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WHEREAS, bordered on all sides by neighborhood streets, South Side Park is unique in its location and topography; and,
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WHEREAS, a hidden 65-acre gem four blocks south of bustling East Carson Street in the South Side Flats, bordering South Side Slopes and Arlington neighborhoods, this multi-neighborhood community park has been chronically underutilized and under maintained; and,
WHEREAS, established in December 2015 with the support of the Birmingham Foundation, South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and Hilltop Alliance, Friends of South Side Park (FOSSP) is a volunteer-based advocacy group representing South Side Park formed at the request of the City of Pittsburgh in order to develop the necessary community coordination to facilitate the South Side Park Master Plan, which was completed in 2018; and,
WHEREAS, FOSSP volunteer crews worked in the park to maintain the trails and tackle the invasive plant species that had overrun the southeastern part of the park - known as Jurassic Valley; and,
WHEREAS, financed by the FOSSP and other benefactors including the City of Pittsburgh, the Hilltop Alliance provided the leadership for the first Allegheny GoatScape presence at the South Side Park and the first Goat Fest in 2027; and,
WHEREAS, Allegheny GoatScape began coming annually to provide the foundational step of clearing the invasive plants, spending two months at the park, allowing volunteers to move in to remove the woody remains and roots of invasive plans so that native trees and shrubs can be planted; and,
WHEREAS, in 2018, the first ten native trees were planted in conjunction with Plant5ForLife and the following year, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy donated 13 large landscape trees and 15 smaller restoration size trees; and,
WHEREAS, given these new trees, volunteers began working more hours in the park to ensure the health of the trees; and,
WHEREAS, in 2020, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy completed the Jurassic Valley Ecological Restoration Plan which guides the tree planting and that same year, 62 trees and shrubs were planted, including many tiny seedlings; and,
WHEREAS, in 2021, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy donated 21 large landscape size trees and a total of 229 other trees were planted that year; the following year, 377 trees were planted; and so far this year, over 270 trees have been planted; and,
WHEREAS, the Student Conservation Association, Duquesne University and the University of Pittsburgh have contributed many hours as have corporate groups such as American Eagle Outfitters, Duquesne Light Company, Equitable Gas, Highmark, Gecko Robotics, REI and others; and,
WHEREAS, hundreds of community residents have contributed volunteer hours but approximately 40 core workers carry the ongoing efforts; and,
WHEREAS, community partners have also generously provided financial support; and,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Pittsburgh expresses its deep appreciation of the tremendous efforts of passionate volunteers who have dedicated countless hours to the South Side Park, and congratulates the volunteers for planting 1,000 trees, 343 native shrubs, and 640 herbaceous perennials to date; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Saturday, September 2, 2023 to be “Friends of South Side Park” Day in the City of Pittsburgh.