We were all packed into a house with several families and little kids who needed some time to run and stretch their legs so I quickly looked up the nearest best park on Yelp. Voila, Highland Park saved the day. The thing that attracted me most was the playground that featured plenty of shade as well as playscapes that worked for various ages including babies with a soft floor. I also want to highlight that this park features hiking trails and a great view overlooking downtown Pittsburgh. It's tucked into a historic neighborhood so the drive to the park was also pleasant. If I lived in the area, I could see myself frequenting this park. Overall a wonderful experience and we will definitely visit the next time we are in Pittsburgh! read more

Traveling to Pittsburgh with an eight-year-old, we found Highland Park because of its larger playground. The park itself is large with trails and lots of nature. The playground comes with a shaded picnic area, a port-a-potty, and plenty of play structures shaped as ships and castles. My daughter loved it! read more

Highland Park - Playgrounds Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Beautiful park. I enjoy a walk around the reservoir. The pool is a nice+. I do enjoy family and community outings here as well. Nice zoo read more

A very nice place to walk in the fall months. You can walk along the resourvair or around the many paths available. Good place for jogging or dog walking. The trees are in full Autumn mode right now read more

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I rented a pavilion for the Labor Day weekend and I was so impressed with the experience in its entirety. Our pavilion was $116 for the entire day. Heads up - there is no option to reserve the park for a set amount of time. Your reservation is for the entirety of when the park is open to the public whether you use it or not. Our pavilion was incredible. We had plenty of tables under the shelter for food and games. The grills worked well but are HUGE so bring more charcoal than you think you need. We had so much empty green space around us for running around and were also located near a trailhead. The trailhead looked a bit dangerous and poorly maintained. There was a porta potty near the road close enough to our shelter to be accessible but far enough away to not smell or notice it when enjoying the tables and grill. All in all, this park is so beautiful and the pavilions allow you to go deeper into the park and explore all of the surrounding natural beauty, not just what you see at the main entrance. I can't recommend spending a day here enough! read more

Highland Park - Elm Grove Pavilion - Playgrounds Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I have been enjoying this park for many years. I particularly like the hiking trails and I sometimes swim in the pool. They have a great Summer music series on Sunday nights at 5 pm. The musicians are always excellent. You can stay for line dancing, because the teacher is excellent and it's a Sunday night tradition. Lots of people like to walk around the reservoir, although I much prefer a nature trail. The fountain is nicely landscaped. There are picnic pavilions you can reserve and rent. read more

Highland Park - Lilly Abreu singing Brazilian Jazz. - Playgrounds Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Beautiful spot for a picnic, run, walk or just hanging out with friends. The park is huge and it's just beautiful everywhere. They have sand volleyball courts somewhere too and there's a city rec team that plays there sometimes and it's really fun! read more

Highland Park - The reservoir - Playgrounds Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Who could not love this park?!? They have lots of space to get exercise, loads of lovely flowers in their garden, super large playground for the kids, a goose/duck pond, picnic areas, a reservoir, cute squirrels and wild life, jazz aerobics, statues and tennis courts. read more

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Great spot for walking. You can walk the reservoir, or walk the road that goes around. Over the years I've had the opportunity to explore several trails leading to the lower park ,and Allegheny River Blvd. If you're fortunate enough to arrive early enough, you'll have an opportunity to the regulars reading their papers, and detailing their cars. IMO the best times to visit are late fall early spring. read more

Beautiful day this past Sunday for an afternoon walk. When we arrived there was a Park's Department person re-directing traffic to park outside of the park as there was some sort of event going on later that evening. We quickly found parking and joined the throngs of people 'social distance' walking there way around the park loop. Given Coronavirus, all the the sports equipment and pavilions were closed off, but that didn't stop us from getting a little exercise while we enjoyed the blooms and springtime scenery. The Reservoir is closed off due to long-term construction, but benches and main fountain/square were still open and accessible. We thoroughly enjoyed our time and hope to come back when more of the amenities are open and available for use. read more

Highland Park - Trail maps. - Playgrounds Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

