Hays Woods Task Force

DRAFT Findings and Recommendations to Mayor William Peduto and the Pittsburgh City Council

MARCH 2019 DRAFT ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Mayor William Peduto Dave Depretis, Baldwin Borough, Mayor Sylvia Fields, Eden Hall Foundation Mike Gable, Department of Public Works Co-Chairs of the Hays Woods Task Force Ray Gastil, Department of City Planning Corey O’Connor, Councilman, District 5, City of Pittsburgh Hannah Hardy, Allegheny County Health Department Tom Murphy, Urban Land Institute Ryan Herbinko, 31st Ward Community Action Group, Lincoln Place resident Michael Knoop, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Office of Councilman Corey O’Connor Sarah Koenig, Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania Curt Conrad, Chief of Staff Roy Kraynyk, Allegheny Land Trust Erin Jensen, Operations Intern Joey Lynn Ulrich, Venture Outdoors Ilyssa Manspeizer, Landforce Department of City Planning Peg McCormack, Riverlife Ray Gastil, Planning Director Jayne Miller, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Andrew Dash, Assistant Director Camila Rivera Tinsley, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Kara Smith, Principal Environmental Planner Heather Sage, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Martina Battistone, Senior Environmental Planner Kate St. John, Friends of Hays Woods Ose Akinlotan, Neighborhood Planner Sonya Tilghman, Hazelwood Initiative Mike Walsh, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Task Force Members Karen Abrams, Heinz Endowments John Barret, Baldwin Borough Patrick Bondi, Baldwin Borough Shade Tree Commission Jacqui Bonomo, PennFuture Lisa Brown, Economic Development South and Lincoln Place resident DRAFT Ross Chapman, Department of ParksDRAFT and Recreation Darla Cravotta, Allegheny County, Office of County Executive Fitzgerald

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Letter from Task Force Co-Chairs...... 5 Background Information...... 6 One year ago, we were appointed by Mayor Bill Peduto to chair the Hays Woods Task Force to develop recommendations for the future of this remarkable urban greenspace, recently acquired by the Urban Redevelopment Authority, and to be transferred to the Maps...... City of Pittsburgh. Task Force Process...... We want to thank the members of the Task Force who gave their time and shared their expertise and insights into generating principles and identifying opportunities in this report. The Task Force includes parks and open space experts, community organizations, nonprofit Summary of Task Force Recommendations...... stakeholders, and City, County and State officials who all contributed to the process. Guiding Principles...... Consolidated Phasing & Goals...... Our charge was to make recommendations to the Mayor and Pittsburgh City Council based upon our findings. To that end, the Task Force formed four committees: Programming and Education; Layout, Connectivity and Environment; Management and Organization; Potential Partner Organizations...... and Development. Topics for Future Study & Master Planning...... Summary of Public Input...... At the time of this writing, this remains a draft report, as we plan to incorporate new information from the community meetings scheduled for April of this year. It is the beginning of what will continue to be a careful, deliberative process of engagement and master planning for the long-term. Appendix A: Task Force Committee Reports This urban open space is a remarkable opportunity for not only Pittsburgh and its surrounding communities, but for the region. For Programming and Education Committee Report generations, one of the most enduring assets of our community have been our parks. Hays Woods will add a critical addition to our Management and Organization Committee Report verdant and dynamic park system. Development Committee Report Layout, Connectivity, and Environment Committee Report

Appendix B: Public Input DRAFT Co-Chairs of the Hays Woods Task ForceDRAFT Corey O’Connor, Councilman, District 5, City of Pittsburgh Thomas Murphy, Former Mayor, City of Pittsburgh

