News Around the Neighborhood
PHLF: First Historic District of Sewickley
Saturday, August 2
10:00 am – Noon
$25 per person
This tour is limited to 20 participants.
Tickets will not be available after 11:30 pm on August 1.
In 1895, G.F. Keller dubbed Sewickley the “Queen of Suburbs,” as its location 12 miles down the Ohio River from Pittsburgh removed it from the smoke and congestion of the city. Because it could be reached from Pittsburgh by rail in less than half an hour, Sewickley attracted an affluent clientele who commuted to the city for work.
This tour explores homes on Beaver Street, Pine Road, Centennial Avenue, Woodland Road, and Academy Avenue—all lying within Sewickley Historic District #1. (Sewickley Borough has three historic districts.) The tour also includes houses in the adjacent Edgeworth Borough. It encompasses a variety of architectural styles in works by some of the most prominent local architects and architectural firms of the times.
PHLF: Focus Tour of Children’s Museum and MuseumLab
Saturday, July 26
10:00 am – 11:30 am
$25 per person
This tour is limited to 20 participants.
Tickets will not be available after 11:30 pm on July 25.
Here’s a recipe for a scrumptious architectural experience: Take one 19th-century Renaissance Revival-style U.S. Post Office building. Add a disused planetarium in the “stripped classicism” of the 1930s, when it was built.
To bind them, mix in a contemporary building sheathed in thousands of plastic squares that sing when the wind blows. Top off the assemblage by re-purposing a beloved 1880s library building constructed by one of Pittsburgh’s great industrialists, leaving visible all vestiges of the building’s past lives.
What do you get? A feast for the visual palate that will stick in your memory long after you leave this extraordinary collection of buildings that comprise the largest cultural campus for children in the United States.
PHLF: Focus Tour of Two Landmark Churches
First English Evangelical Lutheran Church and Smithfield United Church of Christ
Friday, July 18
10:00 am – Noon
$25 per person
This tour is limited to 20 participants.
Tickets will not be available after 11:30 pm on July 17.
First English Evangelical Lutheran Church and Smithfield United Church of Christ seem to hail from different architectural universes. The modest scale and sturdy demeanor of First Lutheran (Andrew Peebles, dedicated 1888) call to mind an English country church.
In contrast, Smithfield United (Henry Hornbostel, dedicated 1927) feels more attuned to the tall buildings that had been rising in Pittsburgh since the 1890s. With good reason: it’s built on a steel frame, and its unusually airy steeple is constructed of aluminum, a quintessentially modern material. The churches’ interiors draw attention and encourage contemplation in equally distinctive ways, with exquisite artistry in wood, stained glass, and mosaic.
Help Shape the Future of Pittsburgh Parks’ Website
Help Improve Our Website Navigation 🧭
We want to hear from you! Do you think it’s easy to find what you are looking for on our website? We are restructuring our website’s navigational menu in order to better serve you. Will you take a few moments to participate in our “card sorting” activity? Because just like parks should be easy to explore, so should our website.
Missing Cat!
Be on the look out for Pippers, she disappeared on the 900 block of N Lincoln Avenue.
You’re Invited to a Northside Celebration!
Join Us in Allegheny Commons Park for a Northside Celebration!
Meet us in the park on Sunday, June 29, for our free Family Day Celebration. The kick-off to the season is sure to be larger than life, featuring:
🎶 Kid-friendly musical performances by Pittsburgh Festival Opera and Azure Concerts Pittsburgh
🎈 Balloon animals
🦋 Airbrush tattoos
🌭 Fun food
😃 Entertainment the whole family can enjoy!
Meet us in Allegheny Commons North, near the George Washington Monument. The event is free and open to all and no registration is required.
PHLF: Downtown’s Best Walking Tour
Thursday, June 5
9:45 am – 12:15 pm
$40 per person (includes the guidebook Exploring Pittsburgh: A Downtown Walking Tour)
This tour is limited to 10 participants.
Tickets will not be available after 11:30 pm on June 4.
Downtown Pittsburgh contains a remarkable array of buildings and places old, new, restored, and reimagined. This veritable museum of architecture is part of what makes Pittsburgh unique; it also allows us to understand the relationship between our history and our built environment.
