When I lived over in Bloomfield, West Penn Park was a short walk away. Tucked right into the side…read moreof Polish Hill, it's got that perfect, rugged Pittsburgh charm and some of the best skyline views you can find away from the usual tourist traps. The real crown jewel for me was always the concrete skatepark, which is hands-down one of the most organic, community-built DIY spots in the city. Honestly, whether you're catching air or just catching the sunset over the city, it's a legendary slice of the 'Burgh.

This is a small pleasant park at the entrance to Polish Hill. There are green areas and playground…read morefor children. A lot of traffic nearby. Not an extensive park facility, but would be a nice spot for a run or walk.

Beautiful bike/walk path. We started in Pittsburgh biked through the Three Rivers Heritage Trail…read moreand finished in West Mifflin through The Waterfront and stopped for lunch. Many choices of restaurants to choose from. Well kept grounds and clear paths. Met friendly people along the way. Benches along the path to take a breather. Looking forward to hitting the trails again soon, weather pending of course. Beautiful scenery. Very impressed, highly recommended! Get out and enjoy nature while getting enjoyment and exercise.

Been walking & running this trail for years. Scenery is nice and pretty level from the Rankin…read moreBridge all the way to South Side. There are some narrow sections along Costco and Sandcastle. Watch for bike riders. Most do not yield to pedestrians or cars regardless if they are on the trail, sidewalk, or going through the parking lot. Just be on guard especially if you run/walk with earphones.

Reviewing things in 2020 is, well, a little strange. If you're like me, you aren't exactly rushing…read moreout to the places we normally review. Instead, Settlers Cabin Park is one of the spots I frequent these days - for exercise, for a literal change in scenery, and to unplug from the current day-to-day of working at home. I want to mention early that part of the beauty of this 1,600+ acre county park is that it was once the site of various coal mines - this gorgeous space has been restored to what you see when you visit it now. Knowing that adds another level of appreciation, at least for me! After its history, the second biggest reason I love Settlers Cabin Park is the number of trails available to use. If you check out their website and maps, you can see an overview of the five or six total trails here. Some of them are on the shorter side, others are longer, and a lot of them directly interconnect at different points. That makes it easy to explore more than one trail in a single visit - one day I started out on the green trail, somehow went far enough to get to the purple trail, and finished the loop back to my car on the blue trail. (I promise, that will make more sense after looking at a map!) There are other things here besides the trails - tennis courts, field hockey, playgrounds, pavilions, wave pools, etc. Interestingly, Settlers Cabin Park is technically also home to the Pittsburgh Botanical Garden, which is another outdoor spot I adore. For the trails alone, I consider Settlers Cabin Park to be my perfect escape these days. I can hike anywhere from 1.5 to 6 miles, at any pace that I want. Bonus points - as long as I don't mind the hilly climbs involved, I can take some time to enjoy the sight and sound of the park's baby waterfall. (Some articles call it a mini waterfall, but given how small it is, I call it a baby!) Any time I spend here is always time well spent, and I'm sure I'll be back again soon.

If you grew up anywhere near Robinson, Settlers Cabin is basically the summer spot to be…read more I've been hitting up that wave pool since I was a teenager. And honestly, you can't talk about Settlers Cabin without mentioning the picnic groves. I swear, half of my summer weekends over the decades have been spent at a cookout, grad party, or other gatherings with friends at one of those pavilions, eating hot dogs and hamburgers. When my daughter was little I brought her there through her teenage years with her friends. Always a good spot to spend a hot summer day in Pittsburgh.

I've been coming to Raccoon Creek State Park for over 50 years now, and it's one of those rare…read moreplaces that has somehow kept its magic across generations. My earliest memories from the 1970s are filled with the smell of charcoal smoke at the picnic groves and the freezing shock of jumping into the lake on hot summer afternoons. As a kid, that beach felt massive, and a simple day trip with packed lunches (the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches melted to goodness from the sun) and blankets spread out on the grass was the best part of summer with my sisters and mom. As I grew into adulthood, the way I used the park changed, but I never stopped going. I didn't always go swimming but instead would explore the miles of hiking trails. The best part, though, was getting to experience it all over again through my daughter's eyes. Taking her there when she was little and watching her hit the water and run around the playground were special times indeed. Raccoon Creek isn't just a park to me; it's a constant in my life. Over five decades later, facilities might get updated here and there, but the familiar feeling of the place hasn't changed a bit. It's serene, nostalgic, and always feels like coming home.

Nice and quiet. Surprisingly nice mountaintop view from our primitive campsite…read more But we visited on a weeknight after a long rainy stretch of weather which cleared everyone out

If you are in Pittsburgh Riverview Park is a must goto. I go…read morethere with my golden retriever, There is 2 huge dog park areas that are totally enclosed and are huge also the entire park is dog friendly. I also go there with my grand daughter as there is a great playground. If you are a jogger or walker there is a huge walkway or jogging area. There are many events that are in the park which are great. If you are in the area this is a must come to park.

