SCHENLEY PARK

## Park Development

Pittsburgh
PARKS
CONSERVANCY

### CHANGES TO THE PARK

Edward Bigelow, Director of Public Works in 1889, saw great potential in the area's hilly woods and ravines to create a park for the public's enjoyment. It was his dream to make Schenley Park a green oasis that would provide a place of relief for the working families of Pittsburgh and a break from their polluted living conditions.

Schenley Park officially opened on July 4, 1890, just nine months after the land was acquired. Plans were made to build access roads and bridges, to add walking paths and trails and to create open, rolling green spaces. Bigelow's vision also included giving the park a grand entrance through *Schenley Plaza* on Forbes Avenue.

Thousands of trees and shrubs were planted in the park by the turn of the century. By 1923 Schenley Park had acquired the *shelter building*, two *tufa stone bridges*, *riding trails and stables*, the man-made *Panther Hollow Lake*, a *band shell* for public concerts, a *swimming pool* and the *Schenley Park*.

Gridiron Path, Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, Pa.

*Oval Raceway* complete with a grandstand.

All of these, combined with the *Phipps Conservatory*, a *golf course*, a free *cupboard*, *picnic groves* and the beauty of the landscape, made Schenley Park a magnificent urban recreational area.

By the 1930s, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) was actively at work in the park building steps, walls and

### Designed Landscapes

Schenley Park represents a broad spectrum of landscapes, from naturalistic woodlands to designed gardens and recreational fields. It's important to understand that even the naturalistic landscapes have been designed and influenced by people and are much different than woodlands, streams or ponds in an undisturbed wilderness. The gardens and fields of the park need to be managed with great care to maintain their style and design. All areas combine to create a varied urban park that serves as a home to wildlife and plants and a special place for people.

maintaining trails. In 1934, under the guidance of Director of the Bureau of Parks Ralph Griswold, Schenley Park continued to enrich people's lives. In recent decades, Pittsburgh has had fewer resources to address the maintenance needs of City parks. That created a need for the partnership between the City and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy.

Shelter House and Speedway, Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, Pa.

For more than 100 years, garden enthusiasts have been enchanted by Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, one of the largest botanical conservatories in the country.

The original shelter building at the left, now the restored Visitor Center, was built around 1903.

Phipps Hall of Botany, to the right, was constructed in 1901 for the use of high school botany teachers. Both structures were likely designed by the Pittsburgh architects Rutan and Russell.

Created by LANDSCAPES Landscape Architecture•Planning•Historic Preservation for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy © 2002
Special thanks to Frank Lucchino, Charlotte Cohen, Barry Hannegan, Michael Graybrook, Keith Cochran and the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation

SCHENLEY PARK

Park Development

Pittsburgh
PARKS
CONSERVANCY

## CHANGES TO THE PARK

Schenley Park officially opened on July 4, 1890, just nine months after the land was acquired. Plans were made to build access roads and bridges, to add walking paths and trails and to create open, rolling green spaces. Bigelow's vision also included giving the park a grand entrance through Schenley Plaza on Forbes Avenue.

Thousands of trees and shrubs were planted in the park by the turn of the century. By 1923 Schenley Park had acquired the *shelter building*, two *tufa stone bridges, riding trails and stables*, the man-made *Panther Hollow Lake*, a *band shell* for public concerts, a *swimming pool* and the *Schenley Park*.

*Oval Raceway* complete with a *grandstand*.

All of these, combined with the *Phipps Conservatory*, a *golf course*, a free *cupboard, picnic groves* and the beauty of the landscape, made Schenley Park a magnificent urban recreational area.

Bulldozer Path, Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, Pa.

## Designed Landscapes

Tombstone, Pittsburgh

The original shelter building at the left, now the restored Visitor Center, was built around 1903. Phipps Hall of Botany, to the right, was constructed in 1901 for the use of high school botany teachers. Both structures were likely designed by the Pittsburgh architects Ratan and Russell.

SCHENLEY PARK

Vegetation

VEGETATION & TOPOGRAPHY

Vegetation and topography formed upon the heels of the geologic and hydrologic changes that created the Pittsburgh landscape we see today. All of these elements contribute to a natural system. That system is characterized by a symbiotic relationship in which the activity of one affects another and ripples are felt throughout the environment.

The varied topography of Schenley Park supports diverse but fragmented natural vegetation, including *woodlands* and open *grasslands*. The forested areas of the park include woods along *Panther Hollow* and on the southern and western periphery of the park on the slopes above *Junction Hollow*. Some of these areas contain steep slopes and a mixture of trees, shrubs and herbaceous ground covers.

The open grasslands are in the vicinity of the *Phipps Conservatory*, the *Oval* and *golf course*. These areas are

often less steep and are filled with a mixture of ornamental plants and turf grasses.

*Riparian vegetation* occurs along *Phipps Run* and *Panther Hollow Run* and around *Panther Hollow Lake*. Vegetation along these waterways needs to be adaptable to changing conditions and the disturbance caused by water that flows near them.