In a vigorous tour of architectural landmarks, spectacular interiors, and significant urban spaces, you will learn how Pittsburgh developed from a military outpost in the 18th century into the 21st-century city that has been lauded for its beauty, walkability, and livability.
This tour also shows how historic buildings have been preserved and maintained for contemporary uses, manifesting the resilience and ingenuity that have defined Pittsburgh since its beginning.
City of Pittsburgh Celebrates Arbor Day with New Arboretum Designation at Allegheny Commons Park
As the City of Pittsburgh marks its 20th consecutive year as a Tree City USA, the Department of Public Works is proud to announce that Allegheny Commons Park has been formally accredited as a Level I Arboretum by ArbNet, a global network that supports the work of arboreta through professional standards and accreditation.
This prestigious designation recognizes Allegheny Commons Park for its growing collection of tree species, community engagement, and commitment to education, stewardship, and long-term planning.
“This milestone is about more than just trees—it’s about the health of our neighborhoods, the beauty of our parks, and the strength of our commitment to sustainability,” said Mayor Ed Gainey. “Being a Tree City USA for 20 years shows how deeply Pittsburgh values its green spaces, and the ArbNet recognition at Allegheny Commons proves that we are continuing to lead with purpose, partnership, and pride.”
To achieve Level I accreditation through ArbNet, Allegheny Commons Park met the following criteria:
- A collection of at least 25 species of trees or woody plants
- A documented arboretum plan and established planting and maintenance standards
- A dedicated group of staff or volunteers to manage the collection
- Ongoing community education and engagement efforts.
Bike to Work Day + Bike Week
Members are the 💚 of BikePGH, providing a reliable source of support to advocate for safer, livable streets for EVERYONE. As we gain momentum on our goal of 100 new members during the month of May, we’d love your support!
New and renewing BikePGH members receive:
Warm Fuzzies: Members propel our mission and help make Pittsburgh safer for all who bike, walk, and roll.
A Louder Voice: BikePGH makes it easier for members to engage with elected officials, amplifying their voices and providing access to nuanced information about local and federal issues.
Money Saving Discounts: Members save 10% off our online merch shop, receive discounts at tons of local bike-friendly businesses, and access member-only discounts for events like PedalPGH!
! Exclusive Offer: For a limited time, Join or Upgrade to the $15/mo level to receive a free Snack! brand, snack-themed bike bag:
Come see us at Bike to Work Day
May 15, 2025: We’d love to get to know you, hear about your biking & walking experiences in Pittsburgh, and know what is important to YOU as we work together, making Pittsburgh a
safer place to bike, walk, and roll.
Bike to Work Day Morning Cafés
7am – 10am: Free Breakfast – Coffee, Bagels, Fruit!
📍 Downtown @ De Fer Coffee & Tea (725 Penn Ave)
📍 Oakland @ Fifth Ave & Bigelow Blvd w/ Convive Coffee
Bike to Work Day Evening Café
4pm – 7pm: Free Draft Beer or N/A Drink! + Happy Hour Specials
📍 Strip District @ Kaya (2000 Smallman St)
🚲
Grab a bite and a drink with fellow Pittsburgh bike commuters, and meet the BikePGH staff! Even if you work from home, the only requirement is that you arrive by bike or on foot.
Your Ultimate Birding Guide to Pittsburgh’s Parks
Welcome Our Feathered Friends to Pittsburgh’s Parks
May is prime migration season and the perfect time to celebrate the incredible variety of birds in Pittsburgh’s parks. Whether stopping for a break during a long migration journey or guiding their fledglings through first flights, there are so many different kinds of birds to see—and hear—this month. Frick Park is especially alive with activity, offering great views of migrating songbirds and the sound of their melodies that fill the air. Dig into this special bird-themed edition of The Parks Press, and explore all the bird-centric programming we have planned this month!
Taking Flight: Help Migrating Birds Reach Their Destinations!
World Migratory Bird Day is landing in Frick Park on Saturday, May 10! Take part in the global movement to protect migrating birds and learn how you can make your homes and communities more bird-friendly. Activities include bird-focused fun and games, educational activities, and engaging discoveries. The bulk of the action takes place from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, but we are also offering early-morning birding events and an exclusive exhibition and lecture about bird-friendly design in the afternoon. Plan your visit below!