Haberman Corridor A Plan for & McKinley Park Revitalization and Redevelopment
Request for Proposals
City of Pittsburgh Hilltop Alliance Beltzhoover Unified Front Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: January 2, 2015
A PLAN FOR REVITALIZATION & REDEVELOPMENT -- HABERMAN CORRIDOR AND MCKINLEY PARK
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. GOALS Page 2
2. LOCATION AND SITE Page 3
3. BACKGROUND Page 3
4. PUBLIC PROCESS Page 4
5. PLAN ELEMENTS AND CONSIDERATIONS Page 5
6. PROJECT DELIVERABLES Page 6
7. PROJECT TASKS Page 7
8. GENERAL CONSULTANT RESPONSIBILITIES Page 10
9. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION GUIDELINES Page 11
10. SELECTION PROCESS Page 13
11. CONTRACT Page 14
12. ANTICIPATED TIMELINE Page 14
13. ONLINE RESOURCES Page 15
14. APPENDICES
A. Excerpts from City of Pittsburgh Parks & Open Space Plan Page 16
B. McKinley Park History Page 18 1 | P a g e
Historic entrance to McKinley Park
1. GOALS McKinley Park and the Hilltop communities share a rich history (see Appendix A). As partnered clients, the Hilltop Alliance and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy are combining efforts to improve two adjacent Hilltop assets – McKinley Park and the Haberman Corridor. One team will be selected to lead the two interconnected planning projects, with the shared intention of creating a roadmap for achieving integrative green space, rooted in the connectivity of assets, that revitalizes the neighborhood and results in catalytic projects. The Project Team (client group) will work collaboratively throughout with the selected Consultant. Its members are: City of Pittsburgh, Hilltop Alliance, Beltzhoover United Front, and Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Haberman Greenway The goal of the Haberman Corridor Plan is to leverage this public greenway in order to revitalize the neighborhood’s housing market. A phased-in housing development fronting onto a newly- constructed Haberman Avenue Greenway would accomplish many goals, including: Stimulating existing housing market equity with new development; Connecting light-rail transit, recreation, trail and park assets; Reclaiming vacant and abandoned property; and Providing greenway maintenance through fees generated by a housing association- (even though the greenway would remain an open, public asset).
McKinley Park The overarching goal of the McKinley Park Plan is to develop an implementable vision for park improvements, guided by stormwater management and weaving the threads of history and contemporary community life together into a beautiful, safe, active, accessible and sustainable park. This project will help bring the park a new level of usability and popularity while preserving its historical significance for current and future generations.
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2. LOCATION AND SITE Haberman Avenue is currently a 12-foot public right-of-way. It lies between the boundary of McKinley Park at Michigan St (SE) and East Warrington Avenue (NW) in the Beltzhoover neighborhood. On the Mount Washington side of East Warrington Avenue, Haberman Avenue continues as a city street up to Bailey Avenue and is an easy connection to the regional Emerald View Park and its network of trails, which presents a long-term connectivity option. In Beltzhoover, there has been community interest Beltzhoover’s Haberman Avenue Corridor in developing the Haberman right-of-way as a Highlighted greenway for many years.
3. PROJECT BACKGROUND Haberman Greenway content The Hilltop Alliance has supported any and all unification efforts of the multiple Beltzhoover organizations around common goals and priorities, and has secured the unanimous support of the Beltzhoover Unified Front (consensus group) for the development of a community greenway along the existing and neglected Haberman Avenue right-of-way. The idea was first put into the study “Restore Beltzhoover” in 2008, where the client was the Beltzhoover Neighborhood Council. Later that year, it was expanded upon in a landscape architecture class project by Erin Hollands. And lastly, in the 2013 “Allentown & Beltzhoover Housing Market Restoration Strategy” provided by Fourth Economy Consulting, it was again identified as a significant potential asset. The 2013 client was the Hilltop Alliance, with community representation from the Beltzhoover Civic Association. Once complete, the greenway will provide additional recreational opportunities, safer access to public transit, and spur investment in neighborhood housing. The Haberman Corridor Plan will enable a community-driven visioning and planning process to take place in order to Beltzhoover Neighborhood Location within Pittsburgh jumpstart this important project.