The vegetation and topography of the park join other elements such as ponds and streams to form a unique urban landscape. A cross section of the different areas of the park is pictured below and shows how these elements come together within Schenley Park with woodland areas existing alongside open grasslands and designed garden landscapes.

A rustic-style bridge through a wooded area of Schenley Park

Created by LANDSCAPES Landscape Architecture•Planning•Historic Preservation for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy © 2002
Special thanks to Bonnie L. Isaac and Joseph A. Isaac of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History,
Frank Lucchino, Charlotte Cohen, Barry Hennegan, Michael Graybook, Keith Cochran and the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation

SCHENLEY PARK

Vegetation

VEGETATION & TOPOGRAPHY

Created by LANDSCAPES Landscape Architecture•Planning•Historic Preservation for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy © 2002
Special thanks to Bonnie L. Isaac and Joseph A. Isaac of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History,
Frank Luczino, Charlotte Cohen, Barry Hannegan, Michael Graybook, Keith Cochran and the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation

Cultural History

NATIVE AMERICANS OF
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

Native Americans first inhabited this region more than 12,000 years ago. By A.D. 800 these hunting and plant gathering peoples had become agriculturists who settled in circular stockaded villages throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania and adjacent states. Called the *Monongahela*, this tribal culture reached its maximum geographic spread *circa* A.D. 1300, and later slowly abandoned much of their domain. By A.D. 1635, after a series of droughts had destroyed their corn crops and an increasing number of raids by the Iroquois from the north, the Monongahela disappeared from Southwestern Pennsylvania. It wasn't until the Delaware, Shawnee and other tribes were pushed into Western Pennsylvania in the late 17th and early

An illustration of a late
pre-historic circular Monongahela village

18th centuries by European colonization of the eastern seaboard, that Native Americans once again lived in the region. It was these recent migrants to the region who became caught up in the conflict between the French and British in the *French and Indian War* (1754-1766), which began at *Fort Necessity*. Phipps Run and Panther Hollow provided easy access from the Monongahela River to camps in the Oakland area.

Neill Log House

EARLY SETTLERS
OF PITTSBURGH

European settlers began exploring the area in the late 17
t century when the French laid claim to all the tributaries of the Mississippi in 1682. Glimpses into the lives of early Pittsburgh settlers can be seen within Schenley Park at the *Neill Log House* and *Martin's Cabin*. *Neill Log House* is one of a handful of buildings built during the 18th century that still exist within Pittsburgh. In great disrepair in 1969, the house was

1744 + Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland representatives meet with members of the Six Nations Iroquois to arrange the Treaty of Lancaster. The English base their territorial rights against the Native Americans on this treaty.

1753 - John Frazier builds his cabin at Turtle Creek after arriving in Pennsylvania 18 years earlier.

1754 + Capt. William Trent builds a storehouse and stockade. Disputes erupt with the French who believe Trent is encroaching upon their territory.

1768 + Thomas and Richard Penn pay $10,000 for Native American lands west of the Susquehanna River, including the disputed territory of Pittsburgh and its surroundings.

1780 + Iron ore is discovered in the western Alleghenies.

1863 - During the Civil War, with the threat of invasion by Confederate forces, the city is ringed with earthen forts, entrenchments and artillery batteries. Fort Anderson is built on Fifth Ave. in Oakland.

restored by Pittsburgh History &
Landmarks Foundation. *Martin's Cabin*
was last occupied by a dairy farmer,
named Martin, who died in the 1880s.

Created by LANDSCAPES Landscape Architecture+Planning+Historic Preservation for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy © 2002
Special thanks to James B. Richardson III of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History

Schenley Park

Welcome

to One of Pittsburgh's Great Parks

We are glad you are here! We hope you enjoy visiting this historic public park. Schenley Park was given to the City of Pittsburgh by Mary Schenley in 1889. Her gift was encouraged by Edward Bigelow, Director of Public Works, who also designed the park. Schenley Park has 456 acres of turf, meadows, woodlands, streams, trails and

recreational amenities. The park was developed for recreation and scenic enjoyment for the Oakland area and surrounding neighborhoods.

Find out more about Schenley Park's history, events and recreational amenities, plus pick up a trail map and a bite to eat in the Schenley Park Visitor Center.

VISITORS PLEASE TAKE NOTE

Park Hours 6 am to 11 pm

Respect park facilities, plants and wildlife

Be courteous to other park users

Keep pets on leash

Bikes only on roads or marked bike paths

No glass containers or alcoholic beverages

Place garbage in containers or take home

Park in designated areas

Permit required for events

For more details about proper park use see Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances Title Four, Article XI, Chapter 473

Willkommen

Huan ying

Bienvenue

Welcome

Benvenuto

Irashaimasu

Bienvenido

Created by LANDSCAPES Landscape Architecture+Planning+Historic Preservation for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy © 2002
Special thanks to Diane Grzybbeck and John Wale of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History