Pittsburgh council votes to bar most development in city parks, greenways
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Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday voted to ban most development in the city’s parks and greenways.
“The essence of this bill is that it would prohibit any kind of development in city parks that is not directly related to the public’s enjoyment of the park,” said Councilwoman Barb Warwick, D-Greenfield, who sponsored the legislation.
The measure prohibits residential and commercial development in parks and greenways. Exceptions could be made for developments that are “required to protect the safety and health of the public,” buildings that house vehicles or equipment needed to maintain the park, developments related to agricultural activities and “commercial establishments which directly support the public’s recreational enjoyment” of the park.
Anything that already exists within a city park or greenway won’t be affected by the new rule.
The legislation also limits roads in parks and greenways. Under the legislation, roads are to be permitted “for the sole purpose of connecting the park’s or greenway’s resources to the people,” though the bill indicates there could be exceptions when there are no financially or geographically reasonable alternatives.
Warwick said she penned the legislation after fighting to keep a shuttle road from being built through Schenley Park. She said she also was motivated to ensure that Hays Woods — the city’s newest park, which sits in her council district — would be preserved as a true park and not developed. At one point before the land became a city park, there had been a proposal to build a casino on the sprawling greenspace.
“Our city parks are arguably our most valuable asset here in the city, from a health and wellness perspective, from a property value perspective, and also just for Pittsburgh being a great place to grow up,” Warwick said ahead of a preliminary vote on the bill last week.
Councilman Anthony Coghill, D-Beechview, said residents in his district are “very sensitive about anything going inside the greenways” and would appreciate the new law prohibiting development in those greenspaces.
“They want them kept natural,” he said during a discussion on the bill last week. “I do, too.”
“As the nonprofit partner in the parks to the City of Pittsburgh, we defer to City Council on all legislative matters related to commercial development within our city’s green spaces,” the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy said in a statement.
The conservancy said it will continue partnering with the city “to preserve and restore our incredible parks system to excellence for the enjoyment of all residents and visitors.”
City Council unanimously approved the measure Tuesday. Coghill and Council President Theresa Kail-Smith were not present for the vote.