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Physical Boundaries
Beltzhoover is a neighborhood located in southern Pittsburgh in an area known as the South Hills. The neighborhood has a land area of four tenths of a square mile. Beltzhoover’s physical boundaries are derived from Bausman Street in McKinley Park to the south, Warrington Avenue to the west and north, and Beltzhoover Avenue on the east. Beltzhoover is one of 12 communities represented by the Hilltop Alliance, which includes 11 City of Pittsburgh neighborhoods and the borough of Mt. Oliver. The neighborhood is located within US 2010 Census tract 5624 and is comprised of Block Groups 2, 3, 4, and 5.
McKinley Park The City of Pittsburgh’s OpenSpacePGH 2013 plan defines McKinley Park as a signature community park, targeting it for a higher level of capital and operations investment because of its strong potential to serve a larger population and provide “green premium” benefits. (See Appendix A: OpenSpacePGH.) The park is one of the oldest in the City of Pittsburgh, with community use documented to 1874. Significant improvements were made during the WPA era under the direction of Ralph Griswold. (See Appendix B: Park History.) Coal mining occurred on the site; acid mine drainage is present.
The park’s 78.5 acres include two steep ridges, with developed park facilities (skate park, sports courts, ball field, play area) located in the lowlands along Bausman Street. Along Amesbury and Delmont Streets, on the upland northwest portion of the park, are a senior center, basketball courts, and children’s play area. This upland area of the park functions primarily as a neighborhood park for nearby residents, while the lowland area serves a wider region due to its facilities. In between is a heavily wooded hillside laced with trails, and another heavily wooded hillside lies south of Bausman Street. The park occupies a significant drainage within the Sawmill Run Watershed, which PWSA has identified as a priority stormwater reduction target.
4. PUBLIC PROCESS The planning process will help bring generations of residents together, thus fostering a sense of community, pride, and ownership that will help the public greenway and the park to be well- maintained and stewarded for years to come. To represent the needs and wishes of the community, the planning process should include, but not be limited to, community charrettes/workshops (events), focus group discussions and periodic meetings with the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee -- representing key interests, including elected officials, public agencies, neighborhood representatives, institutions and businesses -- will be convened and managed by the Hilltop Alliance to interact with and advise 4 | P a g e
the Consultant throughout the planning and design process. In addition, an appropriate number of community events and focus groups will be conducted in which the Consultant will engage purposefully with residents and other stakeholders. The selected proposal will illustrate strategies to be used to garner ongoing and meaningful community participation and engagement throughout the planning process. Successful past experience with community-driven development should be articulated in proposal applications. The Consultant will provide facilitation, meeting preparation, materials, and reports. The project team will promote community engagement activities and manage logistical requirements for meetings of the Steering Committee and Focus Groups (such as City agencies, park event producers, parks user groups, sports leagues, and other community stakeholders).
5. PLAN ELEMENTS AND CONSIDERATIONS -- McKinley Park The Park Plan shall be framed by sustainability strategies, including: • Resource Conservation -- analyzing landscape types and values, including sensitive habitats and historic patterns, to ensure appropriate levels of preservation, management, and development; • Stormwater Management -- maximizing the amount of stormwater captured on site by identifying an array of stormwater management/amenity projects for specific locations with priorities and magnitude of costs assigned; • Social Capital – providing ADA access, and pedestrian and bicycle linkages wherever possible, designing social and playful spaces, incorporating interpretive signage, and planning for the inclusion of public art; • Maintenance – planning with insight into current resources/practices, and recommending improvements such as the use of lawn substitutes and native plants; • Waste Reduction – using quality products and materials that are durable and recyclable; and • Implementation – strategically prioritizing recommended projects, with cost estimates and possible funding sources. Elements to be considered in the Park Plan include: • Community and city context in light of existing and proposed neighborhood parks, trails and open space, as well as the park’s walkshed; • The park’s history and evolution of form and use, with opportunities to interpret cultural and natural resources; • Current physical conditions, including infrastructure, circulation, plant communities, structures, artifacts, sports and play facilities, site furnishings and lighting, and signage 5 | P a g e
(for which the City is currently developing standards); • Promotion of imaginative, playful, and active lifestyles; • Crime prevention through environmental design; • Current and future uses, including events and programming; and • Operations and maintenance policies/standards.
