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Historic water cascades returning to South Park

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Visitors to South Park will soon get a blast from the past, thanks to Allegheny County and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Pittsburgh Penguins President and CEO David Morehouse participated in a ceremonial groundbreaking at South Park on July 19 to kick off the restoration of the South Park Cascades, a once-popular park attraction for families and swimmers looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Developed in 1927 by noted Swiss architect Paul B. Riis, best known for his role in developing Yellowstone National Park, the cascades were strategically-placed rocks that formed a network of waterfalls and wading pools fed by running spring water. Riis was also director of Allegheny County Parks from 1928 to 1932, and he had a major role in the formation of North Park and South Park in the county.

Courtesy of Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation

Courtesy of Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation

An artist’s rendering of the restoration of the South Park Cascades, scheduled for completion by the end of 2019.

A popular park destination throughout the mid 1900s, the cascades, located between the Stone Manse Shelter and the Oliver Miller Homestead parking lot, were shut down by the 1970s over health concerns of the area’s water supply.

But thanks to the $1 million restoration project funded by the county, the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, the Allegheny County Parks Foundation, the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Citrone Thirty Three Foundation, the cascades should be open to the public once again by the end of 2019.

“We are very fortunate in this community to have amazing parks and outdoor recreation opportunities, but we also constantly face challenges in ensuring that those assets are maintained, improved and, in some cases, restored,” Fitzgerald said. “This project is a great example of what we can do when we work together.”

While it’s been years since the site has been operational, the project will use features and equipment that are original to the 1927 design. The restoration will include the original stones that were quarried in 1927, and the surrounding plants will be native to Pittsburgh. Park rangers with knowledge of the area as well as the cascades will be available for tours and educational experiences.

“The Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation has always been about creating opportunities for kids and families, and this is an amazing opportunity for us to help restore the historic South Park Cascades,” Morehouse said.

The restoration of the cascades will be the first of many projects through the Penguins Foundation’s newest initiative, Operation Restore. An environmentally-conscious program, the new community project by the Penguins Foundation will focus on restoration and upkeep throughout Pittsburgh and the surrounding region. The program is designed to engage employees of the Penguins and corporate partners, as well as residents in volunteerism.

“The cascades are a fond memory for many South Park natives,” Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation President Dave Soltesz said. “We are excited to bring it back for the community to enjoy.”

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