Giving Tuesday Thank You!

Because of you, we raised critical funds on Giving Tuesday in support of your nine county parks. Thanks to the generosity shown in honor of Giving Tuesday, both throughout the month and on Give Big Pittsburgh, we can continue caring for the parks that care so deeply for us. Your support breathes life into every corner of our nine parks, enabling new plantings, historic restorations, educational assessments and countless projects that keep these spaces thriving. Thank you for being our people for the county parks! 

Parks Foundation Staff's Gratitude for the Parks and Our Work

At our recent Budget and Planning Retreat at the Environmental Learning Center in Harrison Hills Park, our staff took a moment to reflect on what inspires us most - our passion for the parks. From quiet moments in nature to exciting projects, each staff member has their own unique connection to the parks. Explore our stories and share what makes your favorite park special with us on our November blog post.

North Park Ecological Assessment and Action Plan is Officially Underway!

The North Park Ecological Assessment and Action Plan officially kicked off in November with a meeting between Parks Foundation staff, Allegheny County staff and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. This project marks the final ecological assessment in the county’s nine-park system, following eight full assessments already completed across the other parks. It is an important step in understanding North Park’s natural resources and will help guide long-term plans to improve environmental health within the park.

These studies have already shaped restoration projects like tree, meadow and rain garden plantings that reduce stormwater runoff and strengthen wildlife habitat. The tentative North Park timeline includes documenting ephemerals in spring 2026, field data collection through fall 2026 and a final report in June 2027. We look forward to sharing updates as this work moves forward.

Giant Eagle Tree Planting in White Oak Park

On November 18, we teamed up with a fantastic crew of volunteers from Giant Eagle to plant 136 native trees near the Wedding Garden in White Oak Park! These trees will help restore a canopy gap, strengthen local habitat, help manage stormwater and support cleaner air and healthier soil. A huge thank you to:

• The Garden Club of Allegheny County for providing the funding for 100 trees, grown by our friends at Tree Pittsburgh
• Ten Million Trees for PA for donating 36 trees
• Allegheny County Parks Rangers for leading us
• Giant Eagle and their incredible volunteers

We’re so grateful to everyone who braved the cold to create this positive impact on White Oak Park!

Looking Back and Looking Ahead

2025 was full of memorable moments at our events in your parks! From the fun and flavors of Pour at the Park, to the impact of Park ’til Dark, to the music and magic of Twilight Picnic for the Parks, our events brought the community together to celebrate and support our county parks. Catch up on the full stories from the past year on our blog.



Looking ahead to 2026, we’re excited to share the dates for next year’s events. Based on your feedback, North Park's will take place a few weeks earlier in September, avoiding the busy October holiday weekend. We can’t wait to see you there!

Park 'til Dark and Pour at the Park

South: May 18, 2026

North: September 26, 2026

Twilight Picnic for the Parks

Hartwood Acres Park

August 15, 2026

Share your favorite park story, memory or what you love about the parks! We would love to feature your love of the county parks in our newsletter or on our social media.

December Park Ranger

Featured Event

This December, join the Park Rangers to learn about winter birds in our region on December 6 in White Oak Park, December 7 in Round Hill Park or December 13 in Deer Lakes Park. Learn more about these events or discover all of Allegheny County events HERE!

info@acparksfoundation.org | acparksfoundation.org | 724.327.7627