Haberman Corridor Plan The Corridor Plan shall be framed by the following strategies: • Public Right-of-Way -- restoring and reconstructing for pedestrian and bike access; • Phased Housing Development – possibly configuring to face the right-of-way; • Green Infrastructure – incorporating to the greatest extent possible; and • Implementation – strategically prioritizing recommended projects, with cost estimates and possible funding sources. Elements to be considered in the Corridor Plan include: Community and city context, including existing and proposed neighborhood parks, trails and open space; The right-of-way’s history and evolution of form and use, with opportunities to interpret cultural and natural resources; Current physical condition, including infrastructure, circulation, plant communities, structures, artifacts, site furnishings and lighting, and signage; Operations and maintenance policies/standards; Promotion of active lifestyles; Access and accessibility; and Recommended project priorities/phasing, cost estimates and identification of possible funding sources for implementing the Plan.
6. PROJECT DELIVERABLES The Plans should be submitted as separate documents in booklet and electronic formats, in both .pdf and editable formats, including text, photographs, graphics, tables, charts and renderings for both existing conditions and improvements, including, but not limited to, grading and drainage, plantings, circulation, sports and play facilities, structures, boundary/entry conditions, lighting, signage, furnishings, interpretation and/or public art, and boundary/entry definition. The Plans 6 | P a g e
are to be in full color and must include sections that relate to the focus areas delineated in the Scope of Services. Project deliverables should include: A final draft of the Plans to be provided to the Steering Committee at the end of the project, and 15 days before the final presentation to the community. Written and visual documentation of all community meetings facilitated, including but not limited to, presentations, meeting notes, and display boards. Visual summary of the Plans suitable for both electronic (with interactive features) and print distribution, with the number of copies to be negotiated. Twelve (12) bound copies of each Plan and one (1) unbound Plan. One (1) disc or CD-ROM with each Plan in .pdf , Microsoft Word and InDesign formats, and maps in ArcGIS/Illustrator (native file) and .pdf formats. All shapefiles/layers and all images (high resolution) used in the document will also be provided to the Project Team. The disc should also include printable versions for both 8½” x 11” one-sided and two- sided booklet format.
7. PROJECT TASKS The following section outlines general steps that should be used to structure the planning effort for both the Park and Corridor. It is expected that the full scope for the Corridor Plan will be awarded and completed, while the Park Plan will be developed in stages dependent upon the availability of funding. At this time, $30,000 is available for Phase 1 of the Park Plan. Thus, the proposal shall outline a work plan for the Park that will, in its initial phase, focus on developing a stormwater management plan that can attract implementation dollars from public utilities, while serving as the basis for ongoing master planning. The proposed work plan will also outline subsequent stages of master planning, deliverables, and associated fees and expenses. A key deliverable for the initial phase of work on the Park Plan is the development of one stormwater management/amenity project to the schematic design stage, with cost estimates.
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In general, the project scope for both McKinley Park and the Haberman Corridor will encompass the following tasks:
Task 1: Project Scoping Meeting At the project scoping meeting, the Consultant and Project Team (City of Pittsburgh [Department of Public Works, Department of City Planning, and Department of Parks and Recreation], Hilltop Alliance, Beltzhoover United Front, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy) shall: Review project requirements, site conditions, and roles and responsibilities; Identify new information needs and next steps; and Transfer any information to the Consultant(s) which would assist in completion of the project. The Consultant(s) shall prepare and distribute a brief meeting summary clearly indicating the agreements/understandings reached at the meeting. Work on subsequent tasks shall not proceed prior to approval of the proposed approach as outlined in the meeting summary. Task 1Products: Scoping meeting with appropriate parties. Written meeting summary outlining agreements reached. Project work schedule.
