As part of the Love Your Block Day, volunteers will be needed at the Troy Hill Citizens Park (Claim / Hatteras Streets) on Saturday October 18th @ 9:00 AM. Work will be done on 2 Tree Pits. And some final touches to the Children’s Play Area of the Park will be done.
♦ Lunch will be provided and served around noon.
♦ Questions: Contact Nancy @ THC Office 412.321.2852
Historic Image Artwork on Troy Hill Retaining Wall for Route 28 Begins Today.
Historic Image Artwork to Welcome Motorists on Route 28 (Troy Hill retaining wall) in Pittsburgh Starts Today. Via PennDot News Release (Oct 1, 2014)
PennDOT District 11 announced today that the installation of public artwork along Route 28 is underway in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County.
The artwork, which is part of the Route 28 East Ohio Street Project, depicts historical imagery of a diverse and culturally significant area of Pittsburgh.
“This project is in an area where much history came before it,” said District Executive H. Daniel Cessna, P.E. “It is very exciting, through artwork, to present some of that history for future generations.”
Six panels approximately, 14 feet high and 30 to 60 feet wide will be featured along approximately 1,000 feet of wall between the former rectory site of the St. Nicholas Church and the pedestrian structure over Route 28. The panels will help tell the rich historical story of Troy Hill and the East Ohio Street corridor. Panels include:
•Silhouette of Troy Hill with Canal Boat in Tow – Constructed in the 1820’s the Pennsylvania Canal was part of a coordinated transportation system between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and helped foster the iron industry in the region
•St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church, North Side – The first Croatian national parish was established in 1894 and the church was built in 1901.
•Josip Marohnić Bookstore – As a leader in the Croatian community, it is believed that Josip Marohnić’s Croatian bookstore may have been the first of its kind in the United States.
•Thomas Carlin’s Foundry – Operations at the foundry began in 1860 and continued through 1916. Several manhole covers and sewer inlets the foundry produced are still being used today in Pittsburgh.
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•Allegheny Institute and Mission Church – Avery College – Charles Avery founded the institute, also known as Avery College, in 1849 as an educational facility for African Americans. Additionally, it is thought to be a stop on the Underground Railroad.
• Pittsburgh, Allegheny and Manchester Traction Company – The streetcar company ran the East Ohio Street corridor from the 1890’s through 1920.
The artwork is being made through a sandblasting process that uses layered stencils to create the images. Painting and staining of the concrete will create the final finish.
Through the assistance of the Office of Public Art, artist Laurie Lundquist was commissioned by the Department of Transportation for the Route 28 artwork. PennDOT, with Michael Baker International, sought input from community stakeholders and interested parties, including Preserve Croatian Heritage Foundation, Preservation Pittsburgh and the Troy Hill Citizens, Inc., to help detail and preserve the area’s cultural legacy.
“The large scale images that you will see sandblasted into the Troy Hill retaining wall are all composited from historic photographs rooted to the corridor,” said Lundquist. “We sifted through hundreds of photographs from various Pittsburgh archives and collaged them together to create these scenes that will help keep the stories alive and connect us to the history of this very place.”
Additional work includes a wider walkway adjacent to Route 28. Pedestrians can gain access to the walkway from the Riverfront Trail via the 31st Street Bridge and from a paved parking area on Troy Hill Road. Also included in the project is an octagonal area inspired by the domes that topped the St. Nicholas Church and large stones from the Pennsylvania Canal that will serve as seating areas.
More information on the artwork and renderings and can be found on the Pittsburgh Art Places website at www.pittsburghartplaces.org/accounts/view/916.
The artwork, costing $143,000, is part of the $15.4 million Route 28 Phase V improvement project. The prime contractor is Carmen Paliotta Contracting, Inc. of South Park, PA. Superior Painting Company, Inc. of Pittsburgh, PA is conducting the sandblasting work. The overall Route 28 project will conclude in late November of 2014.
The Troy Hill community celebrated the grand re-opening of Troy Hill Citizens Park Friday, Sept. 19, 2014 (Northside Chronicle Article)
Photo/Article by Justin Criado Northside Chronicle
Councilwoman Darlene Harris (center right) and Anne Kainaroi (left of Harris) of the Troy Hill Citizen, Inc. park development steering committee cut the ribbon at the grand re-opening of the Troy Hill Citizens Park Friday, Sept. 19. 2014
September 23, 2014 thenorthsidechronicle.com
The Troy Hill community celebrated the grand re-opening of Troy Hill Citizens Park Friday, Sept. 19.
