Nestled in the heart of the Northside is Pittsburgh’s oldest park.
A beautiful greenspace serving over 41,000 neighbors, Allegheny Commons Park is an urban oasis. But this park isn’t only for nearby residents; the Commons is visited by people near and far thanks to must-see destinations like the National Aviary and the Children’s Museum.
Beginning this year is one of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s first major neighborhood park projects, happening in Allegheny Commons. Click here to learn more.
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is excited to partner with Threadbare Cider and Mead House to benefit Allegheny Commons Park. 9.9% of the night’s proceeds (including drinks, bottles and merchandise sold) will benefit the restoration of Allegheny Commons. This event is family friendly.
Please save the date: June 26th 5:00 – 8:00 pm (location TBD) for the first public information sharing session about the North Avenue, Pennsylvania Avenue and Allegheny Commons Pedestrian Bridge work. This meeting will be hosted by Norfolk Southern Railroad and the City of Pittsburgh. More details to come. Follow up at https://www.pittsburghparks.org. For the time being save the date and share with your neighbors!
PWSA Director Bob Weimar and Chief of Operations Guy Costa from the City attended last night’s Allegheny Commons Initiative meeting. We discussed the history of the issues surrounding Lake Elizabeth and were brought up to speed on the latest discussions between DPW and PWSA for addressing the current lake concerns:
PWSA is now subject to the PA Public Utilities Commission regulations, with their core responsibilities to provide safe and reliable drinking water, convey sewage and manage storm water. As a result, PWSA has very limited ability to expend funds that do not directly benefit their ratepayers and therefore will not pay for the installation of the aerators in Lake Elizabeth.
PWSA will be working with the DPW to identify some possible solutions such as the treating the water with small amounts of Algaecide. The City will be working to identify funding to pay for the electrical infrastructure needed to power the aerators. They are committed to draining and cleaning out the lake on a more regular basis to decrease the amount of organic material that contributes to the algae blooms and overall unsightliness of the lake.
The DPW asked the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy to help organize a volunteer event to remove debris from the lake. I will be at the lake 8am this Saturday morning with gloves, trash bags, and a few rakes/shovels. Please register online here if you can join: https://www.showclix.com/event/lake-elizabeth-clean-up
The DPW understands that they will need to go into the lake and power wash following the removal of debris. They explained that this work will happen quicker with the support of volunteers. So please consider joining me on Saturday morning!
What else can the community do to help?
If you cannot volunteer, we could still use rakes and shovels. PPC will provide gloves and trash bags. I can pick up items on Thursday or Friday if you are willing to let us borrow, feel free to text/call or email 201-669-9046
Help make the power washing and refilling of the lake a priority for DPW by continuing to send in 311 calls, contacting Councilwoman Harris at 412-255-2135 and contacting the Mayor’s office 412-255-2626
Please attend your local community group meetings where I attend and provide park updates and can be available to answer questions. Or reach out to me directly and let’s meet for coffee!
Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. Thanks all for your continued support and advocacy for the park!
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has submitted another grant request to the very competitive Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) state grant program requesting additional funding for the fountain, the North Avenue Promenade (repaving the pathways and lights) and stormwater management.
Last year, over 1,100 people submitted comments in support of our request for Allegheny Commons and we are back again looking for the same support! The public comment period is open until Sunday, April 8th. We are asking folks to sign on in support of our grant request. Please visit pittsburghparks.org/action-alert to sign on. It only takes a minute.
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has submitted another grant request to the VERY COMPETETIVE Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) state grant program requesting additional funding for the fountain, the North Avenue Promenade (repaving the pathways and lights) and storm water management.
Last year, over 1,100 people submitted comments in support of our request for Allegheny Commons and we are back again looking for the same support! The public comment period is open until Sunday, April 8th. We are asking folks to sign on in support of our grant request.
Groundbreaking Ceremony for Allegheny Commons Historic Northeast Fountain
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy in partnership with the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny Commons Initiative, and North Side Leadership Conference invite you to attend the groundbreaking for the rebuilding of the historic Northeast Fountain.
Thursday, April 19th
10:00 – 11:00 am
Event will take place at the corner of Cedar Avenue and East North Avenue in Allegheny Commons Park.
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is excited to work alongside our partners at the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny Commons Initiative, Northside Leadership Conference and the greater community to restore Allegheny Commons Park.
Please join your fellow park users on March 8th from 6:00–7:30 pm for our final presentation of the action plan we need for implementing the master plan.
The professional team is led by LaQuatra Bonci Associates, and includes eDesign Dynamics, Cleo Consulting and Fourth Economy.
As many of you may have noticed, Norfolk Southern has been working in Allegheny Commons near the Soldier’s Monument installing some cabinets. Please see some of the images attached (credit Jerry Green) and read the following information I received from Norfolk Southern regarding the work:
In 2008, following an incident in California between a commuter train and a freight train in which 25 people lost their lives, the U.S. Congress passed the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, which called for the development and implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC). The purpose of PTC is to prevent train-to-train collisions, overspeed derailments, unauthorized incursions by trains into sections of track where maintenance is being performed, and the movement of a train through a main line switch left in the wrong position. PTC is generally required to be installed on main lines that are used to transport passengers or toxic-by-inhalation (TIH) materials by December 31, 2018, and to be fully implemented by December 31, 2020. Interestingly, when the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 was passed, PTC technology did not exist, and over the past nearly ten years NS has spent $1.4 billion to develop, construct and implement PTC on 40 percent of its 20,000 mile network, including the rail lines through Allegheny Commons, which carry both TIH material and Amtrak passengers. The work within Allegheny Commons includes the installation of two aluminum signal cabinets in the vicinity of the former pedestrian bridge. Ultimately, these two cabinets will be relocated as part of the replacement of the pedestrian bridge, which is being funded by Norfolk Southern and PennDOT. Additionally, the large signal bridge and cases adjacent to North Avenue/Brighton Road will be removed.
Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you and happy holidays all!
In order to reach a wider audience to help inform the Master Action Plan process, the community meeting on November 15th is being rescheduled after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Please help us spread the word! Know of individuals, groups or organizations who should be involved in this process? Please pass this message along, or let us know by emailing me at (etobin@pittsburghparks.org).
As a reminder, this process is focused on BIG ideas. A final presentation of the MAP will take place in January. As funds are raised to carry out specific recommendations, the Parks Conservancy will engage the community in the design process for each project.