Task 2: Community Outreach Process, Plan and Tools With guidance from the Project Team and Steering Committee, the Consultant shall design a process to encourage community participation in visioning and consensus-building. The process shall include public charrettes or workshops (events), web-based solicitation of feedback, and outreach to key stakeholders. The Project Team will manage event invitations and logistics and the Consultant shall design and conduct the events. Activities will allow participants to reveal ways in which they use and value the space, the relationships between site resources and adjacent neighborhoods, and to identify additional issues and opportunities. At each stage of plan development, participants will be encouraged to give substantive response to plan alternatives. When preferred concepts are presented for both the Park and the Corridor, public input will be sought regarding short- and long-term priorities, as well as strategies for participation in the implementation process. Overall, the Community Outreach Process will foster an appreciation for the Park and the Corridor as community assets and will celebrate the work accomplished by the community. Task 2 Products: Approved community outreach process plan. 8 | P a g e
Interactive web-based tool to post documents and plan alternatives, and to solicit and track community input (consider such tools as Mindmixer, CivicViz). Written documentation of outreach process, summarizing the community vision and feedback received at each stage of the plan development, and submitted for review and comment.
Task 3: Review Existing Plans The Consultant shall identify and review existing planning documents and/or information regarding the Park, the Corridor, and neighborhood open space. The Consultant shall develop a compilation of existing planning documents and the issues and opportunities previously identified by the Project Team. (See page 15.) Task 3 Product: Approved report identifying preliminary issues and opportunities.
Task 4: Inventory and Analysis and Identification of Opportunities Based primarily on the review of existing plans, and additional research as appropriate, the Consultant shall develop an inventory, assessment, and analysis of existing conditions, including narrative, maps and relevant data. This inventory will be used to assist in the identification of issues and opportunities for the Park and the Corridor. The Consultant and the Project Team will determine the extent of the inventory, which may include: Stormwater systems and water quality (point and nonpoint sources); Natural resources and landscape features; Overhead and underground utilities; Public access and circulation; Scenic and historic resources; Structures; Sports and play facilities; Maintenance infrastructure; and Lighting, signage, and furnishings. Based on preliminary findings and the inventory and analysis, the Consultant shall also design charrette activities and prepare materials needed to conduct the first community visioning charrette. The inventory and materials shall be submitted for review prior to the first community visioning charrette.
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Task 4 Products: Inventory and analysis, including narratives, maps, relevant information. Charrette handouts and materials.
Task 5: Preparation of Alternatives Using feedback from the community, the Consultant shall prepare at least two development scenarios to submit to the Steering Committee for review prior to presentation to the community for feedback. Task 5 Product: Proposed development scenarios.
Task 6: Preferred Concepts Based on the results and work done to date, the Consultant, in consultation with the Steering Committee and Project Team, shall develop preferred concepts for both the Park and Corridor. These concepts will include issues and opportunities, a revised vision statement, graphic illustration of the vision, and a preliminary work-up of specific actions and strategies. The draft concepts will describe long-term goals and short-term priorities, as well as action steps. The draft concepts will be submitted to the Project Team for review and approval. Task 6 Product: Preferred concepts, including a revised vision statement and phasing strategy.
Task 7: Final Report: McKinley Park Plan + Haberman Corridor Plan The Consultant shall prepare the Plans based on the preferred concepts and reflecting the ideas and views expressed at the final public charrette. The phasing strategies will be refined to prioritize and recommend projects and actions necessary to implement the plan, accompanied by cost estimates. The Plans shall cover each of the above tasks and products in separate documents and shall reflect any comments to the satisfaction of the Project Team prior to finalization, publication, and distribution. Task 7 Product: Printed and electronic copies of both of the final Plans in .pdf and editable word formats (see Item 6. Project Deliverables, page 7 for details).
8. GENERAL CONSULTANT RESPONSIBILITIES At the request of the Project Team, the Consultant shall attend meetings to review the status of
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the project. The Consultant shall prepare records of all meetings and conversations with the public, the Project Team, public agencies, and other entities.
The Consultant shall identify appropriate staff and subconsultants for the project. No changes shall be made without the agreement of the Project Team following review of qualifications.
Invoices shall document tasks completed and percent of overall work completed, and demonstrate that this corresponds to the amount of payment requested.
9. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION GUIDELINES The proposal must include the following information: Cover Letter The cover letter shall state the Consultant’s name and contact information, including a contact person. It should also identify that the attached document is a submission for the McKinley Park Plan + Haberman Corridor Plan. Approach to Scope of Services The Consultant will prepare a proposed scope of services, detailing the work tasks and deliverables and indicating how the project team will approach the work outlined in the Scope of Services. Work should be substantially complete by June 30, 2015, for the completed Corridor Plan and for Phase 1 of the Park Plan (stormwater). The scope of services provided in this RFP serves as a guide, and may be improved upon by the Consultant. Qualifications Responses to the RFP must include the full range of skills and experience necessary to perform the work that is outlined in the Scope of Services. The consulting team should have demonstrated capabilities in many of the following disciplines: A. Sustainable design, including stormwater management, habitat restoration, green building; B. Landscape architecture with experience in (1) planning, restoring and improving cultural and historic parks, (2) multi-modal corridor design, and (3) designing environments to support play for all generations; C. Housing development; D. Residential architecture; E. Urban design and transportation planning; 11 | P a g e
F. Community engagement and creative public outreach, including web-based community input and use of social media tools; G. Accessibility; H. Public art and interpretation.
To best express qualifications for the project, the Consultant should provide: A narrative explaining the team’s approach to the project; The composition of the team and anticipated roles of all personnel assigned to this project; The resumes of all involved Consultants and personnel assigned to this project and the specific duties of each; Examples of recent work that is similar in nature; and At least three references with contact information regarding recent relevant work. Consultant(s) should specify his/her/their role(s) in each of these projects, the type of work he/she/they performed, project budget and implementation results that followed after the plan. Current and Planned Project Obligations Consultant(s) should provide a list of current major projects and the status and contract term of those projects. Budget A detailed cost estimate of each of the tasks defined in the scope of services must be provided. A targeted range for total Consultant fees and expenses is $55,000-65,000 for all proposed phases of the McKinley Park Plan (with $30,000 allocated to Phase 1 targeting stormwater management). A targeted range for total Consultant fees and expenses is $30,000 for the Haberman Corridor Plan. Project cost estimates should include: A not-to-exceed total fee and direct expenses (no mark-ups), broken into phases with deliverables; In the event that additional services are authorized on the Park Plan, provide hourly rates for principals, project managers, other professionals and sub-consultants; and Hours anticipated for each task and team members assigned.
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Submission Requirements All questions must be submitted in writing via email to Susan Rademacher at [email protected] by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14, 2015. A complete list of all questions and responses will be posted on the Conservancy website on Friday, January 16, 2015. The proposal must be submitted by mail (one print copy and one digital copy on CD) to: Susan M. Rademacher Parks Curator Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy 2000 Technology Drive, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15209 [email protected]
One single PDF copy must be emailed to: Aaron Sukenik Executive Director Hilltop Alliance [email protected]
ALL SUBMISSIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 4:00 PM ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2015. POSTMARKS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT.
10. SELECTION PROCESS The Project Team will review the proposals and will invite a short list of firms to interview. After the interview process is completed, the Consultant for the project will be selected and notified. Evaluation criteria will include: Creativity and innovation in techniques, analysis and project ideas; Qualifications of the Consultant, including any sub-consultants, and staff of sub- consultant(s); Appropriateness of project ideas for the community; Genuine appreciation of community engagement; Flexibility and adaptability to succeed in a variety of economic climates;
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Ability to carry out and manage the project within an accelerated timeframe; and Successful implementation of similar planning projects.
11. CONTRACT The contract for the Haberman Corridor will be awarded by the Hilltop Alliance; the contract for McKinley Park will be awarded by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. The Consultant will guarantee that the cost of the final products will not exceed the negotiated fee and expenses. A payment schedule will be included as a contract exhibit detailing the deliverables required for payment. The Consultant shall submit separate invoices for the Park and the Corridor plans following approval of project deliverables, as agreed upon at the initial scoping meeting. Procedures for invoicing and expense documentation will be provided to the selected consultant. Fees and Expenses, not to exceed $30,000, reserved exclusively for the Haberman Corridor Plan, will be invoiced to and paid by the Hilltop Alliance. Fees and Expenses, not to exceed $30,000, reserved exclusively for the McKinley Park Plan, will be invoiced to and paid by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy.
