Spending time outdoors is good for your physical and mental health. If you’re looking for some ideas, visit any of these popular Pittsburgh spots. (Getty Images)
Pittsburgh in summer is full of sunshine, green, and fresh air, and spending time outdoors is incredibly beneficial for your mental and physical health. Enjoying and appreciating beautiful natural surroundings also confirms why creating a clean energy future that protects and preserves the Earth for future generations is essential.
To inspire you to start exploring, here’s more information about the benefits of being outdoors, along with a list of the best parks and outdoor spaces in the Pittsburgh area.
What’s So Great About the Great Outdoors?
Smelling fresh pine, watching and hearing waves roll onto shore, and feeling a soft breeze on your face are just a few fantastic experiences you can have outdoors.
In fact, “spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and well-being,” according to a Scientific Reports Journal study.
Time outdoors also reduces stress, boosts mental health, and provides opportunities to be physically active, according to the CDC.
Plus, sharing outdoor experiences like having a picnic or going on a walk promotes togetherness, creates quality time with family and friends, and fosters a sense of community.
These are just a few examples of outdoor fun that awaits. This list of popular parks and outdoor spaces in the Pittsburgh area offers even more.
Frick Park
Frick Park is Pittsburgh’s largest historical regional park. This 644-acre natural oasis opened in 1927 and hosts more than 100 species of birds. The Pittsburgh Park Conservancy partnered with the City of Pittsburgh to open the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum-Certified Frick Environmental Center.
Visitors hike, bike, walk, and play tennis at Frick Park. Kids can enjoy the playground, and the park is dog friendly.
Point State Park
Point State Park was a key site during the French and Indian War and is now a National Historic Landmark. The park is at the tip of Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle, at a juncture where the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers meet and form the Ohio River.
Sprawling across 36 acres, visitors can go boating, kayaking, and fishing on the three rivers. They can also walk or bike on scenic paths through the park.
Mt. Washington
Mt. Washington earns the distinction of being “one of the most visited neighborhoods in Pittsburgh,” according to VisitPittsburgh.com. Visitors catch sweeping views of the city as they ride along two different inclines — the Duquesne Incline and the Monongahela Incline.
The historical transport system launched in the 1870s still carries visitors up and down two very steep slopes. Guests can enjoy all sorts of scrumptious food on “Restaurant Row” and catch one of the best views of the city skyline at Emerald View Park. The park boasts ball fields and over 10 miles of hiking and walking trails.
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Residents and people from all over the world visit Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Known as “Pittsburgh’s Green Oasis” for more than 125 years, the iconic glasshouse showcases spectacular seasonal flower shows. There’s also a world-renowned orchid collection, botanical gardens, butterflies, and special exhibits, and kids can attend a fun “Story Time” among the flowers.
Schenley Plaza
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy operates Schenley Plaza in the heart of Oakland. The green oasis lies between Carnegie and Hillman Libraries, the Cathedral of Learning, and the Frick Fine Arts Building. Hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to the award-winning plaza each year. It’s hard to believe the bustling community greenspace used to be an asphalt parking lot. The one-acre lawn boasts “ever-changing ornamental gardens” with all sorts of western Pennsylvania native plants. The plaza’s Victorian-style PNC Carousel showcases “a menagerie of animals,” such as an eagle, tiger, dolphin, sea dragon, and giraffe. Riders and non-riders alike can enjoy the carousel’s vibrant colors and vintage pipe organ music.
Schenley Plaza marks a grand entrance to Schenley Park.
Schenley Park
Heiress Mary Schenley donated land to create Schenley Park in 1889. Today, it contains 456 acres of trails, woods, and attractions. University students enjoy this outdoor hotspot that features Phipps Conservatory, the Bob O’Connor Golf Course, the Schenley Oval Sportsplex, and the Schenley Park Ice Skating Rink. Whether guests go to relax or do some activities, a memorable time awaits at Pittsburgh’s second-largest park.
Three Rivers Heritage Trail
The Three Rivers Heritage Trail is designated as a National Recreation Trail system. Those who want to explore the riverfront can follow this 33-mile nonlinear trail down segments on both banks of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers. About 90% of the path is paved and leads visitors through urban areas, shopping districts, and green space. It’s open from dusk till dawn.
Highland Park
Pittsburgh is teeming with historic places, including Highland Park, which was created in 1879 due to a need for a municipal water system. Public land and greenery surround the reservoir to form the park. Today, visitors walk or jog along the Reservoir Loop trail. The fountain, reflecting pool, and benches in the Entry Garden are great places to relax. There’s also a bike trail, volleyball courts, a swimming pool, the Pittsburgh Zoo, and PPG Aquarium. Tere are lots of things to see and do at Highland Park!
These breathtaking outdoor spaces offer some of the best spots in Pittsburgh to relax and recharge on your own or gather with family and friends to make some indelible memories. Meanwhile, DLC is always here to power the moments you call life.
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