Upstream & Beyond Projects & Programming Highlights

The Fern Hollow Vision Project

written by Rose Flowers

The new Fern Hollow Bridge may now be open to traffic, but UpstreamPgh continues to be busy advocating for the ecosystem underneath. You could say while PennDOT’s work is nearly done, our work is just getting started.

In the fall of 2022, UpstreamPgh was awarded a grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority through the Greenways, Trails, and Recreation Program to undertake a multi-year visioning process for the Fern Hollow Valley. To this end, we are spending this year engaging park users, area residents, artists, partner organizations, technical experts, and officials from the City of Pittsburgh to create a list of key interventions to reinvigorate the enchanting ecosystem and public park space that lies within this space. We aim to develop a cohesive, equitable, and implementable vision for Fern Hollow.

Compared to Nine Mile Run, the valley has been relatively undisturbed but there are still a number of less-than-desirable existing conditions. There are ecological issues such as streambank erosion, invasive plants, and sediment build-up which have negatively impacted the stream and the surrounding habitat. The vision plan will include opportunities for ecological restoration projects, community engagement, trail improvements, art installations, and placemaking which will enhance the Fern Hollow experience and tie into the restoration work associated with the bridge replacement. It is an opportunity to shine a light on a previously underappreciated resource in the park and watershed.

The Fern Hollow Vision Plan process will take place throughout 2023, with a goal of completing the plan in the spring of 2024, and pursuing funding for implementation in subsequent years. Through the process we plan to engage neighboring communities and frequent park users, but also want to attract voices from underserved communities to help craft a vision for this valley that is accessible, welcoming, and engaging to people across the region.

One of the crucial pieces of this project is community feedback from as wide a swath of folks as possible. We will be holding community meetings and walks, facilitating educational workshops, and soliciting feedback through surveys. We need YOU and your communities to be part of that process.

To stay involved, we ask that you please visit our website, navigate to the “Restore Fern Hollow” page, and sign up for email notifications. You can also follow us on social media.