12. ANTICIPATED TIMELINE A final work plan and schedule will be developed with the selected Consultant. January 5 RFP released January 14 Questions due January 16 Answers posted January 23 Responses due January 26-30 Proposal review and firm short-list February 2-11 Interviews with short-listed teams February 13 Consultant selection and notification February 27 Contracts executed with approved work plan and schedule June 30 Completion of Corridor plan and McKinley Park phase 1 (Full plan dependent on additional funding)
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13. ONLINE RESOURCES City of Pittsburgh – OpenSpacePGH/Comprehensive Plan http://exchange.planpgh.com/portal/openspace/openspacepgh
PGHSNAP (Pittsburgh’s Neighborhood Data and Map Resource) http://www.pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/snap/
SmartTRID STUDY (South Metro Area Revitalization through Transit – Transit Revitalization Investment District – South Hills Junction, May 2011) http://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/dep/SMARTTRID_SouthHillsJunction_Final>090111.pdf
Hilltop Alliance http://www.pghhilltopalliance.org/
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy http://www.pittsburghparks.org
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Appendix A:
Excerpts from City of Pittsburgh Parks and Open Space Plan (OpenSpacePGH 2013)
McKinley Park – Description and Facts Classification: Community Park
McKinley Park (78.5 ac.) is located in Beltzhoover (15210) in close proximity to the Bon Air Early Childhood Center and Bon Air Park. Bausman Street runs east-west through the property and bisects it. The park contains two steep ridges, with developed park facilities (a skate park, sports courts, ball field, and children’s play area) located in the lowlands along Bausman Street. Along Amesbury and Delmont Streets, on the upland northwest portion of the site, are a second children’s play area, a senior center, and a sports court. Upper McKinley Park, the upland area, appears to function primarily as a neighborhood park for the nearby residents, and is not connected to the lowland community park features.
Acres: 78.5 Planning Sector: 6 (Mt. Washington/Hilltop West) DPW Division: 4
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Shelters: 1 Recreation Ctr: 1 Senior Center: 1 Play Areas: 2 Tennis Courts: 4 (lighted) Basketball Cts: 3 (lighted) Baseball Field: 1 (lighted) Baseball Field: 1 (unlighted) Hockey: 2 Horseshoe: 1 Drinking Fountain: 1 Bleachers: 4 Benches: 29 Tables: 7 Grill: 1
Recommendation: INVEST - Make capital replacement or capital improvement projects at the site. This includes implementation of existing master plans, upgrading or capital replacement of existing amenities and facilities, the addition of new features and facilities into the existing site. This category also includes new development of a park. • Develop a site master plan addressing the overall site and its constrained topography. Address refinement of the park’s identity, improving connections and visibility across the site and providing a more cohesive park experience. • Incorporate more trails into the hillsides, providing hiking trails within the park and creating connections between Upper McKinley and McKinley. • Selectively remove and replant trees to increase visibility between sections of the park and enhance forest health. • Upgrade the park facilities along Bausman Street, including providing better circulation among the elements via a pathway system.
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Appendix B:
McKinley Park History
Since 1875, this wooded recreational oasis has been the gathering place for residents of the Beltzhoover, Bon Air, and Knoxville neighborhoods.
Located in today’s Hilltop area, McKinley Park is approximately 1.7 miles south of Downtown Pittsburgh. The park was created out of land first owned by William Penn’s son and grandson, John Penn and John Penn Jr. They sold the land in two tracts to John Ormsby in 1791. Just three years later, on June 25, 1794, Ormsby sold 248.5 acres to Melchior Beltzhoover, a tavern keeper from Hagerstown, Maryland, who had immigrated from Metterzimmern, Germany, in 1752. Beltzhoover paid 745 pounds, 10 shillings (about $1,800 in today’s dollars).
Melchior and his wife Elizabeth (nee Schunk) farmed the purchase and raised a large family. In 1806, he willed the property to his sons Henry, George, Jacob, Daniel, Samuel, William and daughter Elizabeth. Eventually, Jacob took over the family farm, tavern and tanyard, where hides were tanned.
Melchior’s son, Jacob Beltzhoover (1770-1835) was also a notable Pittsburgh pioneer. Married to the widow Elizabeth Saams Bausman; they had five daughters. Jacob was a successful businessman and slaveholder, with child slaves registered in the county courthouse. He owned a ferry that ran from the end of Wood Street across the Monongahela River until 1818, when it was replaced by the Monongahela Bridge, in which he was a shareholder. In 1825, he opened a mine on the northern side of Mt. Washington, across the river from the town of Pittsburgh. (In 1861, the mine penetrated the hill to the southern side, and was later enlarged to become the Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Tunnel.) When Jacob died in 1835, the Beltzhoover farm passed to his daughter, Harriet.
