrgghh 225500 FFeessttiivvaall ooff LLiigghhttss.

Last fall brought the annual pilgrimage to the old Forbes Field Wall nearSchenley Plaza to celeberate the anniversary of the 1960 Pittsburgh PiratesWorld Series win by listening to the original broadcast of the game at the wall.

2008 was a jam-packed year, and 2009 promises to be even better.

Taking a ride on the PNC Carousel at theHalloween Family Fun Day.

Squonk Opera’s out-of-this-world performance.

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AAmmoonngg PPiittttssbbuurrgghh’’ss mmaannyy ““ffiirrssttss”” is Mellon Square– the first modern garden plaza built over a parkinggarage, and a forerunner of green roofs. This significant landscape has brought liveliness and beauty to downtown for 50 years, and was originally designed by the distinguished landscapearchitecture firm Simonds & Simonds and architectsMitchell & Ritchey. As a measure of its stature, theSquare was listed in the National Register ofHistoric Places in 1985, just 30 years after opening.

Bordered by Smithfield andOliver Streets, Mellon Squarewas named one of “America’sTen Great Public Spaces” bythe American PlanningAssociation in 2008.According to APA ExecutiveDirector Paul Farmer, a former Pittsburgh city planner, “The Square is iconicnot only for its design andcharacter, but for the way itwas planned and the role itplayed in spurring revitalization and privateinvestment in DowntownPittsburgh.”

Mellon Square is anemblem of Pittsburgh’s post-war Renaissance whencivic leaders sought to rebrand the city with muchneeded open space. The Square was envisioned byRichard King Mellon as a key piece of a new development to include office buildings for Alcoaand U.S. Steel, and to provide a memorial to R.K.’sfather Richard B. Mellon and uncle Andrew Mellon.

After the land was acquired in 1948, the A.W.Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust, SarahMellon Scaife, and the Richard King Mellon

Foundation gave $4.3 million to the City to build it.Ground was broken on the 1.37-acre site in 1953,and the park opened to great fanfare in 1955, as didthe garage below, which could hold 1,000 cars.

Mellon Square is also significant because of itsdesigners. John Ormsbee Simonds (1913-2005)was a Pittsburgh-based master landscape architect.Simonds and architect Dahl Ritchey were frequentdesign collaborators who intended Mellon Square asa refreshing oasis of human scale within the talltowers of the city.Today, Mellon Square remains an active space, but

is showing serious signs of wear and tear. Withfunding from the Richard King Mellon Foundationand the Bank of New York Mellon, the ParksConservancy is developing a restoration and management plan to be completed early this year.The planning team is led by Patricia O’Donnell ofHeritage Landscapes. Key partners include thePittsburgh Parking Authority, City of Pittsburgh,Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, and PittsburghHistory and Landmarks Foundation. This remarkable gift to the people of Pittsburgh

continues to provide precious public green space and parking.

TToo rreeaadd mmoorree aabboouutt MMeelllloonn SSqquuaarree,, vviissiittwwwwww..ppiittttssbbuurrgghhppaarrkkss..wwoorrddpprreessss..ccoomm//mmeelllloonnssqquuaarree..

Mellon Square in its glory, 1955.

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Oasis in the City: Mellon Square is an Icon of ModernismBy Susan Rademacher

SScchheedduulleedd EEvveennttss:: 5/13-17/09 Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival 6/7/09 Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Summer Reading Extravaganza7/26/09 WYEP Summer Music Festival 8/7-9/09 Visionary Arts Festival

SSeeaassoonn LLoonngg EEvveennttss::Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Eleventh Stack Read Aloud, every fourth

Friday of April through October. Sundae Flea MarketsKids DaysLive MusicPhysical activity, including adult kickball, Zumba and Tai Chi

Coming to Schenley Plaza in 2009

Schenley Plaza’s food kiosks offered a variety of lunchtime options.

