City Parks Conservancy Launch McKinley Park Community Grove Project

 New investment will transform historic Chicken Hill site into a hub for recreation, learning, and community connection.

Located in the Chicken Hill section of McKinley Park, just below Michigan Street, the Community Grove will revitalize a site once home to a beloved, resident-built baseball field—honoring its legacy while creating new opportunities for recreation, education, and community use. 

Serving the Hilltop neighborhoods of Beltzhoover, Allentown, Knoxville, Bon Air, and surrounding communities, McKinley Park has long been an essential green space. The Community Grove marks the next phase in the park’s ongoing revitalization, building on progress since the adoption of the McKinley Park Master Plan in 2016. Construction is expected to be completed in fall 2026. 

“The Community Grove is a great project that has brought together local residents and partners to invest in the revitalization of McKinley Park,” said Mayor Corey O’Connor. “The idea that has come together through the community will create a vibrant new space within this park that will offer new opportunities for recreation and programming for youth and families throughout the local neighborhoods and beyond.” 

Developed in close collaboration with residents and community partners—including the Beltzhoover Consensus Group, Knoxville Community Council, Voices Against Violence, and Hilltop Alliance—the project reflects a shared vision for a welcoming, nature-based space designed for gathering, play, and learning. 

“The Community Grove reflects the heart of this neighborhood—its history, resilience, and vision for the future,” said Catherine Qureshi, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. “We’ve worked side by side with park neighbors to shape a space that truly belongs to them. That’s what makes this project so meaningful: it’s not just happening in the community—it’s being built with the community.” 

The Community Grove is designed to support both active and passive use while strengthening connections throughout the park. Key features include: 

• A 20-foot hexagonal shade pavilion with a surrounding seat wall for gatherings  

• Open lawn space for recreation and community use  

• A dedicated outdoor learning area for education and small-group programming  

• Improved trail connections, stairs, and pathways to enhance accessibility  

• Stormwater and drainage improvements to reduce erosion and improve usability 

• Expanded ecological restoration areas with opportunities for environmental education  

• Picnic tables and informal seating integrated throughout the space  

• Preservation of historic baseball backstop posts as a tribute to the site’s past, with potential for a future community-led art installation  

The Community Grove will serve as a flexible space for youth programming, nature-based education, and cultural expression, including opportunities to showcase local art and community history. The project also strengthens connections between McKinley Park and surrounding neighborhoods through improved trail access and thoughtful design. 

“We have been working with Hilltop neighborhood leaders for several years and have been so impressed with their commitment and what they're accomplishing," said David Roger, president of Henry L. Hillman Foundation.  "When we were approached by the partnership led by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy to create the new Community Grove in McKinley Park, we were pleased to be able to help the neighborhoods realize another part of their vision.  It's the type of effort that makes Pittsburgh such a special place." 

McKinley Park supporter Pennsylvania American Water further underscored the importance of investing in this community green space and parks across Pittsburgh. 

“Pennsylvania American Water is proud to support the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s work in McKinley Park, its dedication to parks across the city, and its commitment to protecting vital watershed resources,” said Gary Lobaugh, the company’s director of government and external affairs. “Partnerships like this help safeguard our water sources and strengthen the communities we serve.” 

The project represents a total investment of approximately $660,000—including $464,000 for construction and $196,000 for design and management—and is funded in part by the City of Pittsburgh Parks Tax Trust Fund, along with support from the Henry L. Hillman Foundation, Pennsylvania American Water, and the American Water Charitable Foundation. 

To learn more, visit: www.pittsburghparks.org/mckinley-park-community-grove/ or https://engage.pittsburghpa.gov/mckinley-park-community-grove.