The park, which received a considerable facelift, is more spacious and accessible now, making a common ground for community members and visitors alike.
Anne Kainaroi served as chair of the park development steering committee and says plans to revamp the park have been talked about for years now, but through recent funding were finally made possible.
“We’re really hoping that we bring the community together,” Kainaroi said. “It was part of (The Heart of Troy Hill) plan, which had plans to develop this park. A lot went in to it. We met every two weeks last year.”
The Troy Hill Citizens, Inc. (THC) received a Love Your Block grant from the city of Pittsburgh in August and with help from the Design Center of Pittsburgh and landscape architecture & planning company Origin 4 Design maximized the park’s space.
Origin 4 Design partners Rebecca Mizikar and Laura Santore wanted to create more functional spaces, and did so by moving the flag pole from the middle of the park to one of the corners and using the large blocks that lined the pathways as benches for the risen open-air stage. There is also a children’s play area in one corner.
“We wanted to repurpose the rocks and keep some of the same elements that were here,” Santore said.
Kainaroi said the new theater area will provide an opportunity to attract more events as well.
“We’d love to see next year some more programming for the theater area,” Kainoroi said.
The event featured live music, a climbing wall courtesy of Venture Outdoors Climb Pittsburgh, and a sundae bar.
“You’ve worked hard on this,” councilwoman Darlene Harris said to the crowd. “Enjoy it. It’s yours.”
For more photos of the THC Park, visit: http://www.thenorthsidechronicle.com/troy-hill-citizens-park-receives-a-facelift/
Benefit for Bob Tivo of Troy Hill Sat. Oct, 4th – Elks Cedar Ave.
To Benefit Medical Expenses of Bob Tivo – Follow link to Facebook for more info: Bob Tivo Benefit
contact Sandi @ 412.321.7972 tivosl@upmc.edu
A message from our THC Chairperson RE: September’s Public Meeting & Future Strategy
9.15.14
General Members,
I’m writing to thank all of you who took part in last week’s brainstorming session regarding Troy Hill Citizens strategy. The Board got to hear quite a few interesting perspectives on neighborhood assets, problems, and potential future. We are excited to review what we heard from you all over the next couple of months in anticipation of setting a strategic direction for the organization that will guide our annual planning efforts.
In the days leading up to December’s general meeting, be prepared to see a synopsis of our planning effort on our website, and in neighborhood businesses. We invite all members to join us in December to review this plan so that we can make final adjustments prior to setting our 2015 goals and objectives.
Again, thank you to all who participated in the session.
If you have any questions about the planning process, including what the “big picture” is, please feel free to contact me at any time. I’m happy to discuss and to hear your ideas.
My very best,
Don Mahaney
Chairperson—Troy Hill Citizens
412-425-4959
Troy Hill Block Watch Meeting Sept. 17th 7:00pm
Troy Hill’s Block Watch meeting will be held on Wednesday September 17th 7:00 PM at the Most Holy Name School Hall (Tinsbury St.). All neighbors are welcome to attend these meetings.
Troy Hill Citizens’ General Meeting. Septemeber 10, 2014. 7PM
THC General Meeting. Sept. 10 7PM. MHN School Hall (Tinsbury St). This Meeting is open to the public and all are welcome to attend.
THC Fall 2014 Newsletter now available online in PDF
Click link to download and save in PDF: Newsletter Fall 2014 and Business Cards 2014-2
Troy Hill Citizens Park Ribbon Cutting and Opening Celebration Friday, Septemeber 19th – 3:00pm – 6:00pm
Troy Hill Citizen’s Park Receives NEW ‘Love Your Block’ Grant!
PITTSBURGH, PA (August 11, 2014) – Mayor William Peduto announced that 14 organizations (including our own Troy Hill Citizens) will receive funding for the seventh round of the Love Your Block (LYB) grant program, a servePGH initiative.
→Troy Hill Citizen, Inc: Volunteers will create a children’s play area and landscape a local park. (THC Park Claim/Hatteras Street)
Stay Tuned for more information on this project and grant! Read the Press Release Here