Hazelwood Greenway, Hazelwood: 300 Kinglake Street
The Hazelwood Greenway was established in the early 1980s by Mayor Caligiuri and City Council as part of the “Greenways for Pittsburgh” program. At this time in history, Pittsburgh’s population was in a chronic state of decline, and vacant land was rapidly expanding. With dwindling resources, the City needed a strategy to protect sensitive hillsides from opportunistic development, illegal dumping, and environmental degradation. The Greenways program was somewhat radical for its time because it created a new public space designation different from parks or playgrounds and allowed contiguous vacant parcels to be combined and conserved as passive open space.
For almost 40 years, the program relied almost entirely on neighborhood volunteers. As a result, Greenways like Hazelwood’s became inaccessible and unappealing due to degraded conditions, invasive plant overgrowth, and a lack of signage.
Fortunately, in 2020, Hazelwood was selected for a pilot program that included financial support for improving social equity and climate resilience. This award was fantastic news because Hazelwood’s greenway, at 183 acres, is the second-largest in the City. Reclaiming the space meant increased opportunities for job creation and recreation, environmental research and education, and the revitalization of a historic neighborhood.
The work has progressed at a slow and steady pace over the years, and it’s not an exaggeration to say that the transformation is almost miraculous. With winding, packed-dirt trails, intentional landscaping of native plants and trees, rustic yet comfortable occasional seating, and ample trail signage, it’s a joy to visit. The accolades this spot has received are well deserved, and there’s more to come in the years ahead. If you’re looking to get outside this holiday week, consider a visit!
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