We are lucky to have so many great creeks in and around Braddock, Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, East Liberty, Friendship, Garfield, Highland Park, Homewood, Morningside, Northside, Oakland, Squirrel Hill, Edgewood, Swissvale, Downtown, Hill District, Wilkinsburg, Braddock, Forest Hills, Strip District, Bloomfield, Friendship, and Shadyside where kids can splash and play while enjoying everything Mother Nature provides.
Here are five of my family's favorite creeks in the City of Pittsburgh to visit. Don't see your family's favorite City of Pittsburgh creek here? Drop me a note at mackidcityofpittsburgh@macaronikid.com, and I'll add it to our list!
Put on a swimsuit, bring shoes good for creek walking, maybe a water bucket, and don't forget snacks and sunscreen before heading out to any of these City of Pittsburgh creeks! And remember, always watch your kids in water — no matter how shallow it is!
Nestled between Perrysville Avenue, Woods Run, and Marshall Avenue, the 259-acre park is known for its wooded trails and dramatically steep hillsides. The park’s extensive network of trails invites hikers, joggers, and the occasional horseback rider into the woods. The park is also home to the landmark Allegheny Observatory, a visitor’s center, a swimming pool and activities building, the natural beauty of the Mairdale watershed, and the popular two-mile Riverview Loop. Residents enjoy the park's pool, playground, ball field, shelters, and summertime concerts and movies. Find more information at PittsburghParks.org
Schenley Park
Situated between Oakland and Squirrel Hill, the 456-acre park is a favorite of the University community and plays host to major civic events. The park is home to landmark attractions, iconic monuments, and the best in urban recreational facilities. Take a dip in Panther Hollow Lake. Panther Hollow Lake began as nothing more than a small pond created by the natural tributaries that lead to Four Mile Run and the Monongahela River. Stairway access to the lake can be found near the Anderson Playground. The park includes the Bob O’Connor Golf Course and the Schenley Oval Sportsplex, which is open for ice skating in the winter and swimming in the summer. Scheduled events are often planned, such as Cinema in the Park that is held on Flagstaff Hill in the summer, the Vintage Grand Prix, and the Pittsburgh Race for the Cure. Find more information at PittsburghParks.org
Highland Park
Reservoir Loop is a favorite trail for walkers and joggers. The reservoir is accessed through the beautiful Entry Garden, a Victorian-style gathering place with gardens, a fountain and reflecting pool, and benches for relaxing. Highland Park also features a popular bike track, swimming pool, sand volleyball courts, and the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. A water filtration plant cleans the water from the main reservoir, and wastewater is naturally de-chlorinated in part by a brook that trickles into Lake Carnegie. Find more information at PittsburghParks.org
Allegheny RiverTrail Park
Formerly known as Aspinwall Riverfront Park - you can enjoy the park’s flat quarter mile walking trail, native gardens, and a playground featuring a unique play sculpture by world-renowned artist Tom Otterness.
In the winter, there is a hill for sledding and, weather and staff permitting, ice skating on a pop-up rink with limited free skates.
Bill’s Dock provides a river-level area to relax or fish, with seasonal swings suspended over the water. Fishermen on the dock report a wide variety of catch from the river, a current PA fishing license is required for fishing.
Keep an eye out for wildlife and birds: visitors have spotted a great horned owl, river otters, great blue herons, hawks, seagulls, beavers, a bald eagle, deer, garter snakes and Canada geese. Find out more information at AlleghenyRiverTrailPark.org
Fall Run
Fall Run Park's feature attraction is the waterfall. The nature trail is a mile-long starting from Fall Run Road to the waterfall. The park includes a playground, basketball court and a picnic shelter. The shelter at Fall Run Park may be reserved for picnics on the Park Shelters page. Find out more information at ShalerTownship.org.
Do you have a favorite creek in or around Braddock, Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, East Liberty, Friendship, Garfield, Highland Park, Homewood, Morningside, Northside, Oakland, Squirrel Hill, Edgewood, Swissvale, Downtown, Hill District, Wilkinsburg, Braddock, Forest Hills, Strip District, Bloomfield, Friendship, and Shadyside?
Plan on heading to one of these creeks? Use #pghmackid to tag your photos on social media, and you just might see them appear in this article
Looking for more creeks? Head over to the South Hills for 7 More Creeks for Your Kids to Splash In or find 5 Creeks in the Pittsburgh West area for your Kids to Splash in here!
