$5M renovation planned at Pittsburgh's Sheraden Park

A proposed $5 million project could bring a new playground, community garden and other improvements to Pittsburgh’s Sheraden Park.

City officials are seeking input from residents about what exactly they would like to see in the renovations.

The park in Pittsburgh’s West End serves residents from neighborhoods including Sheraden, Esplen, Elliott, Chartiers City, Windgap and Crafton Heights.

Maria Montaño, a spokeswoman for Mayor Ed Gainey, said community feedback will help officials determine what the upgrades will look like. A survey on the city’s EngagePGH platform is seeking input on proposed designs for a new playground.

City Council President Theresa Kail-Smith, D-West End, said the project will be funded in upcoming years in the capital budget.

According to the city’s capital budget, officials expect to budget for construction starting next year.

“The community’s very excited to have a lot of things happen there,” Kail-Smith said. “One of the things we’re eager to do is create an urban garden, better play spaces for kids and a safer environment with better lighting.”

The park’s central playground is slated for a full replacement. Plans also call for community garden plots, improvements to the park shelter, new grills and added parking.

The basketball court will move to a different site within the park, and new sand volleyball courts have been proposed to go in where the basketball courts are now.

Trails within the park will see improvements and expansions, according to the city’s preliminary plans, and signage will be enhanced.

Kail-Smith said a building at the park that is not being used also would undergo renovations. Preliminary plans shared by city officials indicate the building would get new restrooms, concessions and group gathering spaces.

Sheraden Park is expected to expand to encompass some other, smaller parks and playgrounds near it, Kail-Smith said. The park will grow from about 50 acres to about 90, she said.

“It will end up being one of the largest community parks in the city,” she said.

Upgrades planned at other parks

The city also is planning a $1.25 million renovation at Schenley Park’s Anderson Playground, and city officials are looking to dedicate $400,000 to build a new playground in the Lincoln Place neighborhood.

City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved plans to fund the Lincoln Place playground and dedicate $1 million to improvements at Burgwin Recreation Center using cash initially earmarked for the scrapped Mon-Oakland connector shuttle project.