The Peace of Wild Things: A Non-Exhaustive Exploration of Pittsburgh's Parks and Green Spaces - Alison Cercy

The Peace of Wild Things

Wendell Berry

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

In my previous life, I worked for a land conservation non-profit. Even though my career has shifted, I maintain a deep-seated admiration of and belief in the value of green spaces. From a public health perspective (Pitt’s GC program is housed in the university’s school of Public Health), green spaces provide tangible and direct benefits to the health of local communities. These areas can act as carbon sinks, protect against erosion and other natural disasters, and provide habitat and food for endemic species of flora and fauna.

There is also proof that proximity to and time spent in nature can increase your mental health status. In a 2024 study published in Nature, spending time in greenspaces was linked to lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Pittsburgh is a moderately sized city, but has an incredible ratio of green spaces and parks for its population.

Self-care is a life-long pursuit of balance, but especially important in times of increased stress and responsibility, such as graduate school. Like Wendell Berry, I find time in nature to bring an always welcome perspective and sense of peace. Taking the time to do this allows me to be a better student, counselor, friend, and community member.

With that in mind, here is a (non-exhaustive) list of some of Pittsburgh’s finest parks and natural spaces.

o   Cathedral Lawn/Schenley Plaza  

§  Starting small, these are two green spaces directly on the University of Pittsburgh’s campus. Both the lawn directly around the Cathedral of Learning and the grass plaza across from the Cathedral and the Carnegie Library (a favorite study spot of mine) are very close to the GC classes. These are great spots to sit, read, eat lunch, or join in a game of volleyball (if that’s your thing, I lack the hand-eye coordination).

   

§  If you’ve forgotten to pack a lunch, the Schenley plaza has a few restaurants and an ice cream shop on the side, or you can grab a coffee from Yinz Coffee inside of the Carnegie library 

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 o Schenley park 

§  This park is one of Pittsburgh’s crown jewels. It’s located between Oakland and Squirrel Hill, and is just a short walk from campus over the bridge by the Carnegie Library.

§  Whatever your outdoor vice, Schenley probably has it covered. For running, walking, or biking, the park has miles of flat gravel and single-track trails that weave throughout the park. You can often spot deer on the trails or, if you’re lucky, you may get a glimpse of the owl family under the Schenley bridge.

§  The park also boasts multiple fields that are perfect for sitting, watching the clouds go by, reading, or napping. There is a complex with tennis and pickleball courts, a soccer field, track, and 1km gravel oval, as well as playgrounds, a pool (operational in the summer), a disc golf course, and an ice skating rink (in the winter)

§  Phipps Conservatory is also housed in Schenley park, and changes plant exhibitions every few months. Entrance is free with a pitt student ID

o   Frick park 

§  Frick Park is located between Squirrel Hill and the Point Breeze/Regent Square neighborhoods. This park has a baseball field, clay tennis courts, and playground on the Regent Square side of the park, but its main feature is its access to nature.

§   The park is situated on Fern Hollow creek, and boasts miles of trails. Beloved by mountain bikers, trail runners, and casual walkers alike, the trail system is such that you can enjoy anything from a short stroll to a long wander in the woods. In the winter, the bare trees allow good views and in the summer the foliage easily leads you to believe you’re on a hike far outside of the city.

§  There are also plenty of lovely spots to sit and read or watch the clouds go by and, if you’re lucky, you may even catch a performance of Shakespeare in the park in the summer!

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o   Highland park 

§  This park is located in the Highland Park neighborhood, between the Allegheny River and East Liberty, and right next to the zoo. There are plenty of walking trails, and the reservoir at the top of the park has a track around it for laps. For laps of another kind, the park has an Olympic size swimming pool that is a great place to cool off from the summer heat!

o   Mellon Park 

§  The smallest of the parks on this list, this is my most frequented. Mellon Park is located on fifth avenue between Shadyside and Point Breeze. There is a lovely walled garden at the top of the hill in the park, and plenty of greenspace and picnic tables to be enjoyed with a book or a picnic. If you visit on the right weekend, you might also catch the Makers Market at the adjacent Pittsburgh Center for Arts and Media