Green Infrastructure

Retentive Grading • Bob O’Connor Memorial Golf Course • Parks Conservancy leads in green infrastructure stormwater management

As a principal environmental champion for the Pittsburgh stormwater management elements into every major park region, the Parks Conservancy’s continued focus on green improvement project since the early 2000’s. Ecological infrastructure is a natural fit. Green infrastructure aims to restoration (creating or restoring an ecological community), improve community assets – like meadows that both manage natural green infrastructure (optimizing existing ecological stormwater and provide aesthetically pleasing community communities that filter stormwater via their natural structure, spaces - while reducing flooding and erosion, and providing such as leaves or root systems), and built green infrastructure or maintaining wildlife habitat. Green infrastructure (constructing landscape elements to naturally manage installations manage storm water while also keeping our stormwater) have been an integral part of each park project greenspaces beautiful and healthy.The economic and health – from to the , August benefits of vibrant greenspaces are well-known, and key Wilson Park to the Frick Environmental Center, and every one in our city’s in between. continued upward trajectory. Indeed, Parks Conservancy parks play a key projects that have role in the City of significant green Pittsburgh and infrastructure Pittsburgh Water components are all and Sewage around our city. The Authority’s Babbling Brook at Green First plan, Highland Park was one and the Parks of the city’s first green Conservancy’s infrastructure projects. rich experience in Careful design turned green infrastructure a deteriorating set of installations offers a historic steps located unique opportunity off the eastern section to bring their of the Reservoir Drive benefits to our loop into a stream entire region. channel that naturally dechlorinates and The Pittsburgh Parks cleans water from Conservancy has the reservoir water long been a leading treatment plant. advocate for green The Highland Park infrastructure in our At the Beacon Street Meadow in Schenley Park, plants selected for their high Seasonal Pools region, working natural water absorption capabilities look beautiful while controlling stormwater. along Washington Boulevard were dug into a former lawn to collect stormwater are a model of how stormwater improvements can help from the park’s hills, allowing it to seep into the ground rather protect and enhance our public spaces with beauty, than flood the surrounding land and roads. performance, and wildlife diversity. Meadows, native grasses, and rain gardens all work to reduce sewer overflows, Across town, the Schenley Park Visitor Center Rain Garden flooding, and erosion problems in the larger Four Mile Run and rain barrels direct all water flow from the roof of the Watershed. Nearby has the Frick Environmental Visitor Center into a rain garden and collection of five rain Center site, with an intricate stormwater management system barrels, allowing it to be used for non-potable purposes or that includes roof water collection, underground piping to be absorbed into the park instead of into the overworked and holding tanks, and cascading ponds that allow natural sewer system. In the southwest part of our region, the reabsorption of water into the park. McKinley Park Entrance and Rain Gardens project improved accessibility, restored a historic stone wall and steps dating to The Parks Conservancy’s green infrastructure work in the the 1930s, and installed a porous asphalt parking lot and path coming year includes projects in McKinley Park funded by that allows stormwater to be absorbed into the ground. a Great Urban Parks Campaign grant from the National Recreation and Park Association and American Planning Schenley Park – with its geographically key location within Association. “The Parks Conservancy’s green infrastructure and Four Mile Run Watersheds – has several work brings value to Pittsburgh through stormwater Parks Conservancy green infrastructure projects in place. management and improved health of park ecosystems, The Schenley Park Beacon Street Meadow, with its carefully supportive habitat for plants and animals, and visual chosen plants whose structure and root systems absorb water, enhancement of the park landscape,” said Pittsburgh Parks works in tandem with large gravel-filled Infiltration Trenches to control stormwater. Park-goers have a lovely pathway Conservancy Director of Community Relations Heather that winds through wildflowers, while underground natural Sage. With dedicated regional and national partnerships elements naturally absorb excess stormwater. and support from generous park donors, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy will continue to be a leading force in green The northeast section of Schenley Park is home to the infrastructure, bringing its economic, health, and park Bob O’Connor Memorial Golf Course Retentive Grading, amenity benefits to all in our city. consisting of mounds of earth and plantings carefully placed to slow, direct, and absorb stormwater. Those passing along For more information about the Parks Conservancy’s green Schenley Drive see landscaped slopes of green as they wind infrastructure work, please visit www.pittsburghparks.org, or down to the Memorial. The renewed contact Senior Restoration Ecologist Erin Copeland at Westinghouse Memorial’s green infrastructure components [email protected] or 412. 412.682-7275 ex 111.

Tranquil trails wind along the Seasonal Pools designed to mitigate stormwater and help reduce flooding. Highland Park’s Seasonal Pools also maintain wildlife habitat and keep parkland beautiful for all to enjoy.