June 24, 2025 CitiParks Operating Cooling Centers Amid Pittsburgh Heatwave CitiParks will operate six cooling centers this week amid temperatures exceeding 90 degrees in Pittsburgh. Learn More With temperatures expected to hit 96 degrees on Tuesday and 92 on Wednesday, CitiParks has activated six Healthy Active Living Centers as cooling centers through Wednesday. The centers will provide residents with a safe, air-conditioned environment to escape the heat and will remain open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday. Locations include: Beechview (1555 Broadway Ave.) Brighton Heights (3515 McClure Ave.) Greenfield (745 Greenfield Avenue) Homewood (7321 Frankstown Road) Sheraden (720 Sherwood Ave.) South Side (12th & Bingham Streets) Residents are encouraged to take precautions during periods of extreme heat, especially older adults, young children, and those with underlying health conditions. CitiParks typically activates cooling centers when the forecasted highs are predicted to be above 90 degrees.
May 7, 2025 Pittsburgh Farmers Markets to Open for the Season in May and June The CitiParks Farmers Markets will return to various locations in Pittsburgh starting next week. The four markets will open either in May or June and run through November or December. Learn More Shoppers who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will be able to get fresh, nutritious, and locally-grown food at the markets. Products include produce, meat, dairy, bread and baked goods, produce plants, seeds, and honey. Hot prepared food items, alcohol, and non-food items are not eligible for SNAP purchases. Food Bucks gives Fresh Access food stamp shoppers extra money to spend on fruits and vegetables. For every $5 spent in food stamps, shoppers will receive an extra $2 to spend on produce. For the 2025 season, Just Harvest will add another $3 to this as a result of a grant from the Food Justice Fund that will double SNAP benefits at all CitiParks markets. The markets – which are operated by the city’s Department of Parks & Recreation (CitiParks) – will offer expanded vendor selections, revamped layouts, and new community programming aimed at making visits more engaging and accessible. The Squirrel Hill Market opens with a special market on Sunday, May 11 to celebrate Mother’s Day. There will be a Beer Garden at the Northside Market on the last Friday of every month that will include musical entertainment. Special programming and theme weeks with community partners will be featured at the markets beginning in June. The four markets include: Squirrel Hill (Beacon/Bartlett parking lot): Sundays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from May 11 to Dec. 21 East End (Liberty Green Park, Larimer Avenue): Mondays 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. from June 2 to Nov. 17 Carrick (Carrick Dairy District, 1529 Brownsville Road): Wednesdays 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. from June 4 to Nov. 19 North Side (Allegheny Commons Park, East Ohio & Cedar): Fridays 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. from May 16 to Nov. 21 “We’re thrilled about this year’s farmers markets and the continued investment in our city’s local economy,” CitiParks Director Kathryn Vargas said. “Our goal is to support the growth of small, sustainable businesses while creating an experience that every Pittsburgher will be excited to be part of.”
April 7, 2025 CitiParks Seeking Lifeguards for Pittsburgh City Pools This Summer CitiParks is launching its recruitment efforts for lifeguards for the upcoming summer pool season. Learn More CitiParks Aquatics recruits, trains, and certifies lifeguards for Pittsburgh for the summer. However, onboarding an adequate number of lifeguards for the city’s outdoor pools has been challenging since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The city has steadily increased the number of pools opened each year – eight opened in 2021, 12 in 2022, and 15 in both 2023 and 2024. Whether the city will be able to keep pace with the number of new pools opening will depend on how many lifeguards it can recruit. Lifeguard duties vary from staffing normal operating hours of pools to working as head or regional guards. Employees will have the opportunity to learn and grow within CitiParks Aquatics, which could lead to other city employment opportunities. Lifeguards must be Pittsburgh residents, at least 15 years of age, and willing to work at any CitiParks outdoor pool. Those who are interested – whether a new candidate or a returning guard – should fill out the 2025 Lifeguard Interest Form and CitiParks Aquatics will contact them. “We continue to work hard to garner increased interest in recruiting CitiParks lifeguards,” said CitiParks Director Kathryn Vargas. “We are encouraged by the enthusiasm our returning guards show each year, and we work hard to promote that with all incoming guards.” Vargas said she believed that higher wages – which will range from $17.48 to $20.16 per hour, based on experience – in 2025 would help to draw new recruits. For more information, visit the CitiParks Lifeguard page.
December 23, 2024 Pittsburgh Debuts Its First Accessible Tennis Court Pittsburgh has debuted its first re-fitted accessible tennis court in Highland Park. The redesigned, high-visibility court is part of Mayor Ed Gainey’s plans to make the city accessible for all residents. Learn More The refitted tennis court will benefit those with vision impairments who may require higher contrast lining in order to play tennis. “Recreation is sometimes an area that’s not considered when thinking of ensuring inclusive spaces in cities,” Gainey said. “When I sought out to increase accessibility across all services, I knew we had to double-down on our efforts to make this city a place where everyone has the accommodations and tools they need to thrive.” The Department of Public Works is looking to expand accessible recreation options for city residents in the future. The tennis court is reserveable for programming. Those interested in reserving the space should email CitiParks at citiparkstennis@pittsburghpa.gov or call 412-255-2349.