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Hays Woods - Introduction Site Context practices outlined for city parks in general are also applicable to the planning, design, operation, and maintenance of the future Hays Woods is a large tract of undeveloped land in southeastern The Hays Woods site, currently owned by Pittsburgh’s Urban Hays Woods park. Pittsburgh, which served historical industrial uses including coal Redevelopment Authority, is a total of approximately 644 acres, mining, but now maintains a sense of wilderness in an otherwise 4 miles southeast of downtown Pittsburgh, just south and west urban area. Despite the environmental degradation typical of the Monongahela River, East Carson Street, and the CSX and A Basic Timeline of Hays Woods of its former uses, it features areas of significant tree canopy, Norfolk Southern rail lines. Although the property is entirely within seasonal streams, steep escarpments and ridgelines with views of city limits, in the Hays neighborhood, in Council District 5, it is While additional historical research and documentation will the city, and rare native flora and fauna - even a pair of nesting largely bordered by Baldwin Borough to the north and south. be an important component of future planning processes, the bald eagles. A series of trails crisscross the property, from utility The primary vehicular access point currently exists at the end following timeline represents a broad historical overview of the corridors and remnant mining paths to foot trails through deep of Agnew Street, in Baldwin, and there is also a parking space site: brush. entrance off of Glass Run Road. • Pre-1700: Native American use of general area; further Use of these trails indicate the site’s popularity among The site was previously listed as SP-6 zoning, a specially-planned research needed outdoor recreation enthusiasts, despite the fact that the land zoning district based on the former development proposal for • 1700-1930’s: colonial settlers, farms, coal mining, gas is not currently open to the general public without a permit. ‘Palisades Park’. However, a Final Land Development Plan for extraction Because of Hays Woods’ unique qualities and the potential Palisades Park was never approved and thus the zoning has • 1930’s: J&L Steel consolidation for conservation, recreation, and education, the City of reverted to the underlying designation of ‘Parks’, which is a low- • 1970’s: LTV acquired J&L Pittsburgh and the Urban Redevelopment Authority are currently density district that allows parks and recreation use as well as • 2003: Pittsburgh Development Group II - Palisades project, endeavoring to establish Hays Woods as a public park that single-family residential and some other conditional uses. PLDP will expand its value to patrons for generations to come while • June 2016: URA purchase preserving and restoring important natural ecosystems. View southeast from Hays Woods ridgeline across the Monogahela The City of Pittsburgh completed its OpenSpacePGH plan, a • Nov 2017: URA vote to transfer 555 acres to city River toward Hazelwood component of the • Spring 2018: Mayor initiated Hays Woods Task Force The URA purchased Hays Woods in 2016 from the Betters Family, OpenSpacePGH Goals Comprehensive The Department of City Planning has aided the Task whose contributions helped to make the land available at a Plan, in 2012. The Force through the process to ensure that the Task Force’s Goal 1: Transition the System reduced value for the park. In Spring 2018, City of Pittsburgh OpenSpacePGH recommendations align with City policy and incorporate Goal 2: Integrate Natural Areas Environmental Considerations Mayor Peduto appointed a task force to explore potential plan does not DRAFTplanning best practices. This report reflects the activity, Goal 3: Activate People and PlacesDRAFT uses for the site, establish guiding principles, and outline a provide specific Because of Hays Woods’ natural topography and characteristics, discussions, and work of the Task Force as a precursor to the park Goal 4: Steward the System scope of work for the initial planning stages. The task force recommendations as well as its past industrial uses, there are a number of master-planning process. Goal 5: Document Progress has been charged with discussing aspects and possible use of for Hays Woods, but environmental concerns that limit development potential, the site including but not limited to layout, trails, connectivity, the Principles and including steep and land-slide prone slopes, undermined land development, programming, environmental considerations, that is subject to subsidence, acid mine drainage, and potential public participation in planning, funding, and long-term soil and aquifer contamination. operations and maintenance.

