June 2023

Headlines

• Arbor Day in the Park

• Two Remarkable Mellon Park Trees Recognized

• New Signage and Entrances for Mellon Park

• Beware the Spotted Lanternfly

Arbor Day

Despite the on-and-off drizzle, friends and neighbors from the East End came out to enjoy the third annual Friends of Mellon Park Arbor Day celebration. The family-friendly event was a time to appreciate neighbors, the trees, and the green space.

There was a lot happening: science and art activities provided by neighborhood schools; non-profit organizations and environmental groups; tree walks and a free tree giveaway from Tree Pittsburgh; and a kids’ tree climb with City Forestry. Music was provided by Sunburst School of Music, jazz artist Lee Robinson, and the Obama Academy drumline and dancers. This year’s emcee was WTAE anchor Andrew Stockey.

Two remarkable women were honored at the event.  Over the years, both have advocated tirelessly for the protection and beauty of the city and its parks. 

Erika Strassberger, city council member, presented Friends of Mellon Park founder and outgoing president, Elizabeth Seamans, with a proclamation. An ivory silk lilac tree was planted in her honor.

Also recognized for her continuing good work was Mary Savage, who has brightened vacant city blocks with colorful flower gardens and is often called the Flower Lady. She was a founding member of the Shade Tree Commission and a recipient of the prestigious Jefferson award.  A proclamation was read by longtime friend Melvin El, Community Advisor to the Mayor, and a tree will be planted in her honor in the near future.

We extend a heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us to celebrate Arbor Day in the park. We look forward to seeing you all again next year!

Many thanks to our Arbor Day participants!

Art in the Park
Black Urban Gardeners and Farmers
City of Pittsburgh Forestry Division
Ellis School
Environmental Charter School
Herb Society of Western Pennsylvania
International Society of Arboriculture
Kentucky Avenue School
La Palapa
Minadeo Elementary School
Outdoor Inclusion Coalition
Phipps Conservatory
Pittsburgh Center for Arts and Media
Pittsburgh Fire Department

Two Remarkable Mellon Park Trees Named

Mellon Park is Pittsburgh’s first public arboretum, and we are proud to announce that two Mellon Park trees, a bald cypress and a katsura, have been selected to the class of 2023.

Bald Cypress

This tree is located in Mellon Park, south of Fifth Avenue near Beechwood Boulevard (look for the katsura close by). It was selected as a Pittsburgh Champion for its exceptional size. The tree can also be nominated for acceptance in the PA Champion Tree program.

“It towers over the area in the park near Beechwood Boulevard, and provides shade for the park visitors who spend time relaxing and playing beneath its branches. The cones are always great fun for the kids to collect. It is a well-loved tree,” says the tree’s nominator.

Katsura – Mellon Park

The katsura can be found near the remarkable bald cypress in Mellon Park, south of the entrance at Beechwood Boulevard and Fifth Avenue. This tree was selected as a Tree of a Kind. It’s a relatively unique species in Pittsburgh, and has a hidden secret: in the fall, it releases a sweet scent similar to cotton candy.

The nominator for the Katsura said, “This tree is a delight to park visitors, especially to the children who love to play nearby in the fall and enjoy the sweet scent of cotton candy that fills the air around it. It’s also an ever-changing color palette throughout the year, as the leaves change from reddish purple in the spring to blue-green in the summer and finally to beautiful shades of lemon and apricot in the fall.”

Whether you’re at your desk or on the go, you can see a map of all the Remarkable Trees by visiting the Map page. Please visit https://remarkabletreespgh.com/nomination/.

In creating a registry of Remarkable Trees, Tree Pittsburgh aims to celebrate and protect our City’s tree heritage and the many social, economic, environmental, and human health benefits trees provide to current and future residents. Trees can be nominated for many reasons, including historic or cultural significance, structure and beauty, importance to the urban ecosystem, or personal significance. Selected trees will be visited by an arborist and a care plan will be developed. Street trees are eligible!

We invite you to celebrate Pittsburgh’s trees. Nominate a Remarkable Tree.

New Signage and Entrances for Mellon Park

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy recently undertook an ambitious Action Plan to better understand the community's concerns and establish priorities in Mellon Park. Friends of Mellon Park was an active partner in that work.

The first grant to address top-tier priorities of the Mellon Park Action Plan, in the amount of $300,000, has been awarded to the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy by the Richard King Mellon Foundation. The goal of the grant to is to unify both sides of Mellon Park by giving it a clear identity and making it welcoming to all.

According to the Conservancy, “The grant will be used to improve entrances and install signage in the park to promote a safer pedestrian experience and a more inviting, accessible, and welcoming experience for visitors.”

Nine of the entrances to Mellon Park will be redesigned. New, clear, and consistent signage and wayfinding information will be developed and fabricated. Seating near many of the entrances will be added, along with new entryway paving, bicycle racks, and trash receptacles. 

“As we developed the Action Plan, we listened to the concerns of all users of Mellon Park,” said Catherine Qureshi, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. “We heard it was crucial to connect and unify both sides of the park, which is where we will prioritize our next investment in this well-loved public green space.”

Beware the Spotted Lanternfly

For the last several years, the spotted lanternfly has been slowly spreading across Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, it’s become a common and indiscriminate pest in Mellon Park and all of the East End. It feeds on over 70 plant species, including fruit, ornamental, and woody trees.

The spotted lanternfly doesn’t typically move very far without help, and human action is currently the main factor allowing it to spread. People can unknowingly move the inconspicuous egg masses over long distances when moving plants, firewood, construction and shipping materials, outdoor household articles, or recreational vehicles. It’s vital that anyone visiting or traveling through a quarantined area take extra precautions to avoid spreading the invasive insect.

The spotted lanternfly comes in many forms: first emerging as a series of four nymphs, each stage about twice as large as the prior stage. In its final stage, it emerges as a strikingly handsome dotted-wing insect. All three stages are destructive to the plants it favors.

If you see one in any of its four stages of growth, the best option is to kill it.

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. Please become a Friend of Mellon Park today.

Please join us and donate today.