Lecture Archive

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is pleased to bring the best and the brightest in the field of parks management to Pittsburgh to share their expertise.  Here we bring their stories to you.

What's Going On in Panther Hollow?

September 15, 2010

Erin Copeland, Senior Restoration Ecologist, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
Michele Adams, P.E. LEED AP, Principal Engineer and Founder of Meliora Environmental Design in Kimberton, PA

Erin Copeland shared highlights from the Parks Conservancy's work in Panther Hollow over the last several years and looked ahead to the upcoming watershed planning process that will develop a roadmap for restoring the whole watershed.

Michele Adams illustrated examples of visionary planning for stormwater management, from the city to the commercial to the residential level.  View her slideshow with audio below, or download the slideshow here.

Michele Adams on Watershed Planning and Design from Melissa McMasters on Vimeo.

Michele Adams, Principal Engineer and Founder of Meliora Design in Kimberton, PA, shares experience with watershed planning at a lecture in Pittsburgh, PA. The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is embarking on a watershed planning process in the Panther Hollow Watershed, which contains Schenley Park.

 

From Bad to Great: Lessons from Central Park

September 21, 2009

Doug Blonsky, President of the Central Park Conservancy and Administrator of Central Park
Tim Fulton, former Director of Park Operations at the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy
Phil Gruszka, Director of Parks Management and Maintenance at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy

Doug Blonsky highlighted the transformation of New York City's Central Park following the adoption of a zone management plan by the Central Park Conservancy.  After taking over responsibility for park maintenance from the City, the CPC divided the park into 49 zones, each with a dedicated crew responsible for basic tasks such as litter and graffiti removal, low-branch tree pruning, and gardening.  Each section's assigned gardener has accountability for his or her zone, providing a knowledgeable, uniformed presence that park volunteers and visitors can count on.  Zone management was the catalyst for moving the whole park forward--it allowed the Conservancy to move beyond just capital restoration projects and into the many details that shape visitors' perception (and use) of the park.

Tim Fulton illustrated how the Buffalo Olmsted Park system implemented a zone management approach using lessons learned from Central Park.  With the City facing bankruptcy and no longer able to fund park workers, the Conservancy had to rapidly implement a plan to take over maintenance of the parks.  Within a year, zone management of the parks was underway, and the difference was quickly visible.  Mr. Fulton stressed that having dedicated workers who enforced park rules was critical in changing the mindset of park users and creating more positive use of the parks.

Phil Gruszka detailed his use of the zone management system at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.  He explained some of the advantages of a decentralized approach to park maintenance: equipment is stored in the areas where it is most frequently used, workers assigned to a specific area drive less and burn less energy, and employees acquire the skills they need to effectively take care of their zones.

Download the speakers' presentations below in PDF format:
Doug Blonsky
Tim Fulton
Phil Gruszka

Upcoming Events

Spring volunteer work days start up in March. Check out the schedule and help keep our parks beautiful. 

See photos of the restoration progress at Mellon Square on our Flickr site.

Stay up-to-date with our current projects on our blog.

Info for Volunteers

What to bring: Long pants, closed-toe shoes with good tread, all-weather clothing, a reusable water bottle (if you have one).

What will be provided: All necessary tools, gloves, materials, snacks, and instruction.

What to expect:  Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy volunteer work days are typically 4 hours long, rain or shine, and involve some type of ecological restoration work such as planting trees or wildflowers, controlling erosion, building trails, managing invasive species, or cleaning up dumpsites. We’ll teach you everything you need to know about safety and technique, provide you with tools and materials, and help you make a difference in our amazing parks. Expect to have fun, meet people who love the outdoors, and get dirty!