6 HAYS WOODS TASK FORCE REPORT - DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION HAYS WOODS TASK FORCE REPORT - DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION 7 BACKGROUND INFORMATION BACKGROUND INFORMATION Hays Woods also provides a wide array of environmental benefits Previous Hays Woods Studies and Relevant Plans Additional Considerations that can be protected and maintained for future generations. A number of assessments and studies about Hays Woods have In 2017, the Urban Redevelopment Authority acquired the It is significantly valuable in terms of contiguous forest and it is been conducted, both as part of prior development proposals Hays Woods site of 644 acres. Subsequently, the URA board home to a number of rare plant and animal species. and ongoing conservation efforts. These serve as important approved the transfer of 555 acres to the City of Pittsburgh for starting points for future master-planning efforts: development of a public park, while reserving approximately The project offers the opportunity to restore abandoned mines, 81 acres for potential development of single-family low density acid mine drainage, invasive species, and degraded land with 1988: Environmental Assessment for DGD Realty Acquisition - residential development. The Task Force, while recognizing the future restoration projects. Conservation efforts can help protect • Earth Sciences Consultants extraordinary opportunity of the 555 acres, raised concerns critical wildlife habitat, forested watersheds, wetlands and 2003: Hays Property Site Visit Report for Councilman Peduto - regarding the preliminary development concept for the 81 acres. riparian corridors from encroachment by future development, • Western Pennsylvania Conservancy The URA articulated the preliminary concept regarding the 81 while making these resources available for public enjoyment. • 2004: Pittsburgh Hillsides Ecology Report for City of Pittsburgh acres to the Task Force in a study session and also provided Hillsides Committee and Allegheny Land Trust additional information regarding studies, concepts, and current • 2016: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment draft for Urban management of the site. The Task Force voiced concerns Redevelopment Authority – Chester Engineers thoughout the process that there will be significantly improved • 2017: Hays Woods Ecological and Conservation Assessment ecological and experiential opportunities in a larger park, one for Allegheny Land Trust by Western Pennsylvania without an embedded 81 acres of residential development. They Conservancy have worked to articulate the basis for those concerns in the Task [source: Friends of Hays Woods website] Force Findings section of this document and in more detail in Appendix A: Task Force Committee Reports. Additional plans relevant to park planning in Pittsburgh include: The Task Force also notes that potential access and borders • City of Pittsburgh OpenSpacePGH – a component of underscore the importance of inter-governmental and local Pittsburgh’s Comprehensive Plan community and organizational cooperation for an initiative of • City of Pittsburgh OnePGH this scale. Four Baldwin Borough representatives have served • City of Pittsburgh Climate Action Plan 3.0 on the Task Force, and their concerns are incorporated into this DRAFT• City of Pittsburgh & Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority’s report, as well as those from CountyDRAFT and State representatives. City-Wide Green First Plan • Baldwin Borough Comprehensive Plan • Pennsylvania State Climate Action Plan (draft, 2018) An eroded gully functions as a A turkey feather seen at Hays • Allegheny County Comprehensive Plan Utility cooridors serve as trails through Hays Woods and frame views showcasing the site’s steep topography makeshift path beneath thick stands • Allegheny County Green Web of invasive knotweed

8 HAYS WOODS TASK FORCE REPORT - DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION HAYS WOODS TASK FORCE REPORT - DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION 9 BEN AVON BOROUGH VERONA BOROUGH MAPS - OPENSPACEPGHAVALON EXISTING OPEN SPACE INVENTORY MAPS - CONTEXT TO DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH BOROUGH O' HARA TOWNSHIP FOX ROSS CHAPEL TOWNSHIP BOROUGH SUMMER SHALER BELLEVUE HILL BOROUGH TOWNSHIP ETNA SHARPSBURG BOROUGH BOROUGH O BLAWNOX ASPINWALL HARA RESERVE BOROUGH BRIGHTON BOROUGH TOWNSHIP HEIGHTS TOWNSHIP PERRY MORNINGSIDE STOWE NORTH TOWNSHIP OPENSPACE

