March 2024

Headlines

  • Arbor Day Celebration in Mellon Park

  • Terraced Garden Study Update

  • Tree Care – Thanks to Your Donations

  • Phipps Garden Center Renovation

  • PPC Pathways & Lighting Project

  • Have You Noticed?

Arbor Day Celebration in Mellon Park

Please Join us on Saturday, April 27, from 11:00 – 2:00 for Friends of Mellon Park’s 4th annual Arbor Day Celebration. The family-friendly event will once again feature lots of FREE activities for all ages.

Thanks to more than two dozen participating organizations, and in partnership with the City of Pittsburgh, Tree Pittsburgh, and media sponsor WQED, we’re able to offer an afternoon of fun for everyone. There will be live music, games, a fire truck, a tree walk, a food truck, lots of craft activities, and more. It’s a great way to celebrate Mellon Park with neighbors and friends, old and new.

We’re looking forward to seeing you there! (Let’s all hope for good weather.)

Terraced Garden Study Update

Members of Friends of Mellon Park and the Point Breeze Organization met with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and LaQuatra Bonci Associates (LBA) to learn details of the state of the Terraced Garden. Funds were raised for the study by Friends of Mellon Park, with strong support from neighbors and park advocates. The report was a compilation of the research conducted, not recommendations about next steps.

The walls are, for the most part, in good shape. The southeastern wall of the lower terrace has suffered the most deterioration and will require extensive renovation. The damaged stairs leading to the upper terrace will be addressed. ADA requirements will be met so that all park users can enjoy the space. Stormwater management will also be discussed.

LBA will present three options for moving forward in the next couple of months.

Tree Care – Thanks to Your Donations

Your donations to Friends of Mellon Park have paid off, as several of the park’s mature trees will soon receive some much-needed attention. Under the guidance of the City of Pittsburgh Forestry Department, we have contracted with Davey Tree to perform vertical mulching and air spading in the park.

Vertical mulching is a process used to treat compacted soil around the tree root zone. Happily, our beautiful public park is enjoyed by many, but all that foot traffic compacts the soil, making it difficult for air, nutrients, and water to penetrate the root system. The air spading and vertical mulching process, which is commonly used by arborists around the country, has become the preferred means to alleviate this problem.

Because of your help, Friends of Mellon Park is able to fulfill one of its important missions – to protect Mellon Park’s beautiful greenspace. Thank you!

Phipps Garden Center Renovation

We are excited to announce that the Historic Review Commission approved Phipps’ plans to renovate the Garden Center and the Scaife Garage. You can review their presentation on the Historic Review Commission website.

Phipps presented and requested approval for plans covering only the buildings. They will return for Historic Review Commission approval of patio and grounds renovations when those plans are complete.

Phipps and their architects, Rothschild Doyno Collaborative, worked closely with Friends of Mellon Park and the Point Breeze Organization to arrive at a project that will be a wonderful asset to the park.

PPC Pathways & Lighting Project

Mellon Park edges and entrances, especially on the south side, are ambiguous and often not clearly defined. This leads to some park users assuming that the south side of the park is private property, or an entirely different park altogether. The park edges on the north side, along Fifth and Penn Avenues and Bakery Square Boulevard, are open and inviting.

The park is physically divided by Fifth Avenue, and the two sides can appear to be two separate places. Historic walls and fences make the south side of the park appear to be private property. Many individuals aren’t aware that the area is a public park. The historic buildings along the Shady Avenue edge and an historic interior fence create the perception that the arts campus is separate from the park. Signage identifying Mellon Park is sparse and there is no wayfinding signage. In addition to the lack of signage, there is no consistent design language or connection between the two sides of the park.

The PPC Pathways & Lighting Project will address these and other issues. Please visit their website for more details.

Have You Noticed?

There are new urns at the Walled Garden. The gorgeous plinths and urns in the Walled Garden were recently replaced. The artisanal stonework complements the recently restored pathways, just in time for the arrival of spring. Visit the park today for a tranquil stroll.

Become a Friend of Mellon Park

Friends of Mellon Park is a 100% volunteer-run organization. We are able to help care for the park because of your support. You can become a Friend of Mellon Park.

Please join us and donate today.