A beautiful park with lovely trails, some being more wide and open to the roads and some being more tucked away to where you really feel like you're in nature. There's lots of wildlife and its overall a very nice place to walk, picnic, and just get some peace. Some paths weren't marked very clearly, but it's not like there's a risk in getting really lost in a park surrounded by roads, so I didn't mind read more

This playground is wonderful. We all love it. It is like a wooden castle maze. So that being said, it's easy to lose sight of the children when they separate and run around. So perfect for one kid or kids old enough to not need constant supervision. read more

I had a good visit to Highland Park. I visited during a gorgeous summer evening. Unfortunately, the reservoir portion was closed (due to COVID restrictions I believe). There were several large gatherings in the pavilions (and it looked like there was also a festival of some kind) but on the trails and the walkways around the park were generally very spaced out with everyone observing social distancing. Highland Park is a great city park with a bonus that there are several great restaurants nearby :) read more

Highland Park - Playgrounds Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Highland Park is that park that you don't know about in the city. I assume this is because when everyone refers to Highland Park they are talking about the neighborhood section of the city. Or maybe they are referring to the zoo? Who knows for sure, but when someone asks me to go to a park in the city of Pittsburgh, I don't usually think of Highland Park. There are many reasons that I could list for my reasons of not coming here, but let's face it, the main reason was I was too lazy to venture this way because there were other parks nearby. How dumb of me to be that ignorant. HP is quite a relaxing place to visit. Most people go to the park for exercise, walking and biking. Not me, I usually end up at a park because I want to clear my mind. I'm a people watcher as well. Sometimes I'll just sit on a bench and read a book as well. The best place for that here is near the fountain. It is a place that you can lose yourself at and lose track of time. I caught myself staring at the water and just taking in the warmth of the sun. For some reason everyone I came across while in this park was friendly. They greeted you with a smile and made small talk. Other than that small talk you could find yourself wandering around with not a care in the world. **around the reservoir is a mile I am told. Off the Leash area for your doggos.** read more

Highland Park - Nothing like a breeze, some sunshine, and a fountain. - Playgrounds Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Good size pool, pretty clean. Lots of life guards on duty & most seem to be fairly attentive. $5 for day pass or $30 for the season. read more

Highland Park - Pool day! - Playgrounds Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Great place to take a walk and explore. I usually come here to play volleyball in the sand courts. There's 4 courts that are well maintained that are next to the pool and a dog park. Parking is never an issue. Worth a visit on a nice day! read more

Highland Park - Volleyball sand courts - Playgrounds Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

One of my favorite parks in Pittsburgh! I love waking along the reservoir (but please don't bring your pets at the top of the reservoir...there's a fine if you do. Bottom half is fair game) I think if you walk around 2 times you've walked a mile (I'm horrible at estimating distances so don't quote me). Lots of neighborhood locals to run into. read more

Highland Park - Highland Park reservoir - Playgrounds Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

One of my favorite City of Pittsburgh parks. A great place for a picnic, a casual stroll or a jog.

Walking and relaxed. So nice and safe. You hears water sounds and winds blowing on the branches. Really nice. read more

Highland Park - Ducks swimming - Playgrounds Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Well another park that Pittsburgh is lucky to have. The fountain area is absolutely beautiful and I love spending lazy summer days resting and people watching. Other days I enjoy walking the reservoir while chatting with friends. read more

Though I have lived in the Pittsburgh area for nearly ten years, I ventured to Highland Park for the first time just a couple weeks ago. I met a group in the park for a Tinkergarten class (check out their website if you're interested in outdoor classes for little ones) and enjoyed a beautiful morning with my young daughter. I had no idea the park was so large until we started driving through it. I guess it's obvious based on the large footprint it consumes when viewing a map of Pittsburgh, but I didn't get a feel for how large it was until entering. As we were leaving, we took a little detour to the Super Playground, an amazing large wooden playground that consists of swings, bridges, and picnic tables. My daughter enjoyed components of the playground, but some aspects, particularly some very fast slides, were a little too mature for a two year old. read more

HUGE fan of highland park! There is everything you can want here! We play volleyball on the sand courts and enjoyed ourselves at the pool! They also have pavilions for parties and areas to run! Best park in the city (and I drive 20 mins to come here over others!) read more

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Great place to walk and enjoy nature. Lots to see and do there. I am from Texas and visit it when I can .

