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Get to Know the Acorns of Your Parks
Fall is the perfect time to discover the diversity of oak trees growing throughout your Allegheny County Parks. From the massive acorns of the bur oak to the fuzzy, distinctive acorns of the chestnut oak, each species has something unique to notice and appreciate.
Our latest blog post explores nine oak species found across the parks and how to find and identify them yourself. Next time you're out for a walk, take a closer look at what's beneath your feet. You might be surprised by just how mighty each small acorn can be and the impact it can have on the park it grows in and the community it shades and supports.
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Parks Foundation Awarded $2,500 from Thrivent's Big Give Back
Thanks to your votes, the Allegheny County Parks Foundation has been awarded $2,500 through Thrivent’s Big Give Back! We’re so grateful to everyone who took the time to participate and support our mission. Your support helps us continue improving, conserving and restoring the nine Allegheny County Parks.
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Celebrate the Restoration of Edgebrook Shelter
Join the Parks Foundation and Allegheny County Parks for a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the restoration of the historic Edgebrook Shelter in South Park on Friday, December 4 at 10:00 AM.
Built under the leadership of Paul Riis, the first Director of Allegheny County Parks, the oven shelter is a special part of the park’s legacy. This restoration preserves its unique character while ensuring it can be enjoyed for generations to come. We hope you’ll join us to celebrate this milestone!
When: Friday, December 4, 2026,10:00 am
Where: Edgebrook Shelter, South Park, Corrigan Drive
Parking: Near the Bocci Courts and Edgebrook Field
Notes: No RSVP required. The site has uneven terrain, please dress accordingly.
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Giant Eagle Volunteer Work in White Oak Park
Six hardworking volunteers from Giant Eagle joined us on October 6 to plant 150 native trees in White Oak Park on the hillside behind Angora Gardens. These trees will help expand the forest, provide habitat for wildlife and create a beautiful display for park visitors as they grow and mature. The Allegheny County Park Rangers thoughtfully planned the layout, layering white pines, redbuds and flowering dogwoods with a variety of other native trees throughout the planting.
We extend a huge thank you to our Giant Eagle volunteers, TreeVitalize for providing the trees and the Allegheny County Park Rangers for leading the event. We’re excited to see this hillside grow and the lasting impact this planting will have on White Oak Park!
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Columbia Gas & NiSource Volunteer Work at Latodami
On October 8, nine volunteers from the NiSource Charitable Foundation, Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania and Latodami Nature Center joined us to plant 150 native trees and shrubs in North Park along the Nature Access Trail on Brown Road, across from the Pond Trail and Nature Center. This planting took place in the same area where volunteers helped clear invasive barberry last year, giving native plants more room to thrive. The planting included a variety of native species, including elderberry, eastern hemlock, American strawberry bush, alternate-leaf dogwood, hydrangea, snowberry, chokecherry, bottlebrush buckeye, umbrella magnolia and red buckeye.
A huge thank you to our hard-working volunteers, to TreeVitalize Pittsburgh for providing the trees and to the Allegheny County Park Rangers for leading the event. We’re excited to watch these native species grow and see the lasting impact they’ll have on North Park!
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Thrivent Tree Planting in North Park
Twelve volunteers from Thrivent Financial and their clients joined us to plant 150 native trees near the Ontario Shelter along Lake Shore Drive in North Park on October 16. This planting extends the surrounding forest edge, helping to expand tree canopy and create vital habitat for local wildlife. The planting featured a rich mix of native species, including Eastern White Pine, Serviceberry, Sugar Maple, White Oak and Yellow Buckeye.
A huge thank you to our hard-working volunteers, to Thrivent Financial and to the Allegheny County Park Rangers for leading the event. We’re excited to watch these native species grow and see the lasting impact they’ll have on North Park!
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Celebrating 10 Years of Twilight Picnic for the Parks
August 21, 2027
Mark your calendar for a milestone summer! In 2027, we’ll celebrate the 10th Twilight Picnic for the Parks, the 20th anniversary of the Allegheny County Parks Foundation and 100 years of the Allegheny County Parks system.
We’re bringing these milestones together for a special anniversary gala at Hartwood Acres Park on Saturday, August 21 that's bigger and better than ever! Join us as we honor a century of parks, two decades of supporting their future and the community that makes it all possible.
Save the date now so you don’t miss this unforgettable celebration!
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Allegheny County Featured Event
Join the Friends of North Park and Allegheny County Parks Rangers on Sunday, November 8, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm for a fishing line cleanup at North Park. Volunteers will meet at Rochester Pavilion along Tennis Court Road and help remove tangled fishing line from the shoreline and water to protect wildlife and prevent entanglements for both animals and people. No RSVP is required. Show your support for North Park and help keep the lake clean and safe for everyone!
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The Pittsburgh Foundation's 2026 Wish Book
The Parks Foundation is honored to be featured on page 52 of The Pittsburgh Foundation’s 2026 Wish Book! The annual publication connects donors with local nonprofits and funding opportunities through donor-advised funds.
Through the Wish Book, you can support our Tree Program and help plant 200 native trees and shrubs in priority restoration areas identified through our Ecological Assessments and Action Plans. These plantings will help restore park ecosystems and strengthen the long-term health of our nine parks.
The Wish Book is available through February 2027, with grant requests accepted on a rolling basis. View the 2026 Wish Book!
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Triple Your Impact:
Giving Tuesday Support Starts Now!
Giving Tuesday, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, is a day to celebrate generosity and kindness. But this year, you don't have to wait for December 1 to have your gift TRIPLED. Thanks to a generous fund established by a group of dedicated parks supporters your donation will be matched 2:1 from now until 12/1 at midnight. We hope you will consider making your Giving Tuesday gift to the Allegheny County Parks Foundation, which will ripple through your parks and communities, creating a brighter and greener region for us all!
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Boyce Park | Deer Lakes Park | Harrison Hills Park | Hartwood Acres Park
North Park | Round Hill Park | Settlers Cabin Park | South Park | White Oak Park
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