September 2023

Headlines

  • Have You Noticed?

  • Phipps Garden Center in Mellon Park

  • Pittsburgh Center for the Arts & Media

  • Terraced Garden Project Update

  • Park Entrances & Signage

Have You Noticed?

Have you noticed that eight new trees have been added to the Mellon Park Arboretum? There are now 35 arboretum trees, and on each one you’ll find a tag that identifies the tree by its common name and its Latin name. You’ll also find a number of fun facts about the tree. We have an arboretum map here on our website. There’s a lot to notice in our beautiful and historic park.

Special thanks to the City of Pittsburgh Department of Forestry and Tree Pittsburgh for their help and expertise in making Mellon Park the City of Pittsburgh’s first public arboretum.

Phipps Garden Center in Mellon Park

Phipps is moving along with planning for their renovation of the Phipps Garden Center. Friends of Mellon Park recently met with Mike Gwin, architect for the project, as well as Richard Piacentini and Ashley Dean from Phipps.

You can view the concept drawings here. The slide labeled Supporting Educational and Garden Spaces provides a good overview of the project, an important part of which will be creating ADA-accessible entrances and sidewalks around the entire perimeter of the building.

Pittsburgh Center for the Arts & Media

The Pittsburgh Center for the Arts & Media, which occupies the Scaife Building on the Mellon Park Campus, was recently highlighted in an article in Pittsburgh Quarterly. You can find the article here.

The PCA offers many opportunities for exposure to the arts and culture, including classes and programs provided both on and off the Mellon Park campus. Unleash your creativity and participate at the Center.

Terraced Garden Project Update

Friends of Mellon Park is excited to announce that it was successful in raising funds to conduct an engineering study that will determine the state of the structures in the Terraced Garden. The study will include preliminary design concepts, cost estimates, and a public process to discuss the findings of the study. The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy will partner with LaQuatra Bonci Associates for the project. We look forward to sharing the results of that study with you.

PPC Begins Work on Park Entrances & Signage

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, in partnership with the City of Pittsburgh and Friends of Mellon Park, is beginning the process of designing and improving existing entrances and signage in Mellon Park. This project was identified in the Mellon Park Action Plan as a Tier 1 Priority, with the goal of improving pedestrian access and connectivity on both sides of the park.

The project will establish design characteristics and a materials palette for both sides of the park, respecting both historic and contemporary uses. It will also design and implement improvements to existing park entrances to provide continuity and consistency for the park. And finally, a comprehensive signage package will be developed and installed on both sides of the park to identify park amenities, wayfinding, and rules and regulations.

Please stay tuned for updates and opportunities to provide input by visiting Mellon Park Action Plan | Engage Pittsburgh.

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.