This park is always clean and beautiful. I like the park dog where you can leave your dog to play without a leash and near there is a beautiful lake where you can see some ducks depending on the season. Sometimes I talk to some friendly people there too. There are public restrooms and you can walk around the water reservatory (without a dog) which is very peaceful and beautiful especially during the spring/ summer time. I like the flowers and the big fountain just in the entrance. There are public pools, a place to play volleyball and also tennis. read more

Highland Park - I just wanna join to them... - Playgrounds Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I never actually knew it was a park I thought it was a section of Pittsburgh but it's a hidden gem in the city. Lots of places to picnic and play volleyball.theres a nice walking path plus a pool. If you have children they have one of the nicest playgrounds around. read more

On a whim a friend and I stopped here and took a stroll. It's right by the zoo and occasionally we could smell the wide life. Not bad. The paths are very nice and well kept. I would love to spend an afternoon just relaxing after a lunch at Carnegie Lake. If you have sometime to spend in this area this is a very nice spot in a lovely neighborhood. read more

This is a gem of a park in the lovely neighborhood of Highland Park. It is easy to walk to from anywhere in Highland Park or East Liberty or even Morningside. The fact that it is close to Bryant Street and all of the cute shops and coffee shop is definitely a plus- you can grab something to eat or drink and have a lovely picnic in the park! In the summer, the flowers around the main middle fountain are beautiful. We stopped here for wedding photos on our way to our venue, and the shots were amazing. Our photographer was especially happy with the results :) I typically stop and run here a couple of times a week. Runners and walkers happily share the flat perimeter of the reservoir, along with the occasional ducks and geese. The surrounding area is full of pavilions and play areas for children, and a bike lane used by runners, walkers, and bikers. The pool in the summer is always packed with sun bathers and swimmers alike. Overall this is a great space and we are lucky to have it in Pittsburgh!! read more

I visited Highland Park for the first time this past weekend. My friend and I walked on several of the trails, including the one that goes around the reservoir. We had a very enjoyable walk, and I especially liked the central area, which is currently blooming with flowers. As others have mentioned, aside from trails, this park has a variety of amenities, including a wooden playset for kids, a bike track for cyclists, and sand volleyball courts (my friend said she thought these were new). This park also offers a great view of the North Hills across the river from the central area. It's on the larger side, as city parks go, but the reservoirs and zoo take up a significant amount of space, so in terms of square footage, it doesn't come close to Schenley or Frick. On my walk this weekend, I noticed several groups of people from the community doing activities, including hula hooping and painting. My friend, who lives in the neighborhood and thus visits more than I do, said that she also often sees yoga classes being held in the park. Thus, it's clear that Highland Park serves as a gathering and activity area for nearby East End communities. While Highland Park isn't up to the level of PGH's better-known parks, such as Schenley, Frick, and the Point, it's nonetheless a great place to experience a bit of nature without leaving the city. If you live nearby and haven't already done so, it's definitely worth checking out, so get outside and enjoy it! read more

A great park near the zoo. I took my niece here last weekend after a trip to the science center. She still had energy and i was curious about the Super Playground after hearing great things about. I decided that we would head there to kill time before the evening rain was due. I personally didnt venture far into the park, but i must say that the super playground is fabulous. I even had fun there playing with my niece. It was identical to a park that i grew up by called fantasy kingdom. They tore that park down awhile ago so it was like re-living my kid memories all over again :) read more

Highland Park - About 1/3 of the super playground. My 4 year old niece loved it! - Playgrounds Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I am torn on Highland park from time to time because I cannot walk my pooch around the little resevoir lap near the main entrance. But it boasts pretty fountains walking trails or a paved road to run on if you prefer. So four it is. Also it has this awesome castle looking playground, I want to run and jump on but I am childless and probably cannot take my dog on there. So i resist the temptation. Highland park is sizeable for biking, hiking, and also borders the fabulous Zoo, I also find it to be a little less crowded than Frick on most days, parking is along the park loop so its easy. There is a swimming pool here and, it is a dog friendly on leashes park. This is also a fabulous neighborhood to grab coffee or lunch in after a nice midday stroll. read more

