There may be just one public institution that exists almost exclusively for the enjoyment of people in a community: parks. Parks provide pleasure in innumerable ways. They are refuges where we can shout or whisper, think hard or clear our minds, run or sit very still. They are the most democratic spaces in America—gathering places where people can come together to strengthen social ties. Well-maintained parks increase property values and attract new investment. And they provide wide-ranging ecological services: wildlife habitat, clean air and water, and stormwater management.
Our focus has been on the four large regional parks, including Frick, but we also work to the best of our ability to enhance the quality of the entire park system. To date, the Parks Conservancy has raised more than $65 million toward park improvements and completed 14 major capital projects. Because of our focus on Frick Park, Elise Frick became a founding board member and Arabella Dane was invited to attend our first Hat Luncheon in 1999, which was held on the lawn at Clayton. Arabella exchanged her lovely dress hat for a hardhat when she reached the podium to speak. “Now let’s get going,” she said, undaunted by the challenges we all knew lay ahead.
Melissa McMasters
In Pittsburgh, there is one nonprofit institution formed expressly to enable people in the community to value and enjoy their parks in prime condition. A group of citizens concerned with the future of Pittsburgh’s parks founded The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy in 1996. As an independent, nonprofit organization, the
Parks Conservancy works with government and community groups to restore the city’s parks to excellence.
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Frick Park’s Enduring Legacy: A Treasure by Design
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