Join Us This Weekend for a One Water Celebration!
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Events at Allegheny Commons
Thursday, May 2nd – Grand Reopening of the Northeast Fountain: The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, in partnership with the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny Commons Initiative and Northside Leadership Conference, invites you to attend the grand reopening of the historic Northeast Fountain. We hope to make this a fun celebration with activities and food. Event will take place at the corner of Cedar Avenue and East North Avenue in Allegheny Commons Park. Please register in advance at their website, pittsburghparks.org.
Saturday, May 4th – 2019 PNC Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Spring Hat Luncheon: This year’s event will be held in Allegheny Commons Park.The event will be held on Saturday, May 4th in Allegheny Commons Park. Tickets may be purchased online at pittsburghparks.org or by calling their office (412) 682-7275.
AWCC Membership Meetings – February 12, 2019
Calvary United Methodist Church, 971 Beech Ave
Tuesday, February 12th at 7:30 pm
- 7:30-8:45 – Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
- 9:00 – Reading and Approval of January’s Minutes
- 9:05 – Treasurer’s Report
- 9:15 – Housing & Planning Abbreviated Report
- 9:30 – Adjournment
Update on Northeast Fountain Project
Later this week, weather permitting, the contractor for the Northeast Fountain Project in Allegheny Commons Park will be removing the majority of the chain link fencing that is encompassing the project footprint. The chain link fencing will remain around the fountain basin. Orange temporary fencing will be placed along the pathways to keep people from walking on the lawn. Please see the attachment for a visual of how the site will look after the update. The blue line indicates the chain link fencing and the orange lines indicate the temporary plastic construction fence.
We look forward to the grand reopening of the Historic Northeast Fountain this spring. Stay tuned for more details about that event! Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. Thank you!
Erin Tobin
Community Engagement Manager
We’re So Grateful for You
We couldn’t be more grateful for Pittsburgh’s wonderful greenspaces, and for park friends like you.
Are parks something that you’re thankful for this Thanksgiving? We invite you to take part in one of our favorite annual traditions – writing notes of thanks to parks!
Here are a few notes that we loved:
“Thank you for all the fun we had there year after year! You made our life so much better! :)” -Cheng C.
“Dear Frick Park, if it weren’t for you, I don’t know that I could live in the city. Thank you for your vast canopies, your burbling creeks, your soaring red-tailed hawks, your great horned owls in the winter dark. You are the best!” -Ryan W.
“I am giving thanks to Highland Park for the beautiful way it embraces all people and connects us to each other and the landscape we live in.” -Susan R.
Thank you for being a friend. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy!
Big News for Allegheny Commons
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has been awarded a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant for $1 million dollars by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for the Allegheny Commons Park Fountain & Infrastructure Project Phase I. The funds will be used to help defray construction costs related to the Northeast Fountain and Promenade renovation project in Allegheny Commons Park that is currently underway.
The Northeast Fountain and Promenade Project is a neighborhood revitalization and public park improvement project that includes construction to add infrastructure to 1,000 feet of public green space in Allegheny Commons Park. The project will complete the next phase of the Allegheny Commons Master Plan (2002) and is consistent with the updated Action Plan (2017). The project site spans from the northeastern section of Allegheny Commons Park at Cedar Avenue along North Avenue. The project includes improved lighting and walkways, and other park site furnishings. The project is currently in progress with recreating an historic fountain at the intersection of North Avenue and Cedar Avenue that includes trees, plants and an infiltration bed that will aid in storm water management and site amenities.
The Northeast Fountain project will bring new energy to Pittsburgh’s oldest park. The new fountain will mirror its original 19th century design and will include a 50-foot circular basin, a one-foot rim of heavy cut stone, a large Grecian urn in the center, a tall central jet with smaller jets. The Northeast Fountain project, designed by Pashek+MTR, is under construction and scheduled for completion late fall 2018 with a grand reopening celebration being scheduled for spring 2019. The North Promenade project is in final design with construction scheduled to begin in spring 2019.
