Jeff_LaG
Jan 13 2008, 02:28 PM
From: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_547252.html
<font size=4>County parks boost offerings, seek input</font>
By Mary Ann Thomas
FOR THE VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH
Sunday, January 13, 2008
A new snow tubing track, disc golf course and an environmental learning center are among the offerings on tap this year in Allegheny County parks.
Many of the new facilities are tied to partnerships between community groups and the county, which is exploring private businesses setting up shop in specific park facilities, according to Andrew Baechle, county parks director.
"We're fishing for ideas and partnerships," Baechle said. "The businesses will pay the county to use a park facility and invest their money to make it better. This could provide opportunities that the county could not offer on its own. The big picture is to increase services to the public."
The county will advertise for proposals early this year for services at these park sites: Boat house in North Park; tennis courts in North, South and Boyce parks and Settler's Cabin; the fairgrounds in South Park; the ski slope area in Boyce Park; and the horse stables in Hartwood Acres.
Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato presented a county parks action plan last year to bolster the county's nine regional parks, some of which had fallen into disrepair.
The executive's office created the nonprofit Allegheny County Parks Foundation in September to help finance renovations and advocate for public/private partnerships.
There will be a town hall meeting on Tuesday to discuss plans for Harrison Hills. Similar meetings will be held throughout the year at other county parks.
The county has been focusing on projects that build on the unique identity of each park: Boyce Park is popular for skiing, swimming, in-line skating and skateboarding, while Hartwood Acres offers historical and cultural programming, and Harrison Hills provides scenic overlooks laced with a network of walking trails.
New and updated facilities at area parks this year include:
� A $3 million makeover of the Boyce Park Winter Sports Area.
� New disc golf course at Deer Lakes Park.
� Opening of a new environmental educational center at Harrison Hills.
� New climate control system in the Hartwood Acres mansion.
Boyce Park
The mild winter thus far has not been kind to Boyce's Winter Sports Area. The lack of frigid conditions has stalled the opening of a new snow tube slope.
"We hope we get a good streak of cold weather to make snow to last," Baechle said. Typically, five to seven days of temperatures below 28 degrees are needed to blow and accumulate enough snow for skiing and tubing at the park.
The new snow tube slope, which should attract a more diversified clientele, according to Baechle, is part of a $3 million update to the winter sports area. Updated facilities include two new lifts, repair of a sewage line, and two new snow-making guns.
Also, this spring, a new acid mine drainage system will begin operations, diverting acid mine drainage to man-made ponds, which will filter and treat the water.
Coming this fall, the Allegheny Foothills Historical Society will stage a re-enactment of George Washington's encampment in the park environs and other events for a special 250th anniversary celebration, Oct. 4 and 5.
Deer Lakes
The Pittsburgh Flying Disc Society this spring is completing what it is billing as one of the best disc golf courses in Pennsylvania, according to Gary Dropcho of Pine, one of the course designers.
After playing on 140 courses in the United States and Canada, Dropcho and colleagues from the Pittsburgh Flying Disc Society volunteered their services to the Deer Lakes project.
The county kicked in $20,000 for materials, according to Baechle.
The course's signature hole is a 100-foot throw over one of the park's lakes, which Dropcho characterizes as spectacular and daunting.
"The Deer Lakes course is designed so that people of varying skill levels can play and enjoy it," Dropcho said. The society's Web site provides more information on the course and a scorecard.
Harrison Hills
While the county will pave an asphalt trail around the playground and overlook area, the Friends of Harrison Hills plan to open the park's new environmental learning center on Chipmunk Drive this spring.
"It will be the only heated building in the park, which will be used as a home base for future events," said Mardelle Kopnicky, of Fawn, a board member of the volunteer group Friends of Harrison Hills.
"It will open a lot of opportunities for public events, like composting classes, and we'll have a lot more activities this year than last year," she said.
The volunteer group will offer a number of outings and classes including guided hikes, metal detecting classes, cross country skiing and a nature day camp for children.
According to Kopnicky, the Harrison Hills nature center will fill a void for nature programming as the closest environmental centers are Crooked Creek State Park in Bethel and Beechwood Farms in Fox Chapel.
Hartwood Acres
The county will continue to renovate the Hartwood mansion. It is looking to private business to offer some services out of the estate's stables.
"It could be horse related," said Baechle. "Maybe the private sector with its ingenuity and talent may come up with ideas that we have not."
The county will continue to fortify the park's beacon, the Hartwood mansion. After a ceiling collapsed in 2005 damaging a 1901 Steinway grand piano, a Flemish tapestry and other antiques, the county has continued preservation efforts.
"We're not sure why the ceiling fell -- there was no evidence of stress -- but one of the theories has to do with changes in temperature," Baechle said.
The county will install a new climate control system this year and renovate the restrooms accessible from outside the mansion. The mansion never has had air conditioning, according to Baechle.
"We have millions of dollars worth of tapestries and painting and woodwork, including a piece from a castle dating back to the 16th century," he said. "We want to keep things at a consistent temperature to protect those assets."