UPPER STANTON MILLVALE LAWRENCEVILLE HEIGHTS BOROUGH MAP: 1 - EXISTING OPEN not to NORTHVIEW HIGHLAND HEIGHTS PARK LINCOLN- SPACE SYSTEM MARSHALL- LEMINGTON- scale SHADELAND SPRING BELMAR GARDEN CENTRAL KENNEDY MCKEES LAWRENCEVILLE TOWNSHIP ROCKS Downtown PERRY BOROUGH SPRING PENN SOUTH HILL- GARFIELD HILLS CITY TOWNSHIP VIEW LOWER Neighborhood Park ESPLEN TROY EAST FINEVIEW LAWRENCEVILLE HILL LIBERTY LARIMER CALIFORNIA- FRIENDSHIP WINDGAP CHARTIERS KIRKBRIDE BLOOMFIELD Community Park CITY HOMEWOOD CENTRAL POLISH HOMEWOOD EAST WEST SHERADEN NORTHSIDE HILL NORTH MANCHESTER ALLEGHENY STRIP Regional Park ALLEGHENY DISTRICT CENTER UPPER FAIRYWOOD SHADYSIDE HOMEWOOD EAST ALLEGHENY BEDFORD HILL HILLS POINT SOUTH WEST DWELLINGS CHATEAU BREEZE Riverfront Park MIDDLE NORTH INGRAM NORTH CRAFTON NORTH HILL BOROUGH SHORE OAKLAND HEIGHTS ELLIOTT Special Use Park TERRACE SQUIRREL POINT WEST CRAWFORD- VILLAGE South Side Flats HILL CENTRAL BREEZE WILKINSBURG END ROBERTS NORTH BUSINESS BOROUGH WEST DISTRICT Public School * OAKLAND CENTRAL OAKLAND THORNBURG DUQUESNE CHURCHILL BOROUGH CRAFTON HEIGHTS BLUFF SOUTH BOROUGH BOROUGH Beautification Site WESTWOOD SHORE SOUTH OAKLAND RIDGEMONT REGENT SQUARE Other Park SQUIRREL EDGEWOOD OAKWOOD SOUTH BOROUGH MOUNT HILL FOREST ROSSLYN SIDE WASHINGTON SOUTH HILLS FARMS FLATS BOROUGH Greenway BOROUGH EAST ALLENTOWN SOUTH GREENFIELD CARNEGIE SIDE WILKINS SLOPES SWISSHELM Non-Public OpeTOnW NSSpHIaP ce GREEN PARK SWISSVALE TREE BOROUGH BOROUGH BELTZHOOVER ARLINGTON HEIGHTS BRADDOCK Other Municipality ARLINGTON HILLS KNOXVILLE BOROUGH HAZELWOOD MT. BEECHVIEW MOUNT CARNEGIE BANKSVILLE OLIVER Neighborhood BOROUGH OLIVER ST. RANKIN BON HOMESTEAD BOROUGH CLAIR BOROUGH TURTLE AIR BOROUGH CHALFANT BOROUGH CREEK GLEN Water BOROUGH HAZEL WEST HOMESTEAD Hazelwood BOROUGH NORTH BRADDOCK BRADDOCK BOROUGH BOROUGH BROOKLINE WHITAKER DORMONT BOROUGH HEIDELBERG BOROUGH CARRICK EAST PITTSBURGH BOROUGH HAYS (Some ParksB aOrReO UNGoHt to Scale. Size Exaggerated) SCOTT TOWNSHIP DRAFT WILMERDING DRAFT BOROUGH NEW * - Schools with open space that is maintained HOMESTEAD by the city through an agreement. OVERBROOK EAST MUNHALL MCKEESPORT BALDWIN BOROUGH BOROUGH TOWNSHIP BALDWIN MOUNT BOROUGH LEBANON Miles

LINCOLN BRENTWOOD Baldwin Hays Woods PLACE BOROUGH DUQ0UESNE 0.5 1 2 N NORTH VERSAILLES TOWNSHIP May WHITEHALL BOROUGH WEST 2013 CASTLE MIFFLIN SHANNON BOROUGH BOROUGH

