In some areas of the country, living in the city means having little access to the wonders of the great outdoors. But one of the biggest attractions for those who call Pittsburgh home is that you don’t have to go far to take advantage of one of the city’s many amazing parks.

And take advantage we do. This summer, Schenley Park will celebrate its one millionth visitor, and the city’s other parks, which include Frick Park, Highland Park and Riverview Park, as well as Schenley Plaza, Mellon Square, Mellon Park, Cliffside Park, Point State Park and Emerald View Park (formerly Grand View Scenic Byway Park) attract thousands of people as well. And that doesn’t even count the smaller neighborhood parks!

“With 2,000 acres of park land within the city limits alone, there’s always something to do,” said Mike Sexauer, director of Marketing and Membership Development for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. “And that number doesn’t even include our county parks. When you look at other major cities in the country, Pittsburgh compares quite favorably in the amount of park land available.”

So what’s better than spending a day lounging in the park? Enjoying concerts, kids’ art programs, movies, yoga classes and hiking programs—all at city parks—for free! It’s all part of the Parks Are Free program, the brainchild of Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy with the support of UPMC Health Plan. “The program got its start in 2009 as a way to remind people that the parks are free, and that there are lots of activities going on, especially in the summer and fall,” explained Sexauer. “We not only wanted to remind people of all of the benefits that can be found in our open, green spaces, but also about the structured activities provided by Citiparks, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Friends of the Riverfront, the Pittsburgh Trails Advocacy Group and more.”

A website, www.parksarefree.com, lists all of the activities going on at all of the city’s parks. These include both adult and children’s activities, including the Citiparks Roving Art Cart, which travels to different neighborhood parks, such as Banksville Park, Polish Hill, Moore Park in Brookline and Friendship Park with painting, sculpting, and beading opportunities for kids.

Those looking for some musical entertainment can find a wealth of performances throughout the city’s parks. Just a sampling includes the Mellon Square Summer Concert series, held every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., which features local bands the Stars at Riverview Jazz Series, which features jazz music every Saturday evening followed by Dollar Bank Cinema in the park live music at Schenley Plaza on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from noon to 2 p.m. and Bach, Beethoven and Brunch, a classical music series held every Sunday morning on the lawn at Mellon Park. Schenley Park also hosts WYEP Final Friday concerts on the last Friday of the month, and special performances such as a day of free jazz performances on Saturday, Sept. 11.

For those looking for slightly more strenuous entertainment, there are numerous opportunities to hike, bike, or even slackline through the city parks. In addition to park amenities such as swimming pools, hiking trails, bike tracks, volleyball courts, baseball fields and even a public lawn bowling green at Frick Park, scheduled activities include yoga at Schenley Plaza and Grandview Park, Wednesday Night Walks in the Woods at different regional parks each week, and even Cardio Bootcamp at Schenley for those who are looking for a more hard-core rush. Climbers can take advantage of monthly hikes of the proposed nine-mile main loop of Pittsburgh’s newest regional park, Emerald View Park, on Mount Washington. Oh, and if you’ve never slacklined, imagine tightrope walking, but on a line that’s loose. It’s challenging for both kids and adults, and you can try it for free on a low beginner’s line at Schenley Plaza.

Probably one of the best known park events—as well as one of the summer’s biggest attractions—is the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, which will take place on July 24 at Schenley Park. One of the country's only vintage car races held on city streets, the Grand Prix features 150 cars following a 2.33-mile circuit through Schenley Park, as well as a weekend of activities that include qualifying races, an international car show and a parade. And, yes, it’s free to the public.

While there are too many other park activities to mention here, there is always something for Pittsburghers to do. Most of the larger parks feature movie nights, and there are also volunteer opportunities for those who want to do something a little more altruistic, and lectures and docent-led tours for those who would like to learn more about their surroundings.

“In addition to the health benefits of spending time in the parks, there are social benefits as well that come from spending time with friends and family,” said Sexauer. “Parks also provide other benefits, including fresh air, clean water, keeping the runoff out of the sewer system and more, but definitely the number one benefit is that parks are simply good for people’s physical and mental health.

“The goal of the Parks are Free program is to remind people that they should take the time to get outside and enjoy the city’s parks,” he added. “The opportunity is available to everyone.”

Coming soon – learn more about just a few of the many parks in the surrounding counties of southwestern PA.