PA Parks to Host Fish-for-Free Day on July 4

Families will be able to fish and borrow equipment for free as part of the Pennsylvania State Parks’ Fish-For-Free Day on Friday, July 4.

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The program is held by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, American Sportfishing Association, and various sponsors. Its aim is to make it easy for anyone to access fishing tackle, be able to spend an afternoon fishing, and in the process become hooked for life to fishing.

The public can go to locations identified on the Borrow a Rod & Reel map and borrow rods, reels, and a tackle box full of hooks and other terminal tackle. The equipment is borrowed in much the same way books are borrowed from a library. Those wanting to borrow gear will complete a form and return the equipment to the site at the end of the loan period.

The program is intended for all levels, from those fishing for the first time to those returning to a favorite childhood activity. The equipment may also be loaned to groups conducting angler education programs in the community.

To find a fishing equipment loan site, visit the Borrow a Rod & Reel map and click on a “fishing” icon for a location, hours of operation, and contact information.

Frick Environmental Center to Host Juneteenth-Themed Storytime

The Frick Environmental Center will host an event during which the center’s director and an award-winning artist and entrepreneur will read empowering children’s stories to celebrate Juneteenth.

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Black Power Storytime with BOOM Concepts will run from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Juneteenth, which is Thursday, June 19, at the Frick Environmental Center, located at 2005 Beechwood Blvd.

Artist and entrepreneur DS Kinsel will join Frick Environmental Center Director James A. Brown to read stories to children. The storytime will be followed by a short nature activity led by a PPC naturalist educator.

The program is open to families with children of all ages, but is ideal for families with children, ages 3 to 9. Caregivers must accompany their children throughout the duration of the program.

Registration is open.

Pittsburgh Parks Rank in Top 15 Nationally for Accessibility, Other Factors

The Trust for Public Land recently compared Pittsburgh’s parks to other major U.S. cities in five categories and found that an overwhelming majority of the city’s residents live near a park.

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Pittsburgh’s 176 parks were compared to other cities in the categories of acreage, access, investment, amenities, and equity. The report found that 94% of Pittsburgh residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, compared to the national average of 76% for the nation’s 100 most populous cities.

Overall, Pittsburgh ranked 15th nationally among park systems. It ranked highest in the areas of amenities and access, slightly above average for equity and investment, and slightly below average for acreage. 

In terms of income, age, and race/ethnicity, there was little difference between various groups in terms of access to Pittsburgh parks. 

For more information on the study and to view its methodology, visit the Trust Public Land’s website.

CitiParks Releases Guide to Summer 2025 Activities in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh has announced the release of its 2025 CitiParks Summer Guide that includes information on everything from events and farmers markets to holiday-related activities.

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The CitiParks Summer Guide 2025 features a variety of free activities taking place throughout the city this summer. It is available online and can be found at CitiParks Recreation and Healthy Active Living Centers, farmers markets, concerts, and other locations in Pittsburgh.

The online guide provides information on holiday celebrations such as Juneteenth (June 19) and the Fourth of July. It includes information on the city’s parks, pools, and events. 

The summer guide’s sections include:

• Farmers markets

• Dollar Bank Cinema in the Park

• Roving Art Cart

• ARTWorks

• Footraces

• Concerts

• Holidays at City-County Building

• Pistons in the Park Car Cruise

• Cultural Activities

• Summer Soul Line Dancing

For more information, check out CitiParks’ Summer Guide 2025.

Center for Transformational Play to Host No-RSVP Game Nights

The Center for Transformational Play will host a no-RSVP game night on Thursdays through late August.

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Those interested in attending can drop in anytime between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursdays through Aug. 28. No RSVPs are necessary.

Participants will be able to choose from a variety of games each week - but they are encouraged to bring their own as well. Each week, the facilitator will prepare a starter game to kick things off if no other games are suggested.

The game night will be held at the RAND building, located at 4570 Fifth Ave. in Pittsburgh, which is located at the corner of Fifth and Craig Street. Attendees will sign in at the security desk and will be directed to the CTP space.

The starter game schedule includes:

• June 12: Just One 

• June 19: No game night due to the Juneteenth holiday

• June 26: Prey Another Day

• July 3: No game night due to the Fourth of July holiday

• July 10: Nana

• July 17: Bananagrams and Magical Athlete

• July 24: Things in Rings

• July 31: Catch the Moon

Schenley Park Skating Rink Open for Summer

The Schenley Park Skating Rink is now open four days a week through the end of August for the city’s roller-skating community.

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The park, which first opened 50 years ago, opened for the summer in late May. Roller-skating sessions this summer will include:

• Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

• Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon

• Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon and 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

• Select Sundays (July 1, 8, and 15 and August 3, 24, and 31) from 10 a.m. to noon and 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The park closes on August 31.

“The organizers of PGH SK8 started hosting roller skate events at the rink and have worked to help us reimagine how we can utilize this facility to offer Pittsburghers an additional fun summer recreational activity in Schenley Park,” said Kathryn Vargas, CitiParks’ director.