Schenley Park

Schenley Park

Type Municipal Park
Location Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Coordinates 40°26′04″N 79°56′34″W / 40.434444°N 79.942778°W / 40.434444; -79.942778Coordinates: 40°26′04″N 79°56′34″W / 40.434444°N 79.942778°W / 40.434444; -79.942778
Area 456 acres (185 ha)
Created October 30, 1889
Operated by Pittsburgh Parks Conservatory, City of Pittsburgh
Status Opened all year
Website www.pittsburghparks.org/schenley
Location Schenley Dr. and Panther Hollow Rd., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Built 1889
Architect Bigelow,E.M.
Architectural style Mixed (more Than 2 styles from different periods)
NRHP Reference # 85003506[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP November 13, 1985
Designated PHLF 1989[2]

Schenley Park is a large municipal park located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, between the neighborhoods of Oakland, Greenfield, and Squirrel Hill. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district.[3][4] In 2011, the park was named one of "America's Coolest City Parks" by Travel + Leisure.[5]

The park is made up of 300 acres (120 ha) donated by Mary Schenley in 1889 and another 120 acres (49 ha) that the city subsequently purchased from her. Another 36 acres (15 ha) were acquired at a later date, bringing the park's total size to 456 acres (185 ha), and making it the second largest municipal park in Pittsburgh, behind Frick Park.

The park borders the campuses of Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh.

Facilities

Stone footbridge over Panther Hollow Run, below the visitor's center.

Schenley Park features a grand entrance, Schenley Plaza, and several miles of hiking trails and a large lake in Panther Hollow. Across from the Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens is Flagstaff Hill, a popular place to watch outdoor movies in the summer.

In the early days of Schenley Park, the area known as "The Oval" was used for horse racing. Today, it has 13 tennis courts, an all weather running track, and a soccer field. There is also an ice skating rink, public swimming pool, and an 18-hole disc golf course nearby.

Schenley Park also contains the Schenley Park Golf Course. The golf course includes an indoor practice facility where golfers can play a "virtual" round on Pebble Beach and other famous courses.

Annual events

Since 1983, Schenley Park has been home to a vintage motor sports car race, the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, that takes place annually in mid-July. Additionally, since 1993, the park has been home to the Komen Pittsburgh Race for the Cure, an annual fundraising event for breast cancer and Mother's Day tradition with more than 35,000 participants.[6] Carnegie Mellon University's annual Spring Carnival contests its Sweepstakes, a buggy race, on Tech Avenue, Schenley Drive, and Frew Street.

History

Neill Log House in Schenley Park, built circa 1787 (or before), once belonged to the family of Robert Neill, and later to Col. James O'Hara and his granddaughter Mary Schenley (for whom the park is named).

In 1842, Mary Elizabeth Croghan of Pittsburgh, who was 15 at the time, eloped with 43-year-old Captain Edward Schenley. The couple moved to England. Mary's father attempted to terminate her inheritance in a lawsuit, but was unsuccessful. Mary's maternal grandfather, General James O'Hara, bequeathed to her a parcel of land known as the "Mt. Airy Tract."

The Westinghouse Memorial in Schenley Park

Mary's wealth attracted the attention of several land developers in the Pittsburgh area as well as Edward Bigelow, the Director of the Department of Public Works in Pittsburgh. In 1889, Bigelow learned that the agent of a land developer planned to travel to London to attempt to purchase the land from Mary. Bigelow sent an East Liberty lawyer by train to New York City where he then boarded a steamer bound for England. The lawyer beat the real estate agent by two days.

After negotiations with Mary, Bigelow's lawyer entered into an agreement to give 300 acres (1.21 km²) of the Mt. Airy Tract to the city of Pittsburgh with an option to purchase 120 (0.49 km²) more, under the conditions that the park be named after her and never be sold. The city agreed and immediately purchased the additional 120 acres (0.49 km²) of land.

Panther Hollow Bridge seen from Panther Hollow Lake in Schenley Park.

Bigelow began to develop the newly renamed Schenley Park for recreational uses. He hired William Falconer to lead the Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens which was built in 1893. In 1895, Andrew Carnegie built the Carnegie Museum and Music Hall, establishing Oakland and Schenley Park as a cultural icon.

Forbes Field, the home field of the Pittsburgh Pirates, was adjacent to Schenley Park during its lifespan (1909–1970).

Recent developments

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Staff (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ Historic Landmark Plaques 1968-2009 (PDF). Pittsburgh, PA: Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. 2010. Retrieved 2011-07-28.
  3. ↑ Staff (2006-03-15). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  4. ↑ "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Schenley Park" (PDF). 1979–1984. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
  5. ↑ Tep, Ratha (April 2011). "America's Coolest City Parks". Travel+Leisure. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
  6. ↑ "History". Pittsburgh Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Archived from the original on May 14, 2009. Retrieved 2010-06-08.

References

External links

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