Schenley Park

At 184 hectares, the sprawling Schenley Park is Pittsburgh’s second biggest green area and has been a popular place to relax for residents of the city and visitors alike for over a hundred years.

This huge expanse of wood and parkland also contains a lake, dozens of trails and plentiful sports and recreation facilities, making it the ideal place to come to forget about the hustle and bustle of the city. The park is designed to provide an attractive, purpose-built area for Pittsburghers to have fun and exercise within the city.

With many kilometres of trails through the forests and hills of the park, Schenley is particularly popular with joggers and walkers. One of the most popular trails is around the large, picturesque lake in the area known as Panther Hollow. Sports fans should head down to The Oval, where you’ll find most of the park’s public facilities, including 13 tennis courts, a swimming pool, Schenley Park Golf Course and even an 18-hole disc golf course.

The pool in particular is always popular during the summer months and during winter people flock to the park’s ice rink. Another popular activity is to pack some food and picnic on the park’s expansive lawns, while the Schenley Park Café also offers light bites and coffee for the park’s peckish patrons. The café building dates from 1904 and has been lovingly restored to reflect the original edifice.

If it’s your first time in the park, the nearby visitor centre will provide you with guides to the facilities on offer as well as maps of the walking trails. If you’re lucky, your visit will coincide with one of the fun-filled events held regularly here throughout the year, which include the immensely popular Vintage Grand Prix in July.

Schenley Park is open every day and is free to enter. Some attractions, however, such as the ice rink and golf course do charge a small fee. There is free parking on Schenley Drive in the evening and for the whole day on Sundays.