February 2022

Dear Friends of Mellon Park,

The board of directors of Friends of Mellon Park sends you every wish for peace and joy in 2022 and thanks you for your ongoing interest in, and support for, Mellon Park.

Headlines

  • Phipps Conservatory will renovate the existing Garden Center, but will not undertake any expansion unless they take over the Scaife Garage.

  • Friends of Mellon Park raised $30,000 for overdue maintenance of valuable trees in the park. We will affiliate with the City of Pittsburgh and Tree Pittsburgh to oversee the work.

  • A Community Arbor Day Celebration will be held on Saturday, April 30, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the south side of Mellon Park.

    The proposed Mellon Park Action Plan will be shared at three community meetings via Zoom in March.

    The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is hosting meetings on March 22 at 6:00 p.m. and March 26 at 12:00 p.m. To register for the PPC meetings, go to:

    March 22 - http://support.pittsburghparks.org/site/Calendar?id=101423&view=Detail
    March 26 - http://support.pittsburghparks.org/site/Calendar?id=101424&view=Detail

    The Point Breeze Organization is hosting a meeting on March 24 at 6:00 p.m. To register for the PBO meeting, go to:

    http://support.pittsburghparks.org/site/Calendar?id=101364&view=Detail

Into the Weeds — Newsletter Details

Phipps Conservatory

Phipps Conservatory and the City of Pittsburgh signed a ten-year extension of the Phipps Garden Center lease on December 31, 2021. Phipps has agreed to extensive renovation of the existing building, but will not be constructing a new building or expanding into Mellon Park.

The new lease gives Phipps the option to lease the Scaife Garage, which is located behind the Garden Center near the Shady Avenue parking lot. The Scaife Garage is currently used by the Department of Public Works as a garage for maintenance vehicles and as storage for tools and other equipment.

Mellon Park, its landscape, and its structures have City Historic Landmark protection, so any proposed change to building exteriors, structures, or the park landscape will be subject to review and approval by the Historic Review Commission. The public will have an opportunity to comment on any proposed changes.

Friends of Mellon Park is delighted that Phipps Conservatory has made this recommitment to Mellon Park. Along with the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition, the Point Breeze Organization, the North Point Breeze Organization, and the Larimer Consensus Group, we look forward to working with Phipps to advocate for green space in Mellon Park and to make the entire park welcoming to everyone.

$30,000 for Trees in Mellon Park

In October 2021, an anonymous donor challenged Friends of Mellon Park to match a $10,000 grant for the purpose of beginning long-overdue maintenance of trees in the park. A total of $30,000 was raised for the trees, and we are pleased to report that nearly 25% of the Friends of Mellon Park mailing list made donations in amounts ranging from $1 and $2,000.

We will work with the City of Pittsburgh and Tree Pittsburgh to prune and maintain the neediest and most valuable trees, with input from the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and other Friends of Mellon Park advisors.

Arbor Day Celebration

Please join us on April 30 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the south side of the park to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Pittsburgh’s first public arboretum! Friends of Mellon Park, the City of Pittsburgh, and Tree Pittsburgh are hosting a family-friendly event to celebrate and appreciate our beautiful park, and to bring East End neighborhoods together to enjoy it. There will be a lot going on, including a scavenger hunt, guided tours of the park, food, live music, and more!

Producing an event like this requires effort from individuals with all types of interests and talents, and we need volunteers. There will be many opportunities to help out, so please let us know if you’d like to lend a hand by sending an email to volunteer@friendsofmellonpark.org.

Proposed Mellon Park Action Plan

The purpose of the Action Plan is to establish priorities for restoration, maintenance, and design in Mellon Park. Created by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, the plan will be shared via Zoom at three community meetings. Critical decisions about developments in the park will be discussed at the community meetings. Please attend and make your voice heard.

Plans can be previewed on the Engage Pittsburgh website:

https://engage.pittsburghpa.gov/mellon-park-action-plan

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is hosting meetings on March 22 at 6:00 p.m. and March 26 at 12:00 p.m. To register for the PPC meetings, go to:

March 22 - http://support.pittsburghparks.org/site/Calendar?id=101423&view=Detail

March 26 - http://support.pittsburghparks.org/site/Calendar?id=101424&view=Detail

The Point Breeze Organization is hosting a meeting on March 24 at 6:00 p.m. To register for the PBO meeting, go to: http://support.pittsburghparks.org/site/Calendar?id=101364&view=Detail

So much has happened and is happening in Mellon Park, which is located at the intersection of some of the most exciting and challenging urban growth in all of Western Pennsylvania.

We must be active and vigilant advocates as we seek to protect green spaces and trees for the health and well-being of everyone in the East End of Pittsburgh.

Stay tuned!

In gratitude and appreciation,

Elizabeth Seamans, President

Friends of Mellon Park