Riverview Park has one of the largest and most extensive trail systems in the Pittsburgh area. With…read moreso many interconnected trails winding through different neighborhoods, it's easy to have a different experience every time you visit. I also like that you can step into a nearby neighborhood and grab something to eat before continuing your hike. Compared to Schenley or Frick Park, it also tends to be less crowded, making it a great option if you're looking for a quieter, more peaceful walk. That said, the trails are not as well maintained as many of Pittsburgh's other parks. Some sections are in great condition, while others have overgrown vegetation, uneven rocky terrain, steep drop-offs, and occasional hazards like broken glass. I noticed small pieces of glass along the Archery Trail, so I would recommend wearing hiking boots or sturdy athletic shoes rather than thin-soled sneakers. Because of the terrain, I think this park is much better suited for walking and hiking than for running. Most of the trails are not wheelchair accessible and may be difficult for young children, older adults, or anyone with mobility challenges. Even with the overgrowth, the scenery is beautiful, and many areas were filled with fragrant plants and wildflowers. I didn't personally see any poison ivy during my visit, but it's always a good idea to stay aware of your surroundings. One area that could definitely be improved is restroom access. There are very few restrooms throughout the park, and one restroom that had been open during a previous visit was locked in the middle of the day on a Sunday. Adding a few portable restrooms near the busiest trailheads would make a big difference for visitors. Parking is easier than I expected. While there aren't many dedicated parking lots, there is plenty of street parking throughout the surrounding neighborhoods. Depending on which trails you choose, you may also come across areas where unhoused individuals have set up encampments. During my visits, everyone kept to themselves and I didn't have any negative interactions, but it's something visitors should be aware of and another reason to stay aware of your surroundings in such a large urban park. The observatory has unfortunately been closed each time I've visited, but the park frequently hosts community events that are worth checking out. It's encouraging to see ongoing improvements, and I hope the city continues investing in this park because it has so much potential. Overall, Riverview Park is a beautiful place to explore and one of Pittsburgh's most expansive trail systems. While there are areas that could benefit from better maintenance, additional restrooms, and continued safety improvements, it's still well worth visiting. With a little more attention, I truly think it has the potential to become one of the best parks in Pittsburgh.

Amazing park with tons of groves and wildlife. We frequently are out this way for cross country…read moremeets. Tons of parking and walking trails. Definitely a great place to get a walking workout in.

This is a fantastic play park for kids ! Highly recommend and worth the trip. New and improved…read moredesigned for kid's enjoyment. I could get our girls to leave, so much to do and try. This park will definitely be a park in our rotation. Be back soon. Picnic area for a great afternoon.

I was recently here for a movie in the park. It's conveniently located near downtown and PPG paints…read morearena and it boasts great views. There are some chairs and tables to sit at towards the back of the park. It's a small park so I wouldn't come here to try to hike or anything, but it's definitely a great spot to relax and hangout.

Frankie Pace Park is a public park that opened in 2021 and is owned by the City of Pittsburgh. The…read morepark is a "cap" that covers part of Interstate 579 and reconnects the Hill District with the Business District, helping residents to commute to jobs. The park is 3 acres and contains pedestrian paths, bicycle paths, a bus stop, benches, grassy lawns, trees, rain gardens, steps, art, performance areas, etcetera. The park is named after Frankie Mae Pace (1905-1989), a female activist who fought against the Urban Redevelopment Authority's redevelopment of the Hill District in the 1950s onward. The redevelopment displaced thousands of Black and immigrant residents and disrupted their social and economic networks. Frankie Pace advocated for the residents' housing and education. A story wall showcases the life of Frankie Pace, and a second story wall showcases another prominent person of the Hill District, Martin Delany (1812-1885), who was an abolitionist, journalist, and educator. Furthermore, throughout the park, signs show "Keisha," an African American cartoon who guides visitors along the paths. For decades, this land was the location of the Civic Arena and then parking lots. Other, larger parking lots are currently still located farther into the Hill District and provide parking spaces for suburban commuters. I appreciate that Frankie Pace Park helps Hill District residents to walk or take the bus to other neighborhoods and also provides a convenient place for recreation. My visit was on a chilly, rainy weekend day, and I noticed only one other person walking along the paths. I hope that this park gets more use on sunny days and week days.

Is this park the best kept secret of the area? On a few days…read morewhen Blueberry Hill park was too packed, we decided to venture over to Ohio Township park. We really enjoyed the multiple fields, open spaces, and the really fun play place. It's not as massive as other parks in the area but given how few people we usually run into here you don't notice. There's also a walking path that we frequent for stroller walks or general exercise. There's a hiking path that we recently saw on a visit but haven't tried yet. We can't wait to come back and check it out!