Mellon Park is a park in the Shadyside, Point Breeze, and Squirrel Hill neighborhoods of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, straddling both sides of Fifth Avenue, from approximately Shady Avenue to Penn Avenue, the western corner abutting Pittsburgh Center for the Arts building. The southern part of the park is home to the Walled Garden and the park holds events throughout the year. It is also home to several recreational facilities. Although a number of public buses serve the area, and despite the fact it is very close, few people from East Liberty or Friendship neighborhoods visit the southern part of (the public park) Mellon Park. The fact that it is a public park and not private space is unclear from the exterior of the gated part of Mellon Park (the entire large part of Mellon Park that is on the south side of Fifth Avenue is gated, with no sign saying it is part of Mellon Park on any of the entry spaces). The air is very clean on the south side of Mellon Park (which is on a hill that rises above the pollution from the highly-trafficked Fifth Avenue). By contrast, pollution levels on the north side of Mellon Park (north of Fifth Avenue) are high, due to the large amount of gas-powered traffic on roads around it. Many Black children play on the playgrounds and the baseball diamond on the polluted-air north side of the park. Very few Black people enter the (gated and unsigned) South side of Mellon Park, which is where the Walled Garden is.
The park was established in 1943, on the grounds of the former estate of Richard B. Mellon. His was the largest mansion in Pittsburgh. The mansion was built by Italian immigrants from New Kensington, PA, under the direction of Monsignor Nicola Fusco. These industrious men then built the monumental Mount St. Peter Church in New Kensington, which still stands and functions to this day from the materials of the Mellon Mansion. The gardens were originally designed in 1912 by Alden and Harlow. Several other architects added their own touch to the landscape, including the Olmsted Brothers and some seventeen years after the garden began, Vitale and Geiffert. After Mellon's sixty-room home was brought down during World War II, most of the garden still remained and was transformed into a city park known now as Mellon Park. The park also contains the Phipps Garden Center and Pittsburgh Center for the Arts.[2]
The Walled Gardenedit
The Walled Garden is surrounded by walls of brick and limestone and is one of Gothic design. The garden's fourth wall was part of the Mellon mansion before its demolition in the 1940s. A fountain stands between the garden and the rest of the park. Vitale and Geiffert were behind the planning of this garden. The Mellon Park Project wanted to create a memorial in memory of Ann Katherine Seamans, who frequented the Walled Garden repeatedly after being introduced to it in kindergarten. Janet Zweig, an artist chosen by the project team, turned the floor of the garden into an exact replica of the sky in Pittsburgh on the day Ann was born.[3] There are 150 stars, and each is a light in the ground and includes an inscription about it. It is possible to sponsor a star and make a donation.[4] The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and LaQuatra Bonci Associates was responsible for the planning and supervising of the garden's redemption. The park was reopened on June 12, 2010.[5]
A Fair in the Parkedit
Any form of an event can potentially take place in Mellon Park with permission from the City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works.[6] One event that has taken place annually since 1969 is A Fair in the Park put on by the Craftsmen's Guild of Pittsburgh in the month of September. This is a contemporary craft festival with a small concert. There is an area just for children. No admission fee is charged.[7]
Mellon Park Tennis Centeredit
The Mellon Park Tennis Center is a year-round facility that offers classes for younger children ages 4–7 and other age groups up to adults.[8] Along with the tennis courts Mellon Park includes a playground, basketball courts, and baseball fields.[9]
Referencesedit
^"Bill No. 2008-0405". City of Pittsburgh. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
^History. Pittsburghparks.org. Retrieved on 2010-11-29.
^Mellon Park Project. Pittsburghparks.org (2010-06-12). Retrieved on 2010-11-29.
^. Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
^Mellon Park Project. Pittsburghparks.org (2010-06-12). Retrieved on 2010-11-29.
^Mellon Park Events. Pittsburghparks.org. Retrieved on 2010-11-29.
^A Fair in the Park. A Fair in the Park. Retrieved on 2010-11-29.
^Mellon Tennis Center 2010-11-25 at the Wayback Machine. City.pittsburgh.pa.us. Retrieved on 2010-11-29.
^Post-Gazette NOW – Events. Post-gazette.com. Retrieved on 2010-11-29.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mellon Park.