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Mayoral Appointment of Task Force to identify the opportunities and constraints for Hays Woods, Task Force Meeting - July 24th, 2018 Committee Meetings develop guiding principles, and draft goals and scope of work Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto appointed the Hays Woods Task for master planning efforts. Below is an outline of the meetings The meeting began with a debrief of the site tour, discussion The task force committees Force in Spring 2018 with the mission to provide the following: held to date: about the central identity of the park, and the importance of met individually in order to near-term access and constituency building. More process- develop their committee • A sustainable plan to keep the park as the largest ‘natural oriented topics were also discussed: the desire for an information reports and outline goals for space’ park in Pittsburgh’s parks system Kick-Off Meeting - April 30th, 2018 session, facilitated workshop, and public engagement, as well as short-term, medium-term, Recommendations for long-term funding for maintenance expected deliverables and how reports would be used. and long-term park • Task Force members made introductions and discussed and preservation planning, development, the purpose of the task force - to give the Mayor / City Education & Programming Committee Options regarding the Urban Redevelopment Authority and operation. Their • recommendations on how best to incorporate the Hays Woods photo credit: Curt Conrad reserved land for proposed future residential use Info Session – September 12th, 2018 reports are included parcel. Committee topics, the need for a site tour, and future The identification of all uses, purposes, and needs for the This information session provided task force members with a in Appendix A of this • meeting schedules were also discussed. remaining acreage of preserved land. shared knowledge base on several key topics. Presentations document. • An exploration of necessary partnerships beyond city included: government with specific requests to make the above four Site Tour - June 12th, 2018 • Department of City Planning – background site info, context, February Task Force Meeting points successful. mapping, zoning Mayor Murphy led Task Force members on a guided tour of Hays • Western Pennsylvania Conservancy – overview of their 2017 Task Force members reviewed and discussed the Draft Task Woods. The Hays Woods Task Force is chaired by Former Pittsburgh Mayor Hays Woods Ecological and Conservation Assessment Force Report, the upcoming public meeting, budget and grant Tom Murphy and Councilman Corey O’Connor of District 5, • Friends of Hays Woods – overview of the group and their goals opportunities for further planning, and coordination with Baldwin. which includes Hays Woods. Members of the Task Force include for Hays Woods representatives from the Departments of City Planning, CitiParks, • Urban Redevelopment Authority – overview of proposed March Task Force Meeting and Public Works, Friends of Hays Woods, Allegheny Land Trust, residential development Task Force members reviewed the revised Draft Task Force Report Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Baldwin Borough, the Heinz and the presentation and feedback activities for the upcoming Endowments, and other critical local and regional stakeholders. Task Force Workshop - October 26th, 2018 public meeting. Property transfer and access was discussed. The Task Force established four subcommittees to go into greater A Task Force workshop was facilitated to help members create depth on the following topics: DRAFT a conceptual, preliminary vision forDRAFT Hays Woods in a focused Community Meeting 6-hour session. A creative brain-storming exercise and ‘SWOC’ To be held April 3rd. This draft report will be updated to include • Programming and Education analysis helped identify the site’s Strengths, Weaknesses, feedback and next steps. • Layout, Connectivity, and Environment Opportunities, and Constraints. Individual committees drafted • Management and Organization Guiding Principles and phasing goals, and the entire Task Force • Development built consensus on 10 Guiding Principles. Mayor Murphy leads Task Force members of a site tour at Hays Woods The Task Force and its committees have met numerous times photo credit: Hannah Hardy

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Summary of Task Force Recommendations and transfer of the land from the Urban Redevelopment Authority to the City. City Planning, in coordination with other Over the course of the past year, the Hays Woods Task Force relevant departments and organizations, will develop a members have researched and discussed the issues and scope of work for master planning consultants based on the opportunities for the future of Hays Woods as a City Park. City recommendations of this report, the public feedback, and Planning, the Office of Councilman O’Connor, and Mayor direction from the Mayor’s office. The master planning process Murphy have worked together to provide an overview of the will include a thorough public engagement component as Task Force work to date and provide a summary of the Task well as further study on the environmental, geotechnical, park Force’s recommendations, contained in the next section: access, and programming aspects of the future park. Summary of Summary of Task Force Recommendations. This section consolidates the goals of the four committee reports, which can be found in Appendix A. Task Force Guiding Principles, Goals, and Phasing The Guiding Principles found in the next section have been generally agreed upon by the Task Force as high-level concepts meant to provide a basis for future planning, design, Recommendations development, and maintenance of the park. While specific goals may change over time, they should always be consistent with the guiding principles. Example goals have been pulled from the committee reports to show how guiding principles lead to more concrete actions. The goals have also been grouped into approximate phasing categories (short, medium, and long-term) to indicate that development will take years, but that important actions can be taken in the short term.DRAFT DRAFT Next Steps Following the conclusion of the Hays Woods Task Force and release of this Task Force Draft Findings and Recommendations Report, the City will begin preparations for park master planning

