In July, the Pittsburgh City Council came together in unanimous agreement, designating Hays Woods as an official city park. The decision has sparked excitement about the potential of what the park could become while also raising questions about the future management and conservation of the area. Hays Woods, about six miles from Downtown Pittsburgh, covers over 600 acres of forests, with walking trails, streams and a pair of nesting bald eagles. The park, comparable in size to the well-known Frick Park, has a long history dating back to the 1930s when it served as a farm run by Samuel Hays. Over the years, the land’s uses evolved to include coal and natural gas operations that persisted through various ownerships. In 2021, under former Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, city officials bought the property from the Urban Redevelopment Authority for $1 plus costs. For avid hiker Linda Roth, who lives in neighboring Baldwin, Hays Woods has become a cherished haven. “You see the Mon River. I can see Sand Castle. And you know, you can see the Cathedral of Learning from here too,” she said. “Neat overlooks. Lots of views of the south side of the city.”

Photo Credit: Kathy Knauer/The Allegheny Front