Schenley Plaza

Schenley Plaza is the main entrance into Schenley Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.

The convert|4.5|acre|m2|sing=on plaza, located on Forbes Avenue and Schenley Drive in the city's Oakland district, is surrounded by many prominent landmarks, including the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning, Hillman Library, The Carnegie Institute, as well as popular public sculptures such as Mary Schenley Memorial Fountain, Stephen Foster, and Dippy.

History

The site of Schenley Plaza had been a deep gully called St. Pierre's Ravine, which connected to Junction Hollow. The ravine separated the new Carnegie Institute (1895) from the even newer Forbes Field (1909–1970). Linking these two civic institutions was a stone arch bridge: [http://www.pghbridges.com/pittsburghE/0589-4477/bellefield.htm Bellefield Bridge] . It carried Bigelow Boulevard toward Schenley Park.

Sentiment arose that Bellefield Bridge was not a sufficiently impressive park entrance. Also in 1911 a place was being sought for a monument to Mary Schenley, patroness of the park. The idea grew that a great public square, both for the memorial and the park entrance, was needed.

A national competition elicited 45 proposals for the site, and in June 1915, judges selected the plan of Horace Wells Sellers and H. Bartol Register, both of Philadelphia.

In 1915 St. Pierre's Ravine was filled in with earth removed from Downtown's infamous "Hump" on Grant Street. The Bellefield Bridge remains buried here and supports some of the weight of the Mary Schenley Memorial Fountain on the plaza.

In 1949 Schenley Plaza was converted into a parking lot to accommodate both university students and fans at Forbes Field, then home to the Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Steelers, which stood on the west side of the plaza.

Plaza renovation

From 2004–2006 the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy oversaw a major renovation of the plaza, restoring it as a grand entrance to the park. It now offers green space: a convert|1|acre|m2|sing=on lawn, ever-changing ornamental gardens, and landscaping featuring plants native to Western Pennsylvania. Other features include benches, public programming, food kiosks, amenities such as free wireless service for computers, and a Victorian-style carousel as a featured family attraction.

Schenley Plaza is operated by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and is maintained in partnership with the City of Pittsburgh. It is open dawn to dusk.

References

*cite book | author=Kidney, Walter C. | title=Pittsburgh's Landmark Architecture: The Historic Buildings of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County | location=Pittsburgh | publisher=Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation | year=1997 | id=ISBN 0-916670-18-X
*cite book | author=Toker, Franklin | title=Pittsburgh: An Urban Portrait | location=Pittsburgh | publisher=University of Pittsburgh Press | year=1986, 1994 | id=ISBN 0-8229-5434-6

External links

* [http://www.schenleyplaza.org/ Schenley Plaza website]
* [http://www.popcitymedia.com/features/25schenleypark.aspx Feature story on the 2006 opening of the renovated Schenley Plaza]