Connections to Gardens and Nature

Ballfield Farm (BFF) is a neighborhood project for collectively growing food while building community. Members are food enthusiasts, community advocates, friends, family and neighbors from all walks of life, both expert gardeners and newbies, who are working cooperatively to maintain a former ball field converted into a collective growing space. In exchange for a small monetary investment and a few hours of work per month, members are able to provide food for their own families as well as neighbors in need.

The Corner of Hope is a reclaimed parklet with an art installation paying homage to the Negro League. The projects was the result of community collaboration between Perry Hilltop Citizens' Council, The Pittsburgh Project students and their instructor, Sandy Kessler Kaminski, and Oakglade Realty. The mural was designed to represent baseball cards laid out in a Homerun Fence. A ribbon cutting celebration took place April 22, 2017 where Josh Gibson's family were honored and celebrated with the community. PIRATES HONORS STUDENTS The students and staff at The Pittsburgh Project were honored at African Heritage Night at the Pittsburgh Pirates game at PNC Park.

Fowler Park hosts numerous programs for local partner organizations. The Northside Steelers youth football and cheerleading practices, community events such as National Night Out, Trunk or Treat, FARMER + Flea Market, litter clean ups, summer camps and more. A master planning process was completed by the City and is projected to undergo 7 phases over 14 years to be completed in 2037.

Fowler Field is currently a football field used heavily by the Northside Steelers of the Northside Youth Athetic Association . The field is predominately used for practices, which include a wide range of ages, and incorporates cheerleading practices. Often entire families will come to practices. Field improvements are projected to be complete in 2029 and will include more parking, screened portable restrooms, a larger spectator area, a pavilion for concessions and storage, trash and recycling receptacles, and team areas. In addition, a walking path will connect to the Fowler Park trails. The field is sized for football, but can be used for recreational soccer as well. New lighting and surfacing will also be upgraded.

Students from the Violence Prevention Working Group advocated that a Basketball Court revitalization would be a great way to connect and engage youth and adults in a game playing. As an Early Action Project of the Allegheny Dwellings Choice Neighborhood Plan, the City also installed new benches around the playground and basketball court.

The Lantern (2011) by artist, Sandy Kessler Kaminski is a replica of an 1850's Lantern used by escaping slaves. Stainless steel footprints represent a path toward freedom. The area where the Lantern green space is now located used to be a rubble filled lot where two homes used to stand. It was not functioning in a positive way for the community. Now groups meet at the Lantern, light shines from it at night creating a safer area, and families can play in the grass. Neighborhood events such as the walk for peace, Trunk or Treat, National Night Out and the FARMER + Flea Fundraiser started at the Lantern. 10’ x 10’ x 22’ steel lantern, 100’x 82.5’ public green space. Inside, looking up. The viewer can see the Big Dipper and Little Dipper constellations have been cut into the steel top of the lantern, allowing the light to shine out and lead the way towards freedom. Solar powered lights shine at night. Commissioned by the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and The Grable Foundation. A link in the local Charm Bracelet Project. Designed in collaboration with The Pittsburgh Project, Art and Soul woman’s group, Perry Hilltop Community members and Jill Joyce, architect.