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Board Spotlight: Illah Nourbakhsh Mixes Technology and NatureBy Melissa McMasters

Volunteers Contribute More than 4,000 Hours to ParksBy Erin Copeland

WWiitthhoouutt oouurr vvoolluunntteeeerrss the parks ofPittsburgh would not look and function as they do today. This year our volunteer season

began in early March and wentthrough mid November. We removedinvasive honeysuckle shrubs, plantedtrees in Frick Park, and we picked upa lot of trash and planted trees inHighland Park. We created manydeer exclosures and planted trees in Riverview Park,and we pulled garlic mustard and stabilized gulliesin Schenley Park. And our Urban EcoStewardshave been working diligently on their sites within allfour parks.

During 2008, PPiittttssbbuurrgghh CCaarreess and the ParksConservancy started a more intensive agency/ coordinator relationship. We sent many volunteerrequest forms to Pittsburgh Cares, and they signed

up many of our individual volunteers. Additionally, they matched us to corporations who wanted towork together as a group. For more informationplease visit either www.pittsburghcares.org orwww.pittsburghparks.org.

All told, we worked with the following 23 organizations and groups and completed 4,350hours of volunteer service to make great strides in 2008.

Winter 2009 Page 7

Highland Park Volunteers for Pitt’s Make A Difference Day.

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PPaarrkkss aarree oofftteenn ddeessccrriibbeedd as an antidote totoday’s technologically-dominated world.But not everyone sees parks and technology as mutually exclusive. IllahNourbakhsh, Assistant Professor ofRobotics at CCaarrnneeggiiee MMeelllloonn UUnniivveerrssiittyy((CCMMUU)), joined the Parks Conservancyboard in 2007 and serves on theDevelopment and Nominating &Governance committees. He and his wifeMarti, along with their children, live nearFrick Park and are avid users ofPittsburgh’s parks.

HHooww iiss FFrriicckk PPaarrkk iimmppoorrttaanntt ttoo tthhee ssuurrrroouunnddiinngg ccoommmmuunniittyy?? The entire social interaction of our neighborhood takes place at Frick Park.

The residents with kids know each other because of the time we spend at theBlue Slide Park, and the dog owners all socialize there, too. Parks are some ofthe few places where people still strike up conversations with strangers. Thepark, not people’s front porches, is the social focus of the neighborhood.

HHooww iimmppoorrttaanntt iiss SScchheennlleeyy PPaarrkk ttoo CCMMUU??Schenley Park offers a type of respite and a kind of centering. A number ofstudents and faculty have their meetings walking through the park, and havemini-retreats there. The park is the recreational focus of the university.

WWhhaatt iiss yyoouurr ffaavvoorriittee PPaarrkkss CCoonnsseerrvvaannccyy pprroojjeecctt??It’s a tie. First is the Highland Park Entry Gardenrenovation. I’ve spent a great deal of time in Europeand I’m stunned by how European that space feels.And this is a qualitative thing, but I’m convinced thatthe space is perfectly designed.The other is the Environmental Center at Frick

Park. Something dear to my wife’s heart is learningin informal spaces, and parks are an incredible opportunity to bring learning into the natural world.This project is a golden opportunity to havePittsburgh become a leader in using its park systemto change how children look at nature and their environment.

HHooww ddoo yyoouu eennvviissiioonn tteecchhnnoollooggyy bbeeiinngg uusseedd aatt tthhee nneeww EEnnvviirroonnmmeennttaall CCeenntteerr??Part of what makes nature compelling for learning is the sense of discovery andwonder. Technology is a looking glass to wonder and discover what’s special about things that might otherwise seem prosaic. I could imagine kids atthe Environmental Center being able to document the park, using the Internetto report about what they’ve seen.

HHooww ccaann tteecchhnnoollooggyy eennhhaanncciinngg ppeeooppllee’’ss oovveerraallll ppaarrkk eexxppeerriieennccee??I envision a few things happening in the near term that are exciting. One iseducation technology in the park. Soon we’ll be able to walk through the parkand get guided tours on our cell phones. We can dial a number and hear aboutthe trees, the lichen, all the biodiversity, and have the experience of walkingthrough the park with a really good docent. Another thing is technology’simpact on activities and socialization. Technology helps us interact. It may beeasier to get a group of like-minded people to a walk in the park or to set up aplay date using social networking.