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1. Preserve forested areas, 2. Plan within the context of the 3. Adhere to resilience and 4. Make partnerships and wooded ridgeline, and region’s ecological and open sustainability goals and best community engagement a archaeological features by space systems. practices to balance the needs of priority. limiting site disturbance. people and the environment.

EXAMPLE GOALS: EXAMPLE GOALS: EXAMPLE GOALS: EXAMPLE GOALS: • Conduct an extensive archaeological • Connect with existing programming and environmental surveys, building upon organizations that share a common interest • Ensure park planning efforts follow the • Be intentionally inclusive and use public engagement previous work, to ensure adequate planning in using green space for programming and recommendations laid out in Pittsburgh’s best practices in the planning process. for preservation and restoration prior to any recreation, and identify what gaps Hays Woods OpenSpacePGH Plan, Urban Foresty Master Plan, development. could fill. OnePGH, Climate Action Plan, and other relevant • Identify stewardship, education, workforce plans and policy. development / green jobs, and other constituency- • Commit to no net-loss of tree canopy and • Evaluate and plan for potential connections to building opportunities. maintain vegetation and ecological integrity. other local and regional open spaces. • Install phased infrastructure to support park use, following sustainable-construction guidelines in all • Build a publicly-accessible “library” of documents, development. maps, guidelines, and plans. • Contain build-out to no more than 5% of the total • Conduct analysis to quantify the economic, site, limited to the edges of conservation areas, social, and environmental benefits of existing • Include stakeholder groups in and outside of the and limiting impermeable surfaces wherever natural features in context of regional loss and city including residents of adjacent neighborhoods, possible. DRAFTpreservation of open space. DRAFTconservation and recreation organizations. • Emphasize historical and cultural value of the site • Review opportunities for adoption of Hays Woods • Create / strengthen existing ‘Friends of the Park’ through programming, design, and interpretive as a Regional Park. groups and expand their role in park development, signage. operations, and advocacy.

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5. Conserve and restore the 6. Provide inclusive 7. Plan for a variety of 8. Provide accessible trails to ecology of the site through programming to a diversity of transportation options so people key park amenities and wherever environmental management. user groups. without a car can get to the park, feasible, given the steep terrain. and to reduce ecological impact.

EXAMPLE GOALS: EXAMPLE GOALS: EXAMPLE GOALS: EXAMPLE GOALS:

• Develop and implement an Ecological Master • Partner with various organizations and 3rd party • Develop a Park Master Plan that considers • Map the trail system and formalize it to increase Plan that incorporates adaptive management vendors to promote specific uses such as birding adjacencies and context and minimizes connectivity and accessibility while maintaining for long-term, incremental change via continued or biking. impacts on neighboring areas. ecological integrity –use existing disturbed land monitoring and evolving management goals. and/or utility easements for trail network. • Provide for a range of passive to active • Work with Port Authority to increase existing bus • Enhance wildlife habitat, conserve and improve recreation in alignment with master plan service with convenient routes to Hays Woods. • Identify existing access points, trails and forest habitat, management stormwater recommendations. ‘destinations’, such as the ridgeline. and improve water quality (headwater and • Enhance existing transportation network ephemeral streams) through park improvements. • Offer environmental education for all ages. options, such as improving bike route • Establish and maintain a well-designed, well- connections. marked, non-motorized trail system with a • Implement an invasive species management • Evaluate efficacy of park programming and hierarchy of trail networks for various levels of program. implement changes as needs shift. • Where parking lots are necessary, follow best recreation, including ADA-accessible trails. DRAFT sustainability and landscapeDRAFT design practices. • Operate a living laboratory for urban forest • Ensure Emergency Management Services is conservation that integrates research and adequately involved and informed during trail innovative management practices, serving as a planning and design processes. model.