We haven't done a ton of exploring of Highland park but love what we've experienced so far. Walking around the reservoir is easy and there are a variety of other trails and walking paths for both walking and jogging. There is also a pedestrian/bicycle lane on the main road loop. There's a number of pavilions and other gathering areas - and always seems to be something fun going on in the summer. My favorite park of the park is the Super Playground. This old school wooden structure is wonderful for kids - and we always find at least one playmate my son's age. Although there are wood chips in the immediately area, it is important to note that it can get pretty muddy and wet. There's a water fountain and portapotty right outside the playground as well. I would say that Frick and Schenley are two of the more beautiful and well-groomed outdoors spaces in Pittsburgh; however, Highland Park is a great option for walkers and (the Super Playground) and kids. Check it out! read more

I love going to this lovely park to go for runs and ride bikes. The super playground is great for the little ones and has plenty of swings! Sometimes in the spring there are baby ducks that swim around in the Reservoir. In the fall it looks very beautiful on the reservoir walking track. I love coming here and I think you should come to. read more

When approaching Highland Park from North Highland Avenue you're greeted by the entry garden and fountain, which reminds me of something you'd likely see in Europe. The Victorian-style entrance with well-maintained gardens draws you in and from there you forget that you're only a few miles from downtown. Walk a bit further and you'll begin to see all that the park has to offer. You'll find that the park boasts a couple playgrounds, some swimming pools, athletic courts, trails - both flat and hilly, paths along the reservoir and more. So, get out and explore! read more

Highland Park - Playgrounds Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This park is wonderful if you want to run in a very scenic and pretty area but don't want to deal with running up steep hills. Highland Park has a few reservoirs where you can run around them and the surface is completely flat. However, if you want a hillier run, there are trails in the park where you will get a good hill workout! Additionally, there is a pretty cool zoo and aquarium nearby and the park has a public pool and beach volleyball courts. I recommend making a visit! read more

It is so nice to go there and walk around. There are a lot of nice people there to talk to.

Love the variety of playgrounds n highland park. Great for kids and adults alike! We plaed @the wooden park amd thos was the first i actually didn't sit on the bench. Exploring the park you can see someome paod great deal of time constructing the child gym. I feel lole a big kid running around w/my 4 year old. We had a blast. Hands down ome of my fav parks im pgh! read more

I love going to Highland Park for a walk with my husband. I find it very relaxing! The reservoirs are pretty gross but I try not to look at it. It looks like breeding ground for mosquitoes. read more

Highland Park - Playgrounds Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The younger kiddies go crazy when we take them to Highland Park. There is a good sized wooden play area, with lots of places to climb and hide. There is plenty of room to pack a picnic and in the center of this park is a fountain. I'll admit we get into the fountain. No one has yelled at us yet. read more

I come here all the time for walks and absolutely adore the place when the fountain is up running and the flowers are blooming. People come here to walk, hula-hoop, hang out with their family, do zumba, tai chi, or just sit and observe. The other day I saw a few people lounging and tanning on the grass! Yay summer! I see the same faces most of the time, but the park is big enough for everyone to spread out and take their own path. Personally, I like to do the reservoir, but I see a lot of people doing the whole park on the outside. There is a playground for kids, outdoor space with tables for get-togethers, and plenty of parking. It's a good place to come out and enjoy a bit of nature when the weather is warmer. I've seen ducks (and babies!), little gophers, and dragonflies. Plus, the neighborhood is a cool area to check to spend time in. read more

Highland Park is an excellent City Park surrounded by a multi-dimensional neighborhood. Amenities include a wooden-structure playground, a Farmhouse/playground, baseball field, tennis courts, the largest City-run swimming pool, sand volleyball court, walking track, hiking trails, bike trail, cycling racetrack, and two reservoirs. Sunday Jazz Concerts in the Park in August are sponsored by CitiParks. read more