December 11, 2024 Pittsburgh’s Annual Skate with Santa The city of Pittsburgh and CitiParks will hold their annual Skate with Santa event on Sunday, Dec. 15. Learn More Attendees will have the chance to take to the ice with Santa Claus during the 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. skating session on Dec. 15. The event will also include holiday music. “We are thrilled to have the rink up and running for the 2024-25 season after being closed last year for the installation of our state-of-the-art new chiller system,” said Kathryn Vargas, CitiParks director. Tickets are available online only.
November 19, 2024 Schenley Park Skating Rink Reopens Following Equipment Upgrade Schenley Park Skating Rink reopened for the 2024-25 season this week following an upgrade to its chilling equipment. Learn More The city planned to celebrate the opening of the outdoor rink with a ribbon cutting on Nov. 19. The city’s Department of Public Works encountered some issues during the upgrade of the equipment that prevented the 2023-24 season from taking place. The department completed the replacement of the aging chiller system, which was having difficulty keeping the ice viable. The total cost of the project was $3.5 million. Allegheny Regional Asset District contributed $2 million to the new chiller system. “The installation of the new chillers will ensure outdoor skating continues at Schenley Park for years to come,” said CitiParks Director Kathryn Vargas, who added that the upcoming season marks 50 years of the rink. More Information Schenley Park Skating Rink operates seven days a week and offers a variety of public skating sessions as well as several special skating events. Upcoming special events include: Skate with Santa – 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15 Mascot Skate – 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. (online tickets only) on Saturday, Jan. 25 Disco Night – 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (adults only) on Saturday, Feb. 1 Valentine’s On Ice – 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (online tickets only) on Friday, Feb. 14 Family Skate – 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. (one child skates free with a paying adult) on Thursdays Admission to the skating rink is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and veterans (with ID), and $3 for youth (17 years and younger). Skate rentals are available for $3 per skater. For more information, visit the skating rink’s website.
November 18, 2024 Registration Open for First Event at Pittsburgh Esports Arena Registration is open for the first event that will take place at the Pittsburgh E-Arena, a new esports forum. The CitiParks Office of Special Events will host a tournament featuring Rocket League area youths on Saturdays Dec. 14 and 21. Registration is now open and limited to the first 32 individuals. Learn More The tournament will be a double-elimination event that is open to youths between the ages of 13 and 18. It will kick off with online-only gameplay on the first day of competition. This will be followed by in-person matches on the second Saturday, during which young gamers will have the opportunity to compete for the title of “Best in the City.” Participants will form teams to compete in doubles mode in preliminary rounds to determine the final teams for the in-person event, which will be held at CCAC Allegheny. All participants are invited to attend the final round and will receive a commemorative T-shirt, complimentary food, and access to activities sponsored by Tech 25, a local workforce development nonprofit that will also provide the use of Legion Gaming PCs for finalists. The esports forum will hold year-round community program offerings. It is designed to unite local gamers in competitive environments and provides a platform for youth to showcase their gaming talent while exploring educational opportunities in tech and digital careers. For more details on tournament regulations and requirements or to register for the event, visit the CitiParks Office of Special Events’ E-Arena website.
June 18, 2024 Track and Treat for Kids Citiparks will host a free healthy lifestyle event for children with a Halloween theme in mid-October. Learn More Attendees are encouraged to bring their bike or borrow one from Citiparks during the Track and Treat for Kids event. The event will involve cycling around the Bud Harris Cycling Track and stopping for refreshments, food trucks, and bike safety instructions. Participants can decorate their bikes, play games, and enter a Halloween costume contest at 2 p.m. The event will run from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19 at the Bud Harris Cycling Track.
23rd Annual Alphabet Trail and Tales Citiparks will host the 23rd Annual Alphabet Trail and Tales in September at Frick Park. Learn More The event will celebrate children’s books and include interactive story sets, art, music, games, and fun for the whole family. The Alphabet Trail and Tales will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14 at the Frick Park Blue Slide Playground, located at Beechwood Boulevard at Nicholson Street. For more information, visit the event’s website or call the Citiparks Community Enrichment Office at 412-665-3665.
June 12, 2024 CitiParks’ Learn 2 Ride CitiParks and Adaptive POGOH will offer one free session per month in which they will teach attendees of all ages how to ride a bicycle. Learn More Those who stop by will be able to practice in the park, try an Adaptive POGOH or pre-register for an instruct0r-led group class. Participants can bring their own bikes or use one of POGOH’s. Ages 5 and up will be able to learn while riding the half-mile Bud Harris Cycling Track along Washington Boulevard. Adaptive POGOH will have bikes as well as a tandem and a low-step bike. More Details The bike-riding practice sessions will run from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays June 14, July 19, and Aug. 16. The Bud Harris Cycling Track is located at 1401 Washington Blvd. in Pittsburgh. For more information or to register, visit the event’s website.
