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Borough Parkland

The Borough is indeed fortunate to own over three hundred acres of parkland.  All but five acres of this property (McCahill Park) is currently used as open space for passive recreation, i.e., walking trails, bird watching, etc.  See Trailways Map.

Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve
Headquarters of the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania (ASWP) since 1976, Beechwood Farms is one of the largest nature reserves and environmental education centers in Western Pennsylvania.  Its 134 acres, most of which have been generously leased to ASWP by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, contain more than 5 miles of walking trails which are open from dawn to dusk every day year-round.  The area is comprised of woodlands, fields, streams, and a pond and offers a variety of outdoor experiences.  Some paths are accessible for individuals with special needs.  Indoor facilities include a 125-seat auditorium, an interactive Discovery Room for children, a natural history library, the Audubon Nature Store, classrooms and a modern barn for assembly programs and rentals.  Beechwood has a staff of professional and volunteer naturalists to serve its membership and the general public.  Beechwood is open to the public at no charge and is located at 614 Dorseyville Road.  Hours are Tuesday through Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.  Inquires may be made by calling (412) 963-6100.

Trillium Trail
The most famous of our various park areas is the one known as the Trillium Trail.  It is here that every spring hundreds of thousands of trilliums used to cover the ground like a blanket of snow.  The Trillium Trail is known far and wide and until the trillium were decimated by deer, was enjoyed by thousands of people each year.  It is hoped that the Borough's Wildlife Management Program will reduce the size of the deer herd sufficiently to allow the trillium to regenerate.

Riding Meadow Park
Riding Meadow Park is one of our Borough parks and we are asking your cooperation to help preserve it.  Because of soil compaction, too much shade from our trees and abnormal heavy rains within the last several years, many areas of the Park are not draining properly.  Some are concerned that this problem has been made more severe by many dogs being allowed to run free, tearing up the wet pathways and preventing grass from regrowing.  The Park is also littered with "doggy bags" that dog walkers have not placed in the receptacle provided at the entrance to the Park. Please be considerate of others by picking up after your pet and placing the waste bags in the receptacle. Please remember that our parks are also intended for those who want to enjoy a pleasant walk, who want to bird or just sit and enjoy nature.  Dog walkers are also reminded that PA Law requires that dogs be “under control” at all times. 

The Borough recently revised its Rules & Regulations Governing the Use of Borough Parkland by stating that no more than three (3) dogs per person can be walked at Riding Meadow Park at a time.  Continued nonobservance of our regulations could result in consideration by the Borough of more stringent measures.

Fox Chapel Land Conservation Trust
The Fox Chapel Land Conservation Trust was founded in 1979 to ensure that lands with significant natural features in the area's watersheds remain as an inheritance for all the people living in the area.  The Trust is dedicated to preserving these lands in their unaltered state.  If you would like to consider protecting some of your land or if you would like more information, please call the Borough Office.

Squaw Valley Park
Squaw Valley Park, located off of Fox Chapel Road, is actually in O'Hara Township. Fox Chapel Borough receives a lot of phone calls asking to reserve park pavilions and the gazebo for specific dates and special occasions, weddings, etc.  O'Hara Township conducts a signup process in the spring on a first-come, first-served basis.  All calls regarding Squaw Valley Park should be directed to O'Hara Township at (412) 782-1400.