| Schenley Park | |
|---|---|
 Cathedral of Learning seen fromPanther Hollow Lake | |
 Interactive map of Schenley Park | |
| Type | Municipal park |
| Location | Schenley Drive and Panther Hollow Road,Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania,United States |
| Coordinates | 40°26′04″N79°56′34″W / 40.4344°N 79.9428°W /40.4344; -79.9428 |
| Area | 456 acres (185 ha) |
| Created | October 30, 1889 |
| Operated by | City of Pittsburgh Parks & Recreation (CitiParks), Department of Public Works |
| Status | Open all year |
| Website | Official website |
Schenley Park | |
| Architect | Edward Manning Bigelow |
| Architectural style | Multiple styles |
| NRHP reference No. | 85003506[1] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | November 13, 1985 |
| Designated PHLF | 1989[2] |
Schenley Park (/ˈʃɛnli/) is a large municipal park inPittsburgh,Pennsylvania,United States. It is located between the neighborhoods ofOakland,Greenfield, andSquirrel Hill. It is also listed on theNational Register of Historic Places as ahistoric district.[3][4] In 2011, the park was named one of "America's Coolest City Parks" byTravel + Leisure.[5]
The park is made up of 300 acres (120 ha) donated byMary Schenley in 1889 and another 120 acres (49 ha) that the city subsequently purchased from her. Another 36 acres (15 ha) were acquired at a later date, bringing the park's total size to 456 acres (185 ha), and making it the second largest municipal park in Pittsburgh, behindFrick Park.
The park borders the campuses ofCarnegie Mellon University and theUniversity of Pittsburgh, and technically Carnegie Mellon University is actually within Schenley Park.
Schenley Park features a grand entrance,Schenley Plaza, and several miles of hiking trails and a large pond inPanther Hollow. Across from thePhipps Conservatory isFlagstaff Hill, a popular place to watch outdoor movies in the summer.
In the early days of Schenley Park, the area known as "The Oval" was used for horse racing. Today, it has 13 tennis courts, an all weather running track, and a soccer field. There is also an ice skating rink, public swimming pool, and an 18-hole disc golf course nearby.
Schenley Park also contains theBob O'Connor Golf Course. The golf course includes an indoor practice facility where golfers can play a "virtual" round onPebble Beach and other famous courses.
Cross country running meets are held in the park. It is the home course for theCarnegie Mellon University men's and women's cross country teams.[6] The 1921USA Cross Country Championships were held in the park.
Since 1983, Schenley Park has been home to avintage motor sports car race, thePittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, that takes place annually in mid-July. Additionally, since 1993, the park has been home to the Komen PittsburghRace for the Cure, an annual fundraising event for breast cancer andMother's Day tradition with more than 35,000 participants.[7]Carnegie Mellon University's annualSpring Carnival contests its Sweepstakes, a buggy race, on Tech Avenue, Schenley Drive, and Frew Street.
In 1842, Mary Elizabeth Croghan of Pittsburgh, who was 15 at the time,eloped with 43-year-old CaptainEdward Schenley. The couple moved to England. Mary's father attempted to terminate her inheritance in a lawsuit, but was unsuccessful. Mary's maternal grandfather, GeneralJames O'Hara, bequeathed to her a parcel of land known as the "Mt. Airy Tract."
Mary's wealth attracted the attention of several land developers in the Pittsburgh area as well asEdward Bigelow, the Director of the Department of Public Works in Pittsburgh. In 1889, Bigelow learned that the agent of a land developer planned to travel to London to attempt to purchase the land from Mary. Bigelow sent anEast Liberty lawyer by train toNew York City where he then boarded asteamer bound for England. The lawyer beat the real estate agent by two days.
After negotiations with Mary, Bigelow's lawyer entered into an agreement to give 300 acres (120 ha) of the Mt. Airy Tract to the city of Pittsburgh with an option to purchase 120 acres (49 ha) more, under the conditions that the park be named after her and never be sold. The city agreed and immediately purchased the additional land.
Bigelow began to develop the newly renamed Schenley Park for recreational uses. He hired William Falconer to lead thePhipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens which was built in 1893. In 1895,Andrew Carnegie built theCarnegie Museum and Music Hall, establishing Oakland and Schenley Park as a cultural icon.
Forbes Field, the home field of thePittsburgh Pirates, was adjacent to Schenley Park during its lifespan (1909–1970).
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