A portion of Pittsburgh’s Schenley Park that has never been formally designated as part of the park may soon be recognized as such.
Councilwoman Barb Warwick, D-Greenfield, introduced legislation Tuesday to designate the 28 acres known as Junction Hollow as an official part of Schenley Park.
“That piece of land has been part of the park in layman’s terms for a long time, but it’s not officially designated as a park,” Warwick said.
The plot of city-owned land sits near the bike path that enters the park near Panther Hollow, Warwick said. The field space there is often used as a soccer field or for other sports, she said.
Though people generally consider the area to be part of Schenley Park — and there’s even a sign there welcoming visitors to Schenley Park — it’s never been dedicated as part of it. The area has been well-maintained, Warwick said, but officially designating it as part of the park would ensure that land has the same protections as the rest of the park.
The goal, she said, is “to make sure, once and for all, that little stretch of park is officially a park.”
In the legislation, Warwick highlighted the importance of maintaining Junction Hollow to provide recreational space for local communities and because it’s a “vital source of green storm water management.”
The proposal could be ready for a preliminary vote as soon as next week, with a final vote potentially coming the following week.
Warwick said her office also is working to draft legislation that would prohibit development in any city park unless the development is “directly related to public enjoyment.” Warwick did not say when she anticipates introducing that measure.