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Access & Information Short-term Goals (next 5 years): • Solidify protocol for visiting and traversing Hays Woods, and Make Hays Woods a City park. Establish long-term funding. create guidelines for public access and sensitive use of site. 9. 10. High-Level Decisions, Legislation and Administration • Work with Baldwin and PA Game Commission regarding pre- • Complete scope of work for master planning. park access including rules for the Bald Eagle exclusion zone. • Confirm anticipated timing of transfer from URA to City. • Identify existing access points, trails and ‘destinations’, such as • Consider establishing Hays Woods first as a greenway the ridgeline, temporarily before designation as a city park. • Assess parking needs and roads for initial demand. • Seek capital funding for planning, design, and interim • Ensure Emergency Management Services is adequately improvements. involved and informed. EXAMPLE GOALS: EXAMPLE GOALS: • Establish conservation easement per URA’s grant with DCNR. • Map the trail system and formalize it to increase connectivity • Retain task force/advisory committee. and accessibility while maintaining ecological integrity – use existing disturbed land and/or utility easements for trail • Consider establishing Hays Woods first as a • Review opportunities for adoption of Hays Woods as a network. greenway temporarily before designation as a Solidify long term sources of funding and support Regional Park. • • Build a publicly-accessible “library” of documents, maps, city park. for maintenance. Dedicate funds from City. Environmental & Park Planning guidelines, and plans. Develop a Park Master Plan (layout and connectivity) that • Conduct an extensive environmental survey of sensitive • • Seek capital funding for planning, design, and • Implement opportunities to monetize ecosystem considers adjacencies and context and minimizes impacts on species of flora and fauna, building on previous work, to interim improvements. values, such as carbon offsets. neighboring areas. ensure adequate planning for habitat preservation and restoration prior to any development. • Identify and use existing best management • Gain support from Allegheny Regional Asset • Develop and implement an Ecological Master Plan that Public Engagement practices that were employed for the design, District (ARAD) funding as a separate line item in incorporates adaptive management to build a framework for development, and maintenance of Riverview, the City Budget. long-term, incremental change via continued monitoring and • Promote public awareness of Hays Woods and create Emerald View and Frick Parks to the benefit of management goals that shift accordingly. community engagement. Hays Woods. • Seek foundation support and grants for initiatives • Conduct analysis to quantify the economic, social, and • Create / strengthen existing ‘Friends of the Park’ groups and DRAFTthrough programs such as the National Urban environmental benefits of existingDRAFT natural features in context expand their role in park development, operations, and and Community Forestry Program, Healthy of regional loss and preservation of open space. advocacy. Watersheds Consortium, Participatory Science, • Identify and use existing best management practices • Identify stewardship, volunteer, education, and constituency- Climate Resilience Fund, etc. that were employed for the design, development, and building opportunities. maintenance of Riverview, Emerald View and Frick Parks to • Identify the target communities surrounding the park that the benefit of Hays Woods. will be potential park users and give them the opportunity to • Begin invasive species management program. shape the programing that falls broadly within the identified categories.