This project is a collaboration of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Allegheny Commons Initiative, Northside Leadership Conference and City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works. The Allegheny Commons Northeast Fountain and Promenade project is a public park improvement project that has been supported by many elected officials, community partners and dedicated community members, including Allegheny Commons Campaign Co-Chairs Patricia Rooney and Jeremy Leventhal.
Jayne Miller, CPRP
President & CEO
Get to Know Pittsburgh’s Oldest Park
Nestled in the heart of the Northside is Pittsburgh’s oldest park.
A beautiful greenspace serving over 41,000 neighbors, Allegheny Commons Park is an urban oasis. But this park isn’t only for nearby residents; the Commons is visited by people near and far thanks to must-see destinations like the National Aviary and the Children’s Museum.
Beginning this year is one of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s first major neighborhood park projects, happening in Allegheny Commons. Click here to learn more.
Bantam Night at Threadbare to Benefit Allegheny Commons
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is excited to partner with Threadbare Cider and Mead House to benefit Allegheny Commons Park. 9.9% of the night’s proceeds (including drinks, bottles and merchandise sold) will benefit the restoration of Allegheny Commons. This event is family friendly.
Mark Your Calendars
Please save the date: June 26th 5:00 – 8:00 pm (location TBD) for the first public information sharing session about the North Avenue, Pennsylvania Avenue and Allegheny Commons Pedestrian Bridge work. This meeting will be hosted by Norfolk Southern Railroad and the City of Pittsburgh. More details to come. Follow up at https://www.pittsburghparks.org. For the time being save the date and share with your neighbors!
Lake Elizabeth Update and Call to Action
PWSA Director Bob Weimar and Chief of Operations Guy Costa from the City attended last night’s Allegheny Commons Initiative meeting. We discussed the history of the issues surrounding Lake Elizabeth and were brought up to speed on the latest discussions between DPW and PWSA for addressing the current lake concerns:
- PWSA is now subject to the PA Public Utilities Commission regulations, with their core responsibilities to provide safe and reliable drinking water, convey sewage and manage storm water. As a result, PWSA has very limited ability to expend funds that do not directly benefit their ratepayers and therefore will not pay for the installation of the aerators in Lake Elizabeth.
- PWSA will be working with the DPW to identify some possible solutions such as the treating the water with small amounts of Algaecide. The City will be working to identify funding to pay for the electrical infrastructure needed to power the aerators. They are committed to draining and cleaning out the lake on a more regular basis to decrease the amount of organic material that contributes to the algae blooms and overall unsightliness of the lake.
- The DPW asked the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy to help organize a volunteer event to remove debris from the lake. I will be at the lake 8am this Saturday morning with gloves, trash bags, and a few rakes/shovels. Please register online here if you can join: https://www.showclix.com/event/lake-elizabeth-clean-up
- The DPW understands that they will need to go into the lake and power wash following the removal of debris. They explained that this work will happen quicker with the support of volunteers. So please consider joining me on Saturday morning!
What else can the community do to help?
- If you cannot volunteer, we could still use rakes and shovels. PPC will provide gloves and trash bags. I can pick up items on Thursday or Friday if you are willing to let us borrow, feel free to text/call or email 201-669-9046
- Contact Councilwoman Harris and request that she put $ in the capital budget for 2019 for the aeration system for the lake. 412-255-2135, darlene.harris@pittsburghpa.gov
- Help make the power washing and refilling of the lake a priority for DPW by continuing to send in 311 calls, contacting Councilwoman Harris at 412-255-2135 and contacting the Mayor’s office 412-255-2626
- Please attend your local community group meetings where I attend and provide park updates and can be available to answer questions. Or reach out to me directly and let’s meet for coffee!
Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. Thanks all for your continued support and advocacy for the park!
Erin Tobin
Community Outreach Coordinator
