Panther Hollow Lake

Last updated
Panther Hollow Lake
Panther Hollow Bridge.jpg
USA Pennsylvania relief location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Panther Hollow Lake
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Red pog.svg
Panther Hollow Lake
Location Panther Hollow, Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Coordinates 40°26′13″N79°56′53″W / 40.43685°N 79.94810°W / 40.43685; -79.94810
Type Artificial lake
Part ofPanther Hollow Watershed
Primary inflows Phipps Run
Panther Hollow Run
Primary outflows Four Mile Run

Panther Hollow Lake is a human-made lake in Schenley Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Contents

The lake as seen from Panther Hollow Bridge Panther Hollow Lake at sunset.jpg
The lake as seen from Panther Hollow Bridge

Watershed

The lake serves as a catch basin for the 300-acre (120 ha) Panther Hollow Watershed, which includes sections of Schenley Park and Squirrel Hill. It receives storm drainage from the watershed, which it sends to the Monongahela River via the Four Mile Run. [1] Two streams, Phipps Run and Panther Hollow Run, flow through Schenley Park, feeding the lake. [2]

History

Before the park

Before Schenley Park was built and Squirrel Hill was heavily settled, there were several tributaries throughout the park and Squirrel Hill which formed a part of the watershed. Today, the streams in Squirrel Hill are buried, and feed the city sewer system instead of the lake. [1]

Construction

The lake was originally constructed in 1892 as part of the early development of Schenley Park. At this time it was about 600 feet (180 m) long and 275 feet (84 m) wide. [3] The lake was a popular gathering place which was used for rowing in summer and ice skating in winter. However, by 1907 it had filled with so much sediment that it was only 6 inches (15 cm) deep in most places. [4] Around the same time, Schenley Park was undergoing a new round of improvements, such as the construction of Schenley Oval and the Tufa Bridges. [5] In 1909, the lake was expanded and rebuilt with a concrete lining and a new boathouse was added. [6] [7]

Decline and first renovation

Over the years, sediment and silt built up in the lake, raising the bottom of the lake bed significantly. A major renovation was ordered in 1957 by then‑mayor David L. Lawrence, in which the lake was drained completely, the walls of the lake re-constructed, and the lake re-filled with small shrubs. However, after a two-year period of shrubs, water was returned into the lake. [8]

Originally, there was a boathouse located on the lake, which provided patrons with a pastime. Ice skating was also popular on the lake up until the 1970s. [8]

Second decline and second renovation

After many years of neglect, the boathouse was demolished in 1979, [8] and the lake gradually fell out of use with the general public. The lake sediment began to pile up again, rendering the majority of the lake less than 4 feet (1.2 m) deep. Currently, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has adopted a plan to bring the lake back to its original splendor, including a full restoration of the lake, a rehabilitation of the watershed, and a reconstruction of the boathouse. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squirrel Hill</span> Neighborhood of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States

Squirrel Hill is a residential neighborhood in the East End of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The city officially divides it into two neighborhoods, Squirrel Hill North and Squirrel Hill South, but it is almost universally treated as a single neighborhood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oakland (Pittsburgh)</span> Place in Pennsylvania, United States

Oakland is the academic and healthcare center of Pittsburgh and one of the city's major cultural centers. Home to three universities, museums, hospitals, shopping venues, restaurants, and recreational activities, this section of the city also includes two city-designated historic districts: the mostly residential Schenley Farms Historic District and the predominantly institutional Oakland Civic Center Historic District, as well as the locally-designated Oakland Square Historic District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schenley Park</span> Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Schenley Park is a large municipal park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is located between the neighborhoods of Oakland, Greenfield, and Squirrel Hill. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district. In 2011, the park was named one of "America's Coolest City Parks" by Travel + Leisure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swisshelm Park</span> Neighborhood of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States

Swisshelm Park is a neighborhood located in the southeast corner of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is represented on Pittsburgh City Council by Corey O'Connor. Swisshelm Park houses PBF 19 Engine, and is covered by PBP Zone 4 and the Bureau of EMS Medic 7.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squirrel Hill Tunnel</span>

The Squirrel Hill Tunnel is a tunnel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It serves as an eastern gateway to the city for I-376 and was completed in 1953 after 8 years of construction and at a cost of US$18 million. At the time of opening it was the single largest investment by the State of Pennsylvania Transportation Department (PennDOT). It is 4,225 feet (1,288 m) long and is a twin-bore tunnel with 8 cross passages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boulevard of the Allies</span> Major road in Pittsburgh, USA

The Boulevard of the Allies is a mostly four-lane road in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, connecting Downtown Pittsburgh with the Oakland neighborhood of the city. Because of its lengthy name, locals sometimes refer to it as simply "The Boulevard".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Ramble and Lake</span> Geographical features in New York Citys Central Park

The Ramble and Lake are two geographic features of Central Park in Manhattan, New York City. Part of Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux's 1857 Greensward Plan for Central Park, the features are located on the west side of the park between the 66th and 79th Street transverses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harlem Meer</span> Man-made lake in Central Park, New York City

Harlem Meer is a man-made lake at the northeast corner of New York City's Central Park. It lies west of Fifth Avenue, south of 110th Street, and north of the Conservatory Garden, near the Harlem and East Harlem neighborhoods of Manhattan. The lake, as originally constructed, was 12.634 acres (51,130 m2), but after the completion in 1966 of the Lasker skating rink and swimming pool, it was reduced to approximately 11 acres (45,000 m2) in area and approximately 0.75 miles (1.21 km) in circumference.

Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy was founded in December 1996 by a group of citizens concerned with the deteriorating conditions of Pittsburgh’s historic city parks. A non-profit organization, the Parks Conservancy works closely with the City of Pittsburgh under an official public-private partnership agreement to restore and improve the city’s park system to its full potential. To date, the Parks Conservancy has raised more than $130 million and completed 22 major park improvement projects. A team of 40 dedicated Parks Conservancy employees work with thousands of volunteers, host hundreds of events, and provide programming for more than 7,500 children annually.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schenley Plaza</span>

Schenley Plaza is a public park serving as the grand entrance into Schenley Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Junction Hollow</span>

Junction Hollow is a small wooded valley bordering the west flanks of Schenley Park and the campus of Carnegie Mellon University and the southern edge of the University of Pittsburgh's campus in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schenley Tunnel</span>

Schenley Tunnel is a railroad tunnel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The tunnel runs beneath Neville Street in the city's North Oakland neighborhood; the south portal is at the upper end of Junction Hollow emerging from under Filmore St., the north emerges from under Centre Ave. into a ravine that opens into Skunk Hollow, between North Oakland and Bloomfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schenley Bridge</span> Bridge in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Schenley Bridge is a steel three-hinged deck arch bridge spanning Junction Hollow in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It carries Schenley Drive between Oakland on the west and the main part of Schenley Park on the east, connecting Schenley Plaza, the Carnegie Institute, and the Frick Fine Arts Building with Frew Street, Flagstaff Hill, and Phipps Conservatory. The bridge spans 620 feet (190 m) and arches 120 feet (37 m) above the hollow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panther Hollow Bridge</span> Bridge in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Panther Hollow Bridge is an American steel, three-hinged, deck arch bridge that carries Panther Hollow Road over Panther Hollow in Schenley Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panthers of Pittsburgh</span> Mascot of the University of Pittsburgh

A panther is the animal that serves as the official mascot of the University of Pittsburgh and used as a nickname for both athletic teams as well as other organizations and affiliates of the university. The mascot is generally referred to as the Pittsburgh Panther or Pitt Panther, while the costumed panther mascot is also named "Roc". Up to 20 physical representations of panthers can be found in and around the university's campus and athletic facilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panther Hollow (valley)</span>

Panther Hollow is a wooded valley in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that runs approximately 1.5 mi (2.4 km) west to east through Schenley Park. It begins at Boundary Street in Junction Hollow and ends near Hobart Street in Squirrel Hill. Curiously, the neighborhood of Panther Hollow in Central Oakland is not actually in the valley of Panther Hollow itself, but rather in Junction Hollow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westinghouse Memorial</span>

The Westinghouse Memorial is a bronze monument located in the U.S. city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It commemorates George Westinghouse, an engineer, founder of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation, and inventor of the railway air brake. The memorial is located at the entrance to the Steven Faloon trail, a part of Schenley Park. The architects for the monument and the surrounding area were Henry Hornbostel and Eric Fisher Wood. Daniel Chester French was the sculptor for the statue and the main panel, and Paul Fjelde designed the side panels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenfield Bridge</span> Bridge in Pittsburgh (opened 2017)

The Greenfield Bridge, officially known as the Beechwood Boulevard (Greenfield) Bridge II, is a steel arch bridge located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The bridge connects the neighborhoods of Greenfield and Squirrel Hill across the valley known as Four Mile Run which separates them. The bridge also spans the Parkway East (I-376), which runs along the bottom of the valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Anderson Memorial Bridge</span> Bridge in Pittsburgh

The Charles Anderson Memorial Bridge is a steel deck truss bridge located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The bridge carries the four-lane roadway of Boulevard of the Allies across a ravine known as Junction Hollow, connecting the neighborhoods of Central Oakland and South Oakland with Schenley Park. The bridge also spans the Junction Hollow Trail and P&W Subdivision railroad tracks which run along the bottom of the valley.

References

  1. 1 2 "Archived copy" (PDF). www.pittsburghparks.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 May 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Archived copy" (PDF). www.pittsburghparks.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 August 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "A Place of Beauty: Schenley Park Growing in Attractive Features". Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette. July 4, 1892. Retrieved August 21, 2022 via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Panther Hollow Lake in Schenley Park Is a Bog". Pittsburgh Gazette Times. June 2, 1907. Retrieved August 21, 2022 via Newspapers.com.
  5. "History". Archived from the original on 2014-10-09. Retrieved 2014-09-27.
  6. "New Lakes for Park". Pittsburgh Press. February 24, 1909. Retrieved August 22, 2022 via Newspapers.com.
  7. "New Lake Nearly Ready". Pittsburgh Press. July 8, 1909. Retrieved August 22, 2022 via Newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 3 "Panther Hollow Lake Through the Years". 8 September 2010.
  9. "Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy takes aim at Panther Hollow restoration". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.