Official website
A Fair in the Park
Pittsburgh Post Gazette
January 01, 1970
mellon, park, park, shadyside, point, breeze, squirrel, hill, neighborhoods, pittsburgh, pennsylvania, straddling, both, sides, fifth, avenue, from, approximately, shady, avenue, penn, avenue, western, corner, abutting, pittsburgh, center, arts, building, sout. Mellon Park is a park in the Shadyside Point Breeze and Squirrel Hill neighborhoods of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania straddling both sides of Fifth Avenue from approximately Shady Avenue to Penn Avenue the western corner abutting Pittsburgh Center for the Arts building The southern part of the park is home to the Walled Garden and the park holds events throughout the year It is also home to several recreational facilities Although a number of public buses serve the area and despite the fact it is very close few people from East Liberty or Friendship neighborhoods visit the southern part of the public park Mellon Park The fact that it is a public park and not private space is unclear from the exterior of the gated part of Mellon Park the entire large part of Mellon Park that is on the south side of Fifth Avenue is gated with no sign saying it is part of Mellon Park on any of the entry spaces The air is very clean on the south side of Mellon Park which is on a hill that rises above the pollution from the highly trafficked Fifth Avenue By contrast pollution levels on the north side of Mellon Park north of Fifth Avenue are high due to the large amount of gas powered traffic on roads around it Many Black children play on the playgrounds and the baseball diamond on the polluted air north side of the park Very few Black people enter the gated and unsigned South side of Mellon Park which is where the Walled Garden is Mellon ParkThe fountain in Mellon ParkTypeMunicipal ParkLocationPittsburgh Pennsylvania United StatesCoordinates40 27 7 47 N 79 55 4 99 W 40 4520750 N 79 9180528 W 40 4520750 79 9180528Established1943Operated byCity of Pittsburgh Parks amp Recreation CitiParks WebsiteOfficial websiteMellon ParkU S National Register of Historic PlacesPittsburgh Historic DesignationNRHP reference No 100008596Significant datesAdded to NRHPFebruary 2 2023Designated PGHLFebruary 24 2021 1 The park is on the list of landmarks recognized by the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation PHLF and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places Contents 1 History 2 The Walled Garden 3 A Fair in the Park 4 Mellon Park Tennis Center 5 References 6 External linksHistory editThe park was established in 1943 on the grounds of the former estate of Richard B Mellon His was the largest mansion in Pittsburgh The mansion was built by Italian immigrants from New Kensington PA under the direction of Monsignor Nicola Fusco These industrious men then built the monumental Mount St Peter Church in New Kensington which still stands and functions to this day from the materials of the Mellon Mansion The gardens were originally designed in 1912 by Alden and Harlow Several other architects added their own touch to the landscape including the Olmsted Brothers and some seventeen years after the garden began Vitale and Geiffert After Mellon s sixty room home was brought down during World War II most of the garden still remained and was transformed into a city park known now as Mellon Park The park also contains the Phipps Garden Center and Pittsburgh Center for the Arts 2 The Walled Garden editThe Walled Garden is surrounded by walls of brick and limestone and is one of Gothic design The garden s fourth wall was part of the Mellon mansion before its demolition in the 1940s A fountain stands between the garden and the rest of the park Vitale and Geiffert were behind the planning of this garden The Mellon Park Project wanted to create a memorial in memory of Ann Katherine Seamans who frequented the Walled Garden repeatedly after being introduced to it in kindergarten Janet Zweig an artist chosen by the project team turned the floor of the garden into an exact replica of the sky in Pittsburgh on the day Ann was born 3 There are 150 stars and each is a light in the ground and includes an inscription about it It is possible to sponsor a star and make a donation 4 The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and LaQuatra Bonci Associates was responsible for the planning and supervising of the garden s redemption The park was reopened on June 12 2010 5 A Fair in the Park editAny form of an event can potentially take place in Mellon Park with permission from the City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works 6 One event that has taken place annually since 1969 is A Fair in the Park put on by the Craftsmen s Guild of Pittsburgh in the month of September This is a contemporary craft festival with a small concert There is an area just for children No admission fee is charged 7 Mellon Park Tennis Center editThe Mellon Park Tennis Center is a year round facility that offers classes for younger children ages 4 7 and other age groups up to adults 8 Along with the tennis courts Mellon Park includes a playground basketball courts and baseball fields 9 References edit Bill No 2008 0405 City of Pittsburgh Retrieved April 22 2024 History Pittsburghparks org Retrieved on 2010 11 29 Mellon Park Project Pittsburghparks org 2010 06 12 Retrieved on 2010 11 29 Art Installation Archived from the original on 2011 07 26 Retrieved 2010 11 16 Mellon Park Project Pittsburghparks org 2010 06 12 Retrieved on 2010 11 29 Mellon Park Events Pittsburghparks org Retrieved on 2010 11 29 A Fair in the Park A Fair in the Park Retrieved on 2010 11 29 Mellon Tennis Center Archived 2010 11 25 at the Wayback Machine City pittsburgh pa us Retrieved on 2010 11 29 Post Gazette NOW Events Post gazette com Retrieved on 2010 11 29 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mellon Park Official website A Fair in the Park Mellon Tennis Center Pittsburgh Post Gazette Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mellon Park amp oldid 1220267363, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
