Welcome to the Allegheny County Parks Foundation

girls plant trees

Allegheny County Parks Foundation Mission Statement

The Allegheny County Parks Foundation strengthens the health and vibrancy of our community by improving, conserving and restoring the nine Allegheny County Parks. Working in partnership with Allegheny County, the Parks Foundation brings together ideas, leadership and resources to make the parks more sustainable and enjoyable for all.

The Allegheny County Parks Foundation raises public and private funds from foundations, corporations, state and federal grant programs and individuals to design and implement projects in our parks. We commission and conduct surveys, plans and ecological assessments of our individual parks and park system which guide the strategic development of improvements in all nine county parks. All projects are undertaken in partnership with Allegheny County, and the county matches most private and non-county public funds raised by the Parks Foundation.

Our Core Values:

  1. Excellence. We promote best practices by enhancing the park experience with improvements that incorporate both high-quality design and respectful conservation of historic park assets.
  2. Sustainability. We act as stewards of nature and advance sound environmental practices and ecological awareness.
  3. Healthy Lifestyles. We help provide facilities and spaces that promote health and well-being through exercise and contact with nature.
  4. Accessibility. We are committed to strategies that enable access to parks and park facilities by all county residents and visitors.
  5. Collaboration. We build partnerships with citizens and organizations who recognize our network of parks as valued assets for a growing and vibrant community.
ALLEGHENY COUNTY PARKS FOUNDATION: HISTORY

Allegheny County Parks Foundation History

In September 2007, then-County Executive Dan Onorato announced the formation of the Allegheny County Parks Foundation, the non-profit partner to Allegheny County that would improve, conserve and restore park facilities and open spaces by raising funds, designing projects and supporting educational, recreational and cultural activities in the nine parks. This action was recommended in 2002 by the County’s comprehensive master plan for the parks to address deferred park maintenance and develop new funding opportunities from corporations, foundations and individuals.

In February 2009, ACPF and Allegheny County entered into a formal agreement in which the County pledged $10 million to match private funds for capital projects raised by ACPF. To date, ACPF has raised nearly $6 million, matched by Allegheny County and other sources, for a total project investment of over $10 million in the Allegheny County parks.

The Parks Foundation continues to value its partnership with Allegheny County, now under the leadership of County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. All park improvement projects are undertaken in collaboration with County Parks staff and the County has continued its commitment for project funding matches.

Impact of our work
Allegheny County Parks Foundation infographic
THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS

Thank you to the following corporations, foundations, government entities and organizations that have generously supported our work.

Alcoa Foundation

Allegheny County

Allegheny County Conservation District

Allegheny Foundation

American Eagle Outfitters Foundation

Anonymous

Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania

Babcock Charitable Trust

Buhl Foundation

Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania

Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation

Colcom Foundation

Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation

Eden Hall Foundation

Emerson

FedEx Ground

Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds

Fox Chapel Garden Club

Friends of South Park

Garden Club of Allegheny County

Grable Foundation

Hillman Family Foundations

Jendoco Construction and Real Estate

Jewish Healthcare Foundation

Katherine Mabis McKenna Foundation

La Roche College

Lennon Smith Souleret Engineering, Inc.

Mascaro Family Foundation

OTB Bikeworks Inc.

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources

Pashek + MTR

Patagonia-Pittsburgh

Pennoni

Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation

PNC Charitable Trusts

PNC Foundation

Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy, Inc.

Regional Asset District

REI – Pittsburgh

Richard King Mellon Foundation

Snee-Reinhardt Charitable Foundation

The Charity Randall Foundation

The Fine Foundation

The Heinz Endowments

The Pittsburgh Foundation – Peaceable Kingdom Fund

Trout Unlimited

Victor and Anna Mae Beghini Charitable Foundation

Western PA Unit of the Herb Society of America

Contributors of $1,000 or more in a single year since 2015.
Event sponsorships are not included on this list. See events for those donors.