After renovations are completed this year, Baechle said the county plans to offer more programs in the mansion in 2009.
<font size=4>County parks boost offerings, seek input</font>
By Mary Ann Thomas
FOR THE VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH
Sunday, January 13, 2008
A new snow tubing track, disc golf course and an environmental learning center are among the offerings on tap this year in Allegheny County parks.
Many of the new facilities are tied to partnerships between community groups and the county, which is exploring private businesses setting up shop in specific park facilities, according to Andrew Baechle, county parks director.
"We're fishing for ideas and partnerships," Baechle said. "The businesses will pay the county to use a park facility and invest their money to make it better. This could provide opportunities that the county could not offer on its own. The big picture is to increase services to the public."
The county will advertise for proposals early this year for services at these park sites: Boat house in North Park; tennis courts in North, South and Boyce parks and Settler's Cabin; the fairgrounds in South Park; the ski slope area in Boyce Park; and the horse stables in Hartwood Acres.
Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato presented a county parks action plan last year to bolster the county's nine regional parks, some of which had fallen into disrepair.
The executive's office created the nonprofit Allegheny County Parks Foundation in September to help finance renovations and advocate for public/private partnerships.
There will be a town hall meeting on Tuesday to discuss plans for Harrison Hills. Similar meetings will be held throughout the year at other county parks.
The county has been focusing on projects that build on the unique identity of each park: Boyce Park is popular for skiing, swimming, in-line skating and skateboarding, while Hartwood Acres offers historical and cultural programming, and Harrison Hills provides scenic overlooks laced with a network of walking trails.
New and updated facilities at area parks this year include:
� A $3 million makeover of the Boyce Park Winter Sports Area.
� New disc golf course at Deer Lakes Park.
� Opening of a new environmental educational center at Harrison Hills.
� New climate control system in the Hartwood Acres mansion.
Boyce Park
The mild winter thus far has not been kind to Boyce's Winter Sports Area. The lack of frigid conditions has stalled the opening of a new snow tube slope.
"We hope we get a good streak of cold weather to make snow to last," Baechle said. Typically, five to seven days of temperatures below 28 degrees are needed to blow and accumulate enough snow for skiing and tubing at the park.
The new snow tube slope, which should attract a more diversified clientele, according to Baechle, is part of a $3 million update to the winter sports area. Updated facilities include two new lifts, repair of a sewage line, and two new snow-making guns.
Also, this spring, a new acid mine drainage system will begin operations, diverting acid mine drainage to man-made ponds, which will filter and treat the water.
Coming this fall, the Allegheny Foothills Historical Society will stage a re-enactment of George Washington's encampment in the park environs and other events for a special 250th anniversary celebration, Oct. 4 and 5.
Deer Lakes
The Pittsburgh Flying Disc Society this spring is completing what it is billing as one of the best disc golf courses in Pennsylvania, according to Gary Dropcho of Pine, one of the course designers.
After playing on 140 courses in the United States and Canada, Dropcho and colleagues from the Pittsburgh Flying Disc Society volunteered their services to the Deer Lakes project.
The county kicked in $20,000 for materials, according to Baechle.
The course's signature hole is a 100-foot throw over one of the park's lakes, which Dropcho characterizes as spectacular and daunting.
"The Deer Lakes course is designed so that people of varying skill levels can play and enjoy it," Dropcho said. The society's Web site provides more information on the course and a scorecard.
Harrison Hills
While the county will pave an asphalt trail around the playground and overlook area, the Friends of Harrison Hills plan to open the park's new environmental learning center on Chipmunk Drive this spring.
"It will be the only heated building in the park, which will be used as a home base for future events," said Mardelle Kopnicky, of Fawn, a board member of the volunteer group Friends of Harrison Hills.
"It will open a lot of opportunities for public events, like composting classes, and we'll have a lot more activities this year than last year," she said.
The volunteer group will offer a number of outings and classes including guided hikes, metal detecting classes, cross country skiing and a nature day camp for children.
According to Kopnicky, the Harrison Hills nature center will fill a void for nature programming as the closest environmental centers are Crooked Creek State Park in Bethel and Beechwood Farms in Fox Chapel.
Hartwood Acres
The county will continue to renovate the Hartwood mansion. It is looking to private business to offer some services out of the estate's stables.
"It could be horse related," said Baechle. "Maybe the private sector with its ingenuity and talent may come up with ideas that we have not."
The county will continue to fortify the park's beacon, the Hartwood mansion. After a ceiling collapsed in 2005 damaging a 1901 Steinway grand piano, a Flemish tapestry and other antiques, the county has continued preservation efforts.
"We're not sure why the ceiling fell -- there was no evidence of stress -- but one of the theories has to do with changes in temperature," Baechle said.
The county will install a new climate control system this year and renovate the restrooms accessible from outside the mansion. The mansion never has had air conditioning, according to Baechle.
"We have millions of dollars worth of tapestries and painting and woodwork, including a piece from a castle dating back to the 16th century," he said. "We want to keep things at a consistent temperature to protect those assets."
After renovations are completed this year, Baechle said the county plans to offer more programs in the mansion in 2009.