HHooww hhaass tthhee RRoobboottiiccss IInnssttiittuuttee bbrroouugghhtt ttooggeetthheerr ppaarrkkss aanndd tteecchhnnoollooggyy??One project that has an application to the parks is GigaPan (a robotic cameramount that takeshundreds of photos which are then stitched together to form ahigh-resolution panorama). GigaPan takes pictures with so much resolutionthat you can dive in and see new details you hadn’t noticed before. You can talkto people around the world about what you’re seeing, down to how many bugsappear on a forest floor.

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The Parks Conservancy recently became a member of the GigaPan beta program, which means you canexpect to see high-resolution panoramas of the Pittsburgh parks soon! We will be uploading photos towww.gigapan.org. To zoom in on Tom Lauwers' photo of Panther Hollow below, go towww.gigapan.org/viewGigapan.php?id=10623.

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CCoommmmuunniittyy GGrroouuppssAmericorps Literacy ProgramCAPA High SchoolCMU Tepper School of BusinessEllis SchoolFind the Rivers!Hill HouseJunior League of PittsburghMen’s Garden Club of PittsburghPenn State Cooperative ExtensionPittsburgh Job CenterPittsburgh Zoo Steel City BioFuelsStudent Conservation AssociationTemple SinaiUniversity of Pittsburgh English Language InstituteUniversity of Pittsburgh Make A Difference DayUniversity of Pittsburgh Service Enacted through Nonreligious Students' Efforts

Illah Nourbakhsh uses technology toenhance the park experience.

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PPeennnnyy MMaatteeeerr aanndd RRaannddyy PPeeaarrssoonn love the Pittsburgh parks and especially theirneighborhood park, Schenley Park. In fact, their first date was walking theSchenley trails. When Penny and Randy decided on a fall wedding, a “parks”wedding theme felt just right and Schenley Park Visitor Center the perfect sitefor their ceremony. When their guests opened Penny and Randy’s wedding invitation, a unique

and lovely request unfolded. Rather than the usual wedding gifts, the couplerequested guests make donations to the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy to honorthe occasion of Penny and Randy’s wedding. The couple is helping to support the restoration of Schenley, especially their

favorite trails. They are looking forward to snowy days in the park and forPenny, a Pittsburgh fiber artist, winter holds another exciting option-- ice skating on a crisp, blue-sky day in Schenley.The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy invites you to continue the work of

restoring Pittsburgh’s historic park system for the benefit of all Pittsburghersand for those generations to come. The parks, which are free and accessible toall, benefit from the generosity of many who choose to honor a friend or a

special occasion. Also,you may wish to make agift in memory of a lovedone or a friend.Tuck a note into

birthday, anniversary, getwell or just “thinkingabout you” cards for special friends or familymembers and let themknow that you have madea gift in their honor tothe Parks Conservancy. To make a Tribute Gift,

simply send your donationand the details of your giftto the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, 2000 Technology Drive, Suite 300,Pittsburgh, PA 15219. For more information, please call Lisa Conti at thePittsburgh Parks Conservancy at 412-682-7275, extension 211.

A Wedding Gift to the ParksBy Mary Kay Poppenberg

Randy Pearson and Penny Mateer smile for their guests at theirwedding at the Schenley Park Visitor Center.

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MMeegg CChheeeevveerr,, President and CEO ofthe Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, hasbeen honored by Governor and Mrs.Rendell as a DDiissttiinngguuiisshheedd DDaauugghhtteerrooff PPeennnnssyyllvvaanniiaa.

To be selected as a DistinguishedDaughter, women must be nominatedby organizations within the commonwealth for accomplishmentsof statewide or national importance.The Distinguished Daughters of2008 were honored with medals and citations presented at the Governor’sResidence in Harrisburg on October 8, 2008.

Meg Cheever and First Lady of theCommonwealth of Pennsylvania JudgeMarjorie Rendell at the DistinguishedDaughters of Pennsylvania Award Ceremony.

Meg Cheever HonoredBy Laura Cook

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