Reminiscent of rural Germany, Beltzhoover retained its country atmosphere through the first three quarters of the 19th century. Names of settlers in the area included: Eib, Fleckenstein, Fuch, Heinsel, Heisterkamp, Heldt, and Zehfuss. A German family, the Schells, ran a tavern on Washington Road (now Warrington Avenue), the main route from Pittsburgh to Washington, Pennsylvania. And in 1863, a brick powder magazine was constructed on “Magazine Hill” when Lee's northern campaign posed a threat. 18 | P a g e
Married to the Scotsman John Murray, Harriet Beltzhoover sold a large portion of the Beltzhoover farm in 1875 to the contracting firm of McLain & Maple. McLain and Maple laid out plots and streets, and began building new houses which were being principally purchased by German workmen. Thomas S. Maple, son-in-law of Benjamin McLain, named a street for each of his children; Florence, Eugenia, Howard and Harriet, now Delmont, Michigan. Estella and Industry, respectively, and the unchanged Vincent, Lillian and Walter. Houses on Freeland Street were made of grey sandstone from a nearby quarry, and were termed Quarry Row.
Thomas Seabrook Maple, son of Jacob and Matilda (Stoats) Maple, and father of Marguerite (Maple) Stevenson, was educated as a civil engineer. He was connected with the Pennsylvania Railroad for the construction of driving the Gallitzin Tunnel (1853-54), and later became assistant engineer and supervisor. Resigning to join the Union army in the Civil War, Maple was a lieutenant in Anderson Troop, Independent Company, and was attached to the headquarters of the Armies of Ohio and Cumberland, under Major Generals Buell and Rosecrans. He was the founder, together with his father-in-law, Benjamin McLain, of the boroughs of Allentown and Beltzhoover, which were later annexed by the City of Pittsburgh. Maple’s wife, Margaret Boyd (McLain) Maple, was a direct descendant of John W. Johnson, a contractor and a member of the town council, borough of Pittsburgh, in 1815.
The McLain & Maple Plan reserved a large acreage from development, and it became a favorite picnic site for local residents and workers. It was given the name “Butcher’s Grove” after a large oxen roast held by butchers and slaughterhouse employees on July 4, 1875. Swings fastened to the limbs of the poplars and chestnuts with stout bull ropes were a favorite amusement of the children. Ninepin alleys were constructed for special picnics, and there was a pavilion where young and old could dance to familiar tunes played by a German band. The Beltzhoover and Allentown schools also held their picnics in Butcher’s Grove.
Another area of parkland below Butcher’s Grove became known as “Slack Hollow” for the slag spoils from Jacob Beltzhoover’s second coal mine. Slack Hollow was a rendezvous of boys – often truants – who usually could be found in the swimming hole in Saw Mill Run.
Beltzhoover was annexed to the City of Pittsburgh on March I, 1898, and the City purchased Maple Park from McLain & Maple shortly thereafter. The name was changed to McKinley Park, after President William McKinley’s assassination. 19 | P a g e
Additional acreage along Saw Mill Run Boulevard was acquired in 1925 through condemnation and in 1955 by sale, which that city then sold in 1984 to D & D Company Properties.
In the 1930s, the City developed an improvement plan under Parks Superintendent Ralph Griswold, a leading landscape architect of the era. Griswold was instrumental in attracting federal funding for park improvements through New Deal programs including the Unemployment Administration and the Works Progress Administration.
By the 1970s, Beltzhoover’s population had shifted to predominantly African- American. McKinley Park continued to be popular as a setting for neighborhood festivals and events, but began to be seen as less safe for children and everyday use.
Today, the park has playgrounds, tennis courts, a skateboarding facility, a baseball field, and a senior citizens' center. The trails and 1930s stone features are in need of repair, although walking in McKinley Park can still give a euphoric sense of the Pennsylvania countryside.
SOURCES
A century and a half of Pittsburg and her people, Volume 3, by John Woolf Jordan.
Pittsburgh Neighborhood Atlas, (University Center for Urban Research, University of Pittsburgh, 1977).
Reminiscences of Beltzhoover and Allentown: Two Old-Time Western Pennsylvania Boroughs, by C.A. Weslager (1964).
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