Donor Newsletter June - July 2019 PittsburghParks.org Restorative Hikes Bring Peace of Mind

n June, the IParks Conservancy introduced a new program, Restorative Hikes. These hikes, which take place in , are inspired by the healing qualities of time spent in nature, coinciding with the benefits of meditation.

ach hike is led by an Eexperienced guide and focuses on increasing overall happiness and health. The first of the

hikes, held on June photo credit Ilan Sherman 15, was led by Moshe Sherman, a medical QiGong therapist and Reiki practitioner. More than 60 people registered for the first hike. Impressed Attendees of the first Restorative Hike meet in Frick Park, June 15, 2019 by the public support and and Lee Dingus. Earl and Lee Dingus is a storyteller of he next Restorative enthusiasm for the new Lee are accomplished traditional Native America Hike begins at program, we created a T artists and silversmiths. stories and a traditional 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, second hiking program, In addition to his artistry, Seneca style dancer. July 21 at the Frick Meet Me at the Fountain, Earl is a talented Native Lee uses her beadwork, Environmental Center. to be held on Saturdays in American flute player. He storytelling, dancing, and To learn more about Allegheny Commons Park. gave a world premiere lecture skills in conducting performance of We Get this program, or its sister he second of the Our Music from Nature youth art camps, after program Meet Me TRestorative Hikes with musical Director, school programs and at the Fountain, visit will be led by Native William Burkhard, and the various art classes for both pittsburghparks.org/ American couple, Earl Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra. children and adults. park-events.

ENGAGE contact James Snow at [email protected] or 412.682.7275 x220 Park champions like you Citizens Bank Breathes New Life into Mellon Square cKinley Park is a Mgathering place itizens Bank has includes weekly for the South Pittsburgh Cpartnered with yoga sessions, live neighborhoods of the Pittsburgh Parks lunchtime music, Beltzhoover, Knoxville, Bon Conservancy to create collaborations with Air, and Allentown. This Summer at the Square, Carnegie Library of 78.5-acre community park a season-long series Pittsburgh, and more— features children’s play of programs hosted all free, all Summer. areas, wooded hiking trails, at Mellon Square in For more details, a skate park, sports courts, . including upcoming a baseball field, and an performances, explore activities center. Presently, he series began on pittsburghparks.org/ the Pittsburgh Parks June 5 with free treats T square Flowers are in bloom at Mellon Square in downtown Pittsburgh, June 5, 2019 Conservancy is working from Millie’s Homemade with community partners Ice Cream, and a live “Citizens Bank is excited to be a new supporter of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. We are and the City of Pittsburgh performance by Scott proud to be partnering to bring renewed life to Mellon Square and look forward to on a green infrastructure & Rosanna. Summer at many, many more collaborations with the Parks Conservancy to support our parks!” – the Square programming Melissa A. Walters, VP, Senior Manager, Public Affairs at Citizens Bank and park amenity project in the Chicken Hill area of McKinley Park. This project Programs you make possible aims to reduce stormwater flowing into combined You’ve Spruced Up an Old Favorite sewers, resolve drainage e have taken Wour Sustainable Sipping program from the past and given it a modern twist! With Presenting: your support, Pittsburgh PNC Parks Conservancy Diamond: has created Frick Park Ritchie Battle After Dark, a new 21+ Susie Dorrance event held at the Frick EQT Foundation Environmental Center Audrey Hillman Fisher once per month, May Ramsey and Mike Lyons through October. Emerald: The Bognar Family vent attendees Cindy Gerber participate in E Howard Hanna environmentally-friendly, Real Estate educational workshops. Christy C. Wiegand and Afterward, attendees Barbara M. Wiegand enjoy live music, adult beverages, and grub Gold: from local food trucks. Vivian Benter Mary and Mark Flaherty he next event will be Patsy McKinney and Theld on Friday, August McKinney Properties 9. More details are at Reed Smith LLP pittsburghparks.org/ Frick Park After Dark attendees enjoy live music by hunnycomb and beverages from Hop Farm Brewing Jim Spencer and park-events Company, June 14, 2019 Michael Lin

