Pittsburgh Regional Parks / Hertitage Landscapes



Park & Parkway Systems

Pittsburgh Parks System
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

During the Pittsburgh Regional Parks Master Plan process one of the items raised by citizens was the lack of wayfinding assistance within these large historic urban parks. The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy requested assistance on park mapping with for Schenley, Frick, Highland and Riverview, sequentially. Heritage Landscapes used the city GIS data, master plan maps and volunteer trail measuring to develop highly legible park maps for residents and tourists. All four maps are published with trail names, lengths, destination labels and park community context labels. The maps have been extremely well received and are widely used by Pittsburgh park users and visitors. Heritage Landscapes also developed the preliminary design vocabulary for informational and wayfinding signs to include temporary project signs and permanent signs for destinations, edges, trails and interpretation. Components included, stanchion design, PPC and City Logo, language and text style, graphic components and materials. For the Schenley Park Visitor Center project Heritage Landscapes developed interpretive interior and exterior signs from theme selection through preliminary and final design with technical assistance from scientists and educators at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. The themes included: Park History and Development; Cultural History; Woodland Habitat; Grassland Habitat; Ecological Connections Birds of the Park; Plants of the Park; and Animals of the Park for use in increasing heritage tourism. Heritage Landscapes acquired technically correct images, use rights and technical information, finalized sign stanchion drawings and specifications, selected the fabricator, reviewed shop drawings and oversaw installation. The Schenley Park Visitor Center signs are in constant use and enrich the daily experiences of park visitors.

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Client:
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy in cooperation with City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works

Project:
Riverview Chapel Shelter Landscape Renewal, 2004-2006; Regional Parks Master Plan: A New Ethic of Stewardship, team member 2001; Schenley Park Visitor Center Landscape Rehabilitation, Wayfinding & Interpretive Signs, 2001; Frick Park Homewood Entry Rehabilitation, 2000; Highland Park Welcome Entry Rehabilitation; and Volunteer Project Guidance & Training Summaries

Project Credits:
Heritage Landscapes, with LDA, Architects, for Frick Park Entry & Schenley Park Visitor Center; La Quatra Bonci/Michael Stern team lead for Pittsburgh Regional Parks Master Plan