Schenley Park

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The Cathedral of Learning is visible from Panther Hollow Lake
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The Cathedral of Learning is visible from Panther Hollow Lake

Schenley Park is a large municipal park located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania between the neighborhoods of Oakland, Greenfield, and Squirrel Hill.

The park is made up of 300 acres (1.21 km²) donated by Mary Croghan Schenley in 1889 and another 120 acres (0.49 km²) that the city subsequently purchased from her. Another 36 acres (0.15 km²) were acquired at a later date, bringing the park's total size to 456 acres (1.85 km²), and making it the second largest municipal park in Pittsburgh.

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

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[edit] Facilities

Schenley Park features several miles of hiking trails, a large lake, and a swimming pool. 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, a running track (currently being rebuilt), and a soccer field. There is also an ice skating rink 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.

[edit] Annual Events

[edit] History

The Westinghouse Memorial in Schenley Park
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The Westinghouse Memorial in Schenley Park

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, bequethed to her a parcel of land known as the "Mt. Airy Tract."

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.

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).

[edit] Recent Developments

  • In 2001, after extensive renovations, the Schenley Park Visitor Center opened in one of the park's original buildings. The building had previously served as a tool shed, the home of the Pittsburgh Civic Garden Center, and a nature museum, until closing in the late 1980s.
  • In spring 2006, the Schenley Plaza area was converted to its original use as a grand entrance to Schenley Park. Although it was originally designed as a grand entrance, it had been used as a parking lot for many years. The new park area features a carousel and several small food stands.
  • In December 2006, carousel operator John Cameron Spiggle was awarded the "Breaver Award for Most Excellent Carousel Operation", in the award's innagural year.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

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