Residents of Pittsburgh’s Beltzhoover neighborhood live next to the sprawling 80-acre McKinley Park — but it can still be tough to get to some of the amenities.
Nestled between Beltzhoover, Bon Air and Knoxville, the park offers amenities such as a playground, skate park and basketball courts. However, the lack of sidewalks along Bausman Street makes safe access between the park’s upper and lower sections difficult.
That’s why the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is launching a $140,000 trail improvement project, providing better routes for people to walk through the park and access its amenities.
“The goal is to kind of reconnect the neighborhood down the Bausman corridor,” said Brandon Riley, the conservancy’s director of community projects. “The intent is by the end of 2026 we’ve really improved community connections for Beltzhoover.”
The park already has about three miles of trails, though many are in poor condition and little used after years of deferred maintenance, Riley said. Some have been plagued by erosion. Others are nearly impassable under a tangled mess of overgrowth and fallen trees. Poor drainage has left others wet and muddy.
Using a state grant, the parks conservancy is planning to improve at least 1.5 miles of existing trails throughout the parking, cutting back overgrowth, fixing erosion and improving drainage.
Some of the main trails, Riley said, will be widened. Steps will be added to the steeper portions.
“These trail improvements are a major step forward in making the park more accessible, welcoming and safe for all residents,” Councilman Bob Charland, D-South Side, said.
Additional trails — including some on the Bon Air side of the park — also could see upgrades if there’s additional funding once the first portion is complete, Riley said.
Pennsylvania Rep. Jessica Benham in a statement called McKinley Park “a cherished part of Pittsburgh’s green infrastructure and neighborhood history.”
“This investment in trail restoration is about reconnecting communities, enhancing accessibility, and ensuring that every resident can safely enjoy the natural beauty this park offers,” she said.
Crews hoped to start next week, but Riley acknowledged a forecasted snowstorm that could bury the park in about a foot of snow may delay work.
The project is expected to wrap up by the end of the year.
The improved trails also will connect to the new McKinley Park Community Grove, another Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy project launching this year.
The parks conservancy is securing permits for that project now and hopes to start work in the summer, with a goal of finishing by the end of the year.
McKinley Park was created in 1898. Initially known as Butcher’s Grove, Maple Park and Ritter’s Hollow, it was renamed McKinley Park in 1902, following the assassination of President William McKinley the year before.
“It is the park in Beltzhoover. It’s where you go,” Riley said. “It’s hugely important to be able to get kids and youth out into recreational spaces, giving them something to do in a really healthy and positive way.”
With playgrounds, athletic fields and picnic spots, the park is a benefit for people of all ages, Riley said, calling it a “hidden little gem.”
After completing the trail upgrades and the community grove project, Riley said, the conservancy will connect with nearby residents to see what other improvements they’d like to see next.
“It really could be a huge community asset. This is kind of one step to achieving that vision,” Riley said. “There’s still a lot more work left to do, but we’re working through it.”