What do you do with 626 acres of old mining land? When the city of Pittsburgh was faced with the decision in 2016, they decided to turn the large space into an extensive urban open space. After acquiring the land from a developer for $5 million, the city made a plan to spend the next decade restoring its ecology and preserving forested ridgelines. 

The park will serve to improve air quality, provide an ecosystem for local flora and fauna, and offer hiking, biking, and camping destination for residents. The park fits into the city’s climate action plan which aims to reduce emissions by 80% by 2050 and increase tree canopy cover. 

The property was bought by a developer in 2003 who planned to turn it into a commercial town center, but activists strongly opposed the project and reached out to local officials to save the land. To facilitate the project, Pittsburgh’s Department of City Planning received a $100,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and a grant from the nonprofit Trout Unlimited. 

In addition to a recreation and conservation space, the city also plans to use the space as a “living laboratory” for local researchers. The proximity of the park to the city makes it a unique and valuable partnership between an urban hub and Pennsylvania wilderness.