2 Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy | June - July 2019 You transform our cherished spaces You Make McKinley Park Accessible cKinley Park is a and erosion problems THEN Mgathering place that are adversely for the South Pittsburgh impacting the park, neighborhoods of and restore accessibility Beltzhoover, Knoxville, Bon and connectivity Air, and Allentown. This both within the park 78.5-acre community park and with surrounding features children’s play neighborhoods. areas, wooded hiking trails, a skate park, sports courts, onstruction has a baseball field, and an Calready begun on the NOW activities center. Presently, restoration of two sets of the Pittsburgh Parks historic steps that serve Conservancy is working as key entry points to the with community partners park. This work is being and the City of Pittsburgh performed by our partners on a green infrastructure at the City. In the coming and park amenity project weeks, additional portions in the Chicken Hill area of of the project will get McKinley Park. This project under way. This includes Renovations continue at McKinley Park, June 27, 2019 aims to reduce stormwater new ADA accessible trails, slide, and a large series of neighborhood. This work flowing into combined an outdoor classroom, a rain gardens to manage should be completed by You’ve Spruced Up an Old Favorite sewers, resolve drainage new pavilion, an in-ground stormwater from the the end of 2019. 2019 PNC Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Spring Hat Luncheon Sees Record-Breaking Crowd in New North Side Location Presenting: Silver: PNC All Occasions Party Rental Carnegie Mellon University Diamond: Ritchie Battle Barbara Richey Chait Susie Dorrance Jack and Joan Diederich EQT Foundation Eden Hall Foundation Audrey Hillman Fisher Federal Home Loan Bank Ramsey and Mike Lyons of Pittsburgh Highmark Blue Cross Emerald: Blue Shield together with The Bognar Family Allegheny Health Network Cindy Gerber Macy’s Co-chairs of the 2019 PNC Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Spring Hat Howard Hanna Pietragallo Gordon Luncheon pose at the event in Allegheny Commons Park, May 4, 2019 Real Estate Alfano Bosick & Joan Clark Davis Peggy McKnight Christy C. Wiegand and Raspanti, LLP Debra Kline Demchak Meyer, Unkovic & Scott LLP Barbara M. Wiegand University of Pittsburgh Eat’n Park Hospitality Group Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP UPMC Health Plan Gold: Annie Hanna Engel National Aviary Vivian Benter Bronze: Federated Investors Sloan Overstrom Mary and Mark Flaherty Allison McGeary Florist Foundation, Inc The Pittsburgh Vintage Patsy McKinney and Bartlett Tree Experts First National Bank Grand Prix McKinney Properties Lara Patrinos Bentz Giant Eagle Simpson and McCrady, LLC Reed Smith LLP Citizens Bank Emily Mack Jamison Jimmi Sue Smith Frick Park After Dark attendees enjoy live music by hunnycomb and beverages from Hop Farm Brewing Jim Spencer and Civil + Environmental Mollie Hanna Lang System One Company, June 14, 2019 Michael Lin Consultants Inc. Larrimor’s Geovette E. Washington

www.pittsburghparks.org 3 Your parks, your stories Your Support Shapes Young Lives “The years of early childhood are the time to prepare the soil.” – Rachel Carson he Frick Environmental I think it proves that TCenter comes alive in “these early experiences the summertime. There, in nature stick with us and along with the sounds of are impactful,” Lydia said, birds, rustling leaves, and as she spoke of two current the thumps of feet running campers who are actually the paths of Frick Park, you’ll the children of former hear children laughing campers! “Younger kids and singing. The Frick seem more comfortable Environmental Center offers and open to nature, a sign that the bond between seven separate summer human—however small— camp programs for children and nature is innate.” and adolescents. The Kinder Nature Camp, which lasts tudies have proven that for 2.5 hours per day for time spent in nature is one week, offers stimulating S beneficial to our health. activities to children Children play in seed boxes during Kinder Nature Camp, July 9, 2019 Doctors have begun to between the ages of three prescribe nature time I want to encourage “The little things… are very and five. Kinder Nature to patients to stabilize “our young campers to big things.” campers enjoy singing, blood pressure, reduce hold onto their comfort in playing games, planting anxiety, improve mental and enjoyment of nature. our generous support allows us to offer seeds and—yep, you know clarity, and maintain a I want them to know they Y affordable education to it—digging in the dirt! healthy heart. In children, are always welcome in more than 7,500 children time spent in nature can Frick Park, and all our every year. Thanks to you, Naturalist Educator, PC improve cognitive abilities parks,” Lydia said. Behind our former campers and PLydia Konecky, is and build confidence her, a group of children counselors are now able to beginning to see second- and compassion—even in dug their hands into share their love of nature generation campers. digging in the dirt. boxes of seeds, laughing. with their children.

Keep summer camps affordable Help Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy continue its educational programming and keep summer camps affordable $50 Other $______My information: Name______Address ______City______State_____Zip______Phone______e-mail______

Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy does not solicit contributions from persons or entities in states other than Pennsylvania, New York, or Florida. 4 Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy | June - July 2019