Parks & Trails

Shady Side Academy Students with Park Commission members and PWD employees at the fall 2023 Hardie Valley Park Planting event

Fall 2023 Planting at Hardie Valley Park

On Wednesday, October 11, 2023, Mayor Alex Scott had the honor of greeting a team of 35 students and chaperones from Shady Side Academy at Hardie Valley Park. Every year, Shady Side Academy (SSA ) encourages its students to participate in a volunteer activity. This year, faculty member J.A. MacDougal coordinated with the Fox Chapel Borough Park Commission.  As a result, a plan was created so the students could plant several hundred seedlings at the park. The seedlings included spicebush, buttonbush, sweet bay magnolia, and gray dogwood. The trees were made available through The Ten Million Tree Program. Larry Kurpakus, Public Works Director, coordinated the delivery of the seedlings.

The students learned about the importance of removing invasive plants like privet and replacing them with native plants that provide a good food source for our birds and pollinators. The privet berries are similar to sugar, so they do not provide the birds with the nutritional requirements they need to migrate. Their planting efforts were led by volunteers, Including Jeff Beyer and Park Commission members: Carrie Casey, Jeff Cohen, Susan Crookston, and Wes Posvar.

The students enjoyed their outdoor experience, eating donuts, planting trees, and exploring the park. Their efforts and enthusiasm were greatly appreciated. Thanks to them, we have close to 500 new seedlings growing in our parks. If you’re walking at Hardie Valley, you will be able to view the results!  Green tubes were used to protect the seedlings from deer and rabbits. The tubes will help the seedlings survive the winds and cold weather.

If you would like to help in the parks, please contact Shawn Marie Peterson at Fox Chapel Borough. She will add your name to a volunteer list. Volunteers will be contacted when planting opportunities occur.

Park Improvements are coming to McCahill Park 

We hope you have had a chance to see and enjoy the new playground at McCahill Park, Annie’s Field of Dreams. In the park, the Fox Chapel Parks Commission is planning a loop trail around the ballfields, a multi-purpose court for winter ice skating, basketball, and pickleball. In addition, there will be an upgraded ballfield. Park improvements will incorporate innovative stormwater features like rain gardens. The playground upgrades are funded through generous donations and the Annie Whittingham Forever Five Foundation. The park upgrades are the result of the Borough receiving two state grants totaling $303,900. The Borough Council has also generously contributed additional funds for the park upgrades.