In Allegheny County, our parks are for the people.
We are the people for the parks.

Caren Glotfelty

Since taking the helm of Allegheny County Parks Foundation in 2014, Caren Glotfelty has led the organization through transformative work in Allegheny County’s nine parks thanks to her background as a strong advocate for the natural environment.

Caren came to the Parks Foundation after serving as Senior Program Director of the Heinz Endowments Environment Program for 13 years, where she was responsible for managing a grant portfolio totaling $8-13 million per year, addressing issues such as community revitalization, environmental health, parks, trails and land conservation.

Prior to that, Caren was the Maurice K. Goddard Chair in Forestry & Environmental Resources Conservation at Penn State University, where her work included teaching, research, outreach and leadership on topics and issues related to state and local environmental and natural resources policy.

As Deputy Secretary for water management in the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, Caren developed and managed state policy and regulatory programs related to water quality, sewage treatment, stormwater management, and stream protection.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of the Pacific, as well as a master’s degree in regional planning form the University of Pennsylvania.

 cglotfelty@acparksfoundation.org

 724.327.7627

Ronald C. Schipani, RLA

Ron Schipani is a registered landscape architect with more than 25 years of experience in project design and management, business management, and volunteer organization.  The native Pittsburgher and Pennsylvania State University graduate has worked on park and recreation projects throughout his career including trails in North Park, South Park and Settlers Cabin Park, as well as Hampton Township Community Park, and Youghiogheny River Trail while in private practice as an owner with GWSM, inc. Landscape Architects and employed by Pennoni Associates Inc.

Ron brings vision and an appreciation for good functional design to the Parks Foundation, along with a commitment to investing in our parks “for future generations to enjoy the legacy.”

 rschipani@acparksfoundation.org

 724.327.7627

Barbara Brewton

Barbara Brewton believes in the value of nature, open space and recreation and is enthused that in Allegheny County, there is a park for everyone. She has devoted her career to the non-profit sector in community development, higher education administration and most recently as environment program officer with the Heinz Awards. She earned her undergraduate degree in environmental science from the University of Virginia and holds a master’s degree in public management from Carnegie Mellon University. Barb volunteers with the community garden, is a certified Tree Tender and helped to plant more than 20 street trees in her Oakland neighborhood.

 bbrewton@acparksfoundation.org

 724.327.7627

Caitlin Harpster

Caitlin Harpster is enthusiastic about sustaining the environmental assets that are our shared green spaces and feels strongly that parks are a place to explore, to learn, to recharge and to reconnect with the world around us. Caitlin can oftentimes be found hiking, biking or camping the region’s parks and forests, or visiting a museum on rainy days. Additionally, she is an active member of Brookline Together, a registered community organization. Caitlin joined the Parks Foundation after leading the Mattress Factory’s development team.

 charpster@acparksfoundation.org

 724.327.7627

Nicole Oeler

A registered Landscape Architect in Pennsylvania and West Virginia and a LEED Green Associate, Nicole joined the Parks Foundation in 2019.  She brings more than 18 years of diverse experience in the field ranging from master planning, botanical garden design, land development, green infrastructure planning, community design, recreation design and teaching. Her love of nature, preservation of natural resources and the care and concern of the environment drive her to provide environmentally responsible design solutions. Nicole loves being a landscape architect and getting to see how the spaces she creates positively impacts the lives of others. Nicole graduated from the University of Kentucky (UK) where she rode on the UK Equestrian Team.

 noeler@acparksfoundation.org

 724.327.7627

Carole Smith

Carole Patton Smith loves sharing the stories that unfold every day in the Allegheny County Parks and encouraging more folks to come out and enjoy them. A lifelong Pittsburgher, she worked at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for 10 years as a staff writer, where she learned to appreciate the uniqueness of our region and the people who live here. She earned a Master’s in Fine Arts in nonfiction writing and most recently worked with the Heinz Awards program as a program officer in the Arts and Humanities. She “Loves the Loop” around North Park Lake and takes frequent walks there with her Golden Retriever. He’s eager to discover the trails in the other eight County parks with her.

 cpsmith@acparksfoundation.org

 724.327.7627

Sue Kernick

Sue’s cheerful voice has answered the phones at the Parks Foundation since 2014, when the organization had just two employees. Over the years, Sue’s responsibilities have grown along with the non-profit. A detail-oriented person with superpowers in organization, Sue is a valuable asset to every facet of our work. Outside of the office, Sue has a long and cherished history with choral troupes, both as a singer and as a volunteer and has traveled internationally to perform several times.

 skernick@acparksfoundation.org

 724.327.7627