Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s spring programs aim for city residents and visitors to leave winter behind and reap the benefits of being outdoors again through a mix of annual, ongoing and new activities.
“The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s Earth Month celebrations offer everyone the opportunity to take pride in their local green spaces and foster a personal, meaningful connection to nature,” said James Brown, conservancy director of education and the Frick Environmental Center, a conservancy news release. “By bringing the community together in our local parks, we hope to help park visitors cultivate a deeper appreciation for the environment and inspire hope that collectively, we can make a difference, no matter your age or background.”
Earth Month celebrations will take place at Westinghouse Park on April 5 and McKinley Park on April 19, featuring local DJs, hands-on nature crafts, face painting, neighborhood partners and other interactive activities, according to the release.
Carousel season begins on April 19 at the historic Schenley Park Visitors Center with the return of the PNC Carousel. Season passes are available now for purchase, and an offer to save $15 off the regular price is available until May 5. A new family day pass opinion has been added, too.
Birding enthusiasts and newcomers have a number of options. Black Birders Week led by naturalist educator Nyjah Cephas will include outings in Frick Park in the mornings of May 25 and 26. Birding Pittsburgh’s Parks series, led by naturalist Educator Stephen Bucklin, will focus on spring migration with sessions at Schenley Plaza, Frick Park and Hays Woods Park. A special edition of the series in partnership with Bird Lab is set for April 27 and May 13, both from 8 to 10 a.m.
World Migratory Bird Day on May 10 at the Frick Environmental Center is part of an international day of awareness highlighting the importance of bird conservation, the release stated. Attendees can participate in bird-related hikes and activities for all ages.
The conservancy’s Forest Bathing series, sponsored by the Staunton Farm Foundation and Citrone 33 Foundation, is expanding this year, offering the chance to slow down and experience the natural world through the five senses on various dates in Frick Park, Riverview Park, Allegheny Commons Park and West End Park. Evening Forest Bathing will be offered at Frick Park.
The conservancy and Write Pittsburgh as part of the National Education Association’s Big Read program will take a Sunrise Gratitude Walk and Write from 6 to 8 a.m. May 4, this year celebrating “Ross Gay’s Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude.”
Westinghouse Park will be the setting for an Urban Ecology presentation on April 5. Participants will learn about the flora, fauna and fungi that thrive in the urban park.
Conservancy naturalist educator and mycologist Stephen Bucklin will lead Frick Park Bioblitz City Nature Challenge participants on documenting and identifying the park’s biodiversity on April 27. Jr. Garden Bugs Story Time and Planting is set for May 10.
The new Outdoor Discovery Space and Sensory Nature Trail at the Frick Environmental Center will open in May. Work on the Schenley Park Visitors Center is nearly finished, with a grand reopening to be announced soon, according to the programming guide.
Stewardship days will be held at Hays Woods Park the third Tuesday of each month with volunteers getting hands-on learning experiences related to the park’s conservation efforts. Participants need to come prepared for a hike and expect some rough and uneven terrain.
Some programs require registration and small fees, all listed on the spring program guide. To view the entire programming calendar, visit PittsburghParks.org/events. The link for the guide is https://pubhtml5.com/movc/xfuo/.
Additional funders for the spring programs include the Richard King Mellon Foundation, Duquesne Light Co. and Pennsylvania American Water, according to the release and program guide.
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