Free Summer Series: North Park
North Park is one of the first Allegheny County Parks. It has a lot of amenities, but it is not my favorite park to visit without the intention to spend a little dough. The free activities at some of the other parks are a little more my speed. The land was purchased for Allegheny County by Mr. E.V. Babcock, along with the land South Park now occupies. North Park sits between McCandless, Pine and Hampton Township, north of the city of Pittsburgh. It sprawls almost 500 acres. It is easy to get lost in the park, but thankfully many of the landmarks are available in Google maps, and Allegheny County has maps of the park available at their website.
Every time I go there it is full of people having fun. I always see people running, biking and walking around the lake. The lake is one of the most unique features about this park. You can go to the Boat House and enjoy ice cream, eat dinner out at their restaurant, or play at the giant, SHADED playground. They also have canoes and kayaks available to rent. There is a boat launch where you can bring your own motor-free boat.
North Park is one of the only Allegheny County parks where you can go fishing. Don’t forget your fishing license! Just hanging out by the lake and relaxing is a great way to spend a summer afternoon.
If you’re a more adventurous biker, you can visit the freeride area. There are a series of obstacles for people at every level. It is open and free to the public from May-December. Check out some of their pictures here.
North Park’s Lodge is a great place to have events. Our S.C.A. group hosts an event there every year, and we held our wedding there. The park hosts events and classes that are changing constantly. They have boating classes, wildlife classes, and Shakespeare performances in the park. You can check out their updated calendar.
There are many miles of walking trails. My friend plays on a deck hockey team that plays in the park’s arena. There are several tennis courts, soccer and baseball fields. North Park is home to a large golf course as well. Seniors can purchase season passes to play all summer. You can get more information about rates from the park’s website.
One of my favorite things to do at North Park is to visit their ice skating rink in the winter, but that is also not something that I can go do for free. You can reserve space on their new, heated platform tennis courts. They are free to use for up to an hour at a time.