At a Glance
The people of Pittsburgh have become active restorers and stewards of the City’s regional parks.
Project Description
Biohabitats served as ecological restoration expert on a team that provided a Master Plan for Pittsburgh’s Regional Parks. After collecting relevant information, maps, historic documents, and aerial photographs for each park, Biohabitats performed on-site assessments to identify hydrologic and hydraulic conditions, soils, vegetation, and landscape maintenance activities.
The site assessments focused on hydrologic/hydraulic resources (site drainage, streams, ponds, and storm drain system), soils (soil erosion, soil compaction), vegetation (including tree composition and evaluation), landscape management (turf, woodland, ponds, streams, stormwater runoff), and wildlife habitat. Biohabitats then mapped these ecological components.
Biohabitats also participated in client and design team meetings to review site assessments and mapping and develop strategies for the protection, restoration, and management of the Parks’ natural resources. Biohabitats helped prepare a report describing findings and recommendations. The report highlighted strategies for the protection, restoration, and management of the following resources: stormwater quality and quantity management, streams, ponds, soils, vegetation, tree replacement and landscape management. Biohabitats also prioritized protection, restoration, and management strategies for each park; identified key demonstration projects that feature specific restoration strategies; developed implementation guidelines, prepared preliminary cost estimates; and identified staffing requirements for maintenance and operation.