The city of Pittsburgh is celebrating the conveyance of 660 acres of property known as Hays Woods. The property will one day become the largest park in the city.
"A 660-acre site that once was to be the home of a thoroughbred horse racing track, a casino, a hotel, restaurants and other development now will become the largest park in Pittsburgh," reports Mark Belko.
"Pittsburgh Development Group II, the site owner, is conveying the entire property, including mineral rights, to the city, which plans to use most of it for a park. A small portion also might be used for residential development," adds Belko.
The article presents the donation of the property, which includes streams, valleys, and even a waterfall, as a historic event for the city. The city plans "to work with foundations, conservation and environmental groups to secure a conservation easement to protect the land." The mineral rights included in the conveyance mean "the city can prevent drilling for oil or gas on the site."
In follow-up coverage, Diana Nelson Jones tours the site as it currently exists, before it begins to take shape in the imagination and the reality of Pittsburgh. According to Nelson Jones, the property is known currently as the Hays Woods, and "it’s a wild, overgrown uphill, downhill of deep woods, meadows, cliffs, views, deer scat, darting birds, dragonflies, butterflies, knotweed, old trees, junk trees and wetlands of reeds, rushes and cattails."
The Hays Woods are perhaps most well known for its Bald Eagle's nest, which is visible in real-time on PixController's webcam.
FULL STORY: Hundreds of acres in Pittsburgh's Hays section to be used as city park
Innovative Park Agencies Receive National Recognition
The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) recently announced the recipients of this year’s awards for innovation in health and wellness, equity, conservation, and park design.
Regenerating and Healing Land Through Parks
Through thoughtful planning and restoration efforts, parks can help heal degraded land, meeting multiple community needs, improving soil quality, restoring native vegetation, and creating habitats for wildlife.
Los Angeles County Parks Department Releases Five-Year Strategic Plan
The L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation recently completed a strategic plan which details goals, strategies, and actions that reflect the agency's commitment to advancing equity.
Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network
The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.
EPA Awards $267 Million to Clean Up and Reuse Contaminated Sites
The EPA is investing the funds to clean up and redevelop contaminated sites nationwide, supporting economic growth, community revitalization, and environmental restoration.
Knoxville Dedicates $1M to New Greenway
The proposed greenway would run along North Broadway and connect to 125 miles of existing trails.
Philadelphia Launches ‘Speed Slots’ Traffic Calming Pilot
The project focuses on a 1.4-mile stretch of Lincoln Drive where cars frequently drive above the posted speed limit.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions