Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Celebrates 25 Years With Making Your Parks Shine | Artwork + leisure | Pittsburgh

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Courtesy of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy

Light up your parks

Of all the things to love about Pittsburgh, the parks are, some might argue, the city’s crown jewel. One of the reasons the parks thrive is because of the work of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, an organization that seeks to preserve and maintain the many green spaces in the Pittsburgh area.

Now the Conservancy is celebrating its 25th anniversary, as well as the many donors, volunteers and staff who have made the organization successful, with Making Your Parks Shine.

Making Your Parks Shine, a two-day event held in six different city parks, features colorful and vibrant light installations, as well as block parties with live music, local food vendors, and family-friendly activities. The Conservancy worked with Pittsburgh event and creative services agency LUXE Creative to install the dramatic light installations.

In addition, there will be a small private ceremony on Thursday, September 30th to congratulate the recipients of the Mary Schenley Medal for Park Stewardship Award, which is presented every five years to those “who have made a significant contribution to the restoration” . from Pittsburgh’s parks. ”

“We are very excited to be working together on this exciting, one-of-a-kind creative project to highlight Pittsburgh’s beautiful parks with artistic lighting installations,” said Martin Potoczny, founder and CEO of LUXE Creative, in a press release. “We set out to create a collection of immersive, inclusive, city-wide visual celebrations of the amazing work the Parks Conservancy has done for the city of Pittsburgh parks in its 25 years of service.”

Conservancy President and Chief Executive Officer Catherine Qureshi says the organization has held gala ceremonies over the past few years to honor Conservancy’s milestones. This year, however, due to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, organizers thought “the best thing would be to hold an event that welcomes all Pittsburgh residents, safely with us to light up Pittsburgh’s beloved green spaces for 25 years by actually making them glow. ”

Choose from events in the Walled Garden in Mellon Park, the Patricia Rooney Memorial Foundation in the Allegheny Commons and the Schenley Plaza on Fri, October 1st from 6pm to 9pm. The Walled Garden in Mellon Park features live music from Lee Robinson and ISKA, food from the Stunt Pig Food Truck, and family-friendly activities. Allegheny Commons Park features music by Ayesha Scott and food from the Tocoyo Food Truck. Eventually, the Schenley Plaza will host DJ Royal Haunts and food from the Schenley Plaza kiosks.

August Wilson Park and McKinley Park, as well as the Frick Environmental Center, will be lit and busy on Saturday, October 2, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Live music from DJ Blakk Steel will be provided in August Wilson Park. McKinley Park has music from DJ Rok, food from Steel City Hot Dogs, and activities from Simply Unique Face Painting and yoga with Apple Tree Studios. The Frick Environmental Center will be home to LaRue June & the Howling Mob, local food vendors, and more.

All six parks will be illuminated on both evenings, and according to a press release, “each room and community party will reflect its respective neighborhood”.

Light up your parks. 6 pm-9pm on both days. Fri, Oct 1-Sat, Oct 2 Various locations. For free. pittsburghparks.org/shine