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Allegheny County intended its parks to be the "people's country clubs" in an area where working people had few opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Except in 1927, the outdoors wasn't all that great.
Edward V. Babcock, a well-to-do and forward-looking gentleman, lumber baron and former Pittsburgh mayor turned county commissioner, personally bought up two big parcels north and south of the city. Then he sold those 4,000 acres to the county at cost to create North Park and South Park between 1927 and 1931.
Some had poked fun at the idea, but the public loved the parks, which continued to expand. Ninety years later, the system has more than tripled in size to 12,000-plus acres in those two parks and seven others: Boyce Park, Deer Lakes Park, Harrison Hills Park, Hartwood Acres Park, Round Hill Park, Settlers Cabin Park and White Oak Park.
A program "celebrating their legacy, imagining their future" is being held from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at the Sen. John Heinz History Center in the Strip District. Tickets, $10, help support the parks and cover parking and refreshments.
Speakers will include Thomas Woltz, a leading...