Schenley Plaza facts for kids
Schenley Plaza is a fun public park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It's like a big, welcoming front door to the larger Schenley Park.
This 4.5-acre plaza is located in Pittsburgh's Oakland area. It has many cool features for everyone to enjoy. You can find beautiful gardens, tasty food kiosks, and places for people to meet up. There's even a fun carousel! A big part of the plaza is the "Emerald Lawn," which is about 1 acre. Here, you can relax and even use free wireless internet.
Schenley Plaza is also home to special monuments like the Mary Schenley Memorial Fountain. It's surrounded by famous buildings too. These include the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning, the Stephen Foster Memorial, and the Hillman Library. You can also see the Carnegie Institute and its famous Dippy dinosaur sculpture nearby.
History of Schenley Plaza
Long ago, the area where Schenley Plaza now stands was a deep ditch called St. Pierre's Ravine. This ravine separated important places like the Carnegie Institute and Forbes Field, a famous sports stadium. A stone bridge, called the Bellefield Bridge, crossed this ravine. It helped connect Bigelow Boulevard to Schenley Park.
People started to think the bridge wasn't grand enough for a park entrance. They also wanted a special place for a monument to Mary Schenley, who was very generous to the park. So, the idea of building a large public square grew.
In 1915, a national contest was held to design the new plaza. Many ideas were submitted, and the plan by Horace Wells Sellers and H. Bartol Register from Philadelphia was chosen.
Between 1913 and 1914, the deep St. Pierre's Ravine was filled in. The Bellefield Bridge is still buried under the plaza today. It even helps support the weight of the Mary Schenley Memorial Fountain!
Later, in 1949, Schenley Plaza was changed into a parking lot. This was to make space for university students and fans going to Forbes Field. The Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team and the Pittsburgh Steelers football team played there at the time.
Schenley Plaza's Makeover
From 2004 to 2006, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy worked hard to give the plaza a big makeover. They wanted to bring it back to its original purpose as a beautiful entrance to the park. This project brought back green spaces, including a 1-acre lawn. They also added lovely gardens with plants native to Western Pennsylvania.
The renovated plaza now has many great features. You can find comfortable benches, fun public events, and food kiosks. There's also free Wi-Fi for your computers. A special attraction is the Victorian-style carousel, which is a favorite for families.
In 2009, the Schenley Plaza renovation won a special award. It received the Silver Award for being an "Environmentally Sustainable Project." This award was given at an international event in the Czech Republic.
Today, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy manages Schenley Plaza. They work with the City of Pittsburgh to keep it beautiful. The plaza is open from dawn until dusk for everyone to enjoy.
Images for kids
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View from the southwest corner of Schenley Plaza. The University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning, Stephen Foster Memorial, and Heinz Chapel can be seen on the left. Across the plaza, behind the trees, is the Carnegie Institute and Library complex.
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Alternate view of Schenley Plaza, showing Posvar Hall, Hillman Library, Schenley Quadrangle, and the William Pitt Union.