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in a variety of ways. • Public engagement during master planning process to solicit • Connect with existing programming organizations that share • Create a tool kit to evaluate efficacy of park programming • Provide for a range of passive to active recreation in input on use of the space and share ideas for Hays Woods’ a common interest in using green space for programming (take into account social change) and implement alignment with master plan recommendations. potential at both a local and regional level and recreation, and identify what gaps Hays Woods could fill. evaluation. • Build a Visitors Center / educational structure in an accessible • Further review of existing maps and geotechnical reports, • Explore a ‘living laboratory’ concept as a means of engaging location, with ADA accessible bathrooms, classroom, and and additional investigations identifying concerns with scientists and citizens in research and education at Hays Environment community gathering spaces. undermined land, subsidence, landslide risk, soil and water Woods. • Create partnerships to establish vision and governance for a • Employ Park Rangers for the protection and safety of visitors. contamination, and stormwater management concerns • Be intentionally inclusive. Employ public engagement best ‘living laboratory’. practices in the planning process. Environment • Thorough inventory of existing infrastructure, utilities, • Implement adaptive management (Ecological Master Plan) transportation, and trails, and recommendations for • Include stakeholder groups in and outside of the city, that enhances wildlife habitat, conserves and improves • Offer environmental education for all ages. including residents of adjacent neighborhoods in Baldwin improvements, including transportation demand forest, and improves water quality (headwater and • Operate an ongoing laboratory for urban forest conservation. management Borough, and conservation organizations that span municipal ephemeral streams) and manages stormwater through park • Contain build-out to no more than 5% of the total site, limited boundaries. improvements. to the edges of conservation areas, and limiting impermeable • Further research on the conservation easements, protection surfaces wherever possible. and regulations that are already in existence and/or have Funding • Commit to no net-loss of tree canopy and maintain potential to impact future use of the area Medium-term Goals (5-10 years): • Develop a phased funding strategy to support Hays Woods vegetated landscape, ecological integrity. • Research into other local, regional, and national models that by using foundations, private, corporate, government, and can be used as examples for programming, management, Public Park possible naming rights for the planning and maintenance of Funding and funding • Implement Hays Woods Park Master Plan. Hays Woods. • Solidify long term sources of funding and support for • Stakeholder involvement in master planning advisory • Install phased infrastructure to support park use, following • Gain support from Allegheny Regional Asset District (ARAD) maintenance. committee sustainable-construction guidelines in all development. funding as a separate line item in the City Budget. • Determination of development needs and limitations • Establish and maintain a well-designed, well-marked, non- • Implement opportunities to monetize ecosystem service -whether buildings will be included as part of the project and motorized trail system with a hierarchy of trail networks for values. Topics for Continued Study / Draft Scope of Work if so, where can they sited -housing, community center, or various levels of recreation, including ADA-accessible trails. other park-use buildings • Where parking lots are necessary, follow best sustainability for Master Planning and landscape design practices.DRAFTLong-term Goals (10 years +): DRAFT • Construct non-structural spaces such as picnic areas and • Public input on this draft Hays Woods Task Force Report to viewpoints. Public Park further inform the master planning process • Partner with various organizations and 3rd party vendors to • Provide a park that is welcoming to all races, nationalities, • Ecological inventory and management as a priority, with promote specific uses such as birding or biking. guidance by conservation land management experts; park • Evaluate and plan for potential connections to other local creeds, abilities, genders and gender identities, and economic backgrounds to help patrons connect with nature programming as an overlay to the ecological management and regional open spaces. plan

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Potential Partner Organizations

Members of the Task Force represent numerous organizations, Steinbrenner Institute for Environmental Ed. and Research (CMU) which are already noted as excellent partners. This list contains Tesla/Solar City those organizations as well as other possible partnerships for The Academy School programming and funding, as identified by the Task Force: Tree Pittsburgh Trust for Public Land 31st Ward Community Action Group United States Forest Service Allegheny County Urban Forest Project Allegheny Land Trust Urban Land Institute Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania Venture Outdoors Baldwin-Whitehall School District Western PA Conservancy Borough of Baldwin City Parks Alliance Colcom Foundation Duquesne Light (utility right-of-ways) Economic Development South Eden Hall Foundation Friends of Hays Woods Hazelwood Initiative Heinz Endowments Landforce National Recreation and Park Association Outward Bound PennFuture Pennsylvania Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources Pennsylvania Dept. of EnvironmentalDRAFT Proections Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Pittsburgh Public Schools Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority Richard King Mellon Foundation Riverlife

28 HAYS WOODS TASK FORCE REPORT - DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION