Allegheny County Parks Announces Fall Concert Series

Allegheny County Parks has announced four upcoming shows to be held on Saturdays in September and October for its Fall Concert series. 

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All events are free and weather permitting. The concerts run from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays in September and October. Attendees should bring chairs, blankets, and snacks.

Concerts in the series include:

• Sept. 14: Jazzmania (South Park Amphitheater, 3700 Farmshow Drive, South Park Township)

• Sept. 21: Anton DeFade Quintet (Harrison Hills Park Yakaon Shelter, off Park Lane, Natrona Heights)

• Sept. 28: The Beagle Brothers (White Oak Park, Tulip Tree Shelter, off White Oak Park Extension, White Oak)

• Oct. 5: Bobby Thompson and The Chosen Few (Round Hill Park Visitors Center, 651 Round Hill Road, Elizabeth Township)

For more information, take a look at the Fall Concert Series calendar.

Virtual Sessions to Focus on Book Centered Around Wonder and Fred Rogers

Two free virtual book study sessions will be held in September and October surrounding the release of a new book on the subjects of wonder and Fred Rogers.

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The events will involve discussion of “When You Wonder, You’re Learning: Mister Rogers’ Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids” by Gregg Behr and Ryan Rydzewski. The authors will take part in both sessions.

The book covers the importance of wonder for children. It cites Rogers’ - of Pittsburgh-based TV show “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood” - ability to spark a sense of wonder in children. The book also covers how Rogers encouraged and nurtured children’s play and helped learners to manage their feelings and try new things.

The sessions will be held on:

• Thursday, Sept. 26 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET

• Thursday, Oct. 3 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET

Registration is now open for the event. More information on the book can be found on Remake Learning’s website.

Free Events Throughout Pittsburgh During RAD Days in September and October

Pittsburgh’s Regional Asset District (RAD) is offering RAD Days from September through early October, providing numerous free activities throughout the city.

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RAD Days, which will run from Sept. 7 through Oct. 6, provides an opportunity to see Allegheny County’s top cultural attractions free of charge.

Free events are offered nearly every day during RAD Days. Some of these include:

• Science Stroll: Floria and Fungi Hike (Sept. 7)

• Free Pittsburgh museum admission (various days)

• Conversation with Holocaust survivor Solange Lebovitz (Sept. 12)

• Pittsburgh Opera’s Rising Stars Concert (Sept. 15)

• Tour of PNC Park (Sept. 17)

• Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival (Sept. 22)

• Contemporary Craft Community Day (Sept. 28)

• Owl Prowl at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve (Oct. 3)

More information on events can be found on the RAD Days website. To obtain a RAD Pass, sign up with your Allegheny County library card.

About RAD

One penny from every taxable dollar spent in Allegheny County goes to support the region’s quality of life. 

Half of the proceeds are distributed by RAD to regional assets such as libraries, parks, arts organizations, and other area attractions. The other half is distributed directly to the county and its 128 municipalities to support tax relief and local government services.

Allegheny County Opens Four Low-Vision Tennis Courts

Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato recently announced the opening of the county’s first Blind and Visually Impaired (BVI) tennis courts at four local parks.

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The courts debuted in July at four Allegheny County parks - Boyce, North, Settlers Cabin, and South Park. The courts are designed to accommodate athletes with low vision as well as fully-sighted players and promote inclusivity in the community.

Low-vision, or “sound ball” tennis, is played on a slightly smaller court with a slower, foam sound ball that has a rattle inside of it. Players track the ball by sound and, if they have partial vision, using the vision they have. 

The new courts enable athletes to walk on the court without bringing temporary tape lines each time.

Low-Vision Tennis

A recent study by Carlow University examined how blind or visually impaired athletes react to different sounds emitted by specialized tennis balls. Psychology professor Jennifer K. Roth, who led the study, is also involved with local and national tennis associations that are drawing attention to the sport and expanding access for low-vision players.

The United States Blind Tennis Association, which is based in Pittsburgh, is at the forefront of integrating blind and visually impaired tennis into mainstream sports. Since its inception, the association has conducted training and introduced programming across multiple states.

“When I talk about building a county for all, that means places people feel connected to their neighbors and communities and parks for everyone to enjoy, and this project really embodies that ethos,” Innamorato said.

Registration Open for UnConference: Beyond the Playground: Advancing Racial Equity in Play

Registration is now open for UnConference: Beyond the Playground: Advancing Racial Equity in Play.

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Trying Together - in partnership with the P.R.I.D.E. (Positive Racial Identity Development in Early Education) Program, Hatch Partners in Play, and Playful Pittsburgh - will host the event on Monday, October 14 at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Participants will attend expert-led sessions that focus on the value and necessity of play; the benefits of play-based learning; how school and state policies impact children’s play experiences; play, race, identity, and the arts; and the importance of risky play activities such as climbing and balancing.

Keynote Speakers and Workshops

This year’s UnConference will include two keynote addresses. Dr. Denisha Jones will present “Play as Liberatory Early Childhood Pedagogy” in the morning. The afternoon address will be “The Healing Power of Play and Optimism” by Antony (Ant) Toombs, of the Life is Good Playmaker Project.

There will be two rounds of workshop sessions after the keynote speakers. PQAS and Act 48 credit hours will be available. Registration is required. Upon registration, attendees will be asked to select one workshop session from each timeframe. 

Workshops include:

• A session on the Playlab Framework that has been implemented in several public school classrooms in the region

• A dialogue-based workshop inspired by the playful engagement typical of a Parent LAB PLAY DAY

• A workshop exploring play equity and access in schools and communities

• A session exploring the critical role of risky play in early childhood education, highlighting its significance in fostering children’s physical, emotion, and cognitive development

• A session featuring P.R.I.D.E. artists as they share interactive themed art activities for early childhood-aged children 

Lunch will be served and attendees will have the opportunity to network with colleagues.

More Details

Free valet parking will be available for participants. Phipps is accessible via Pittsburgh Regional Transit buses and POGOH, Pittsburgh’s bikeshare program.

Some sessions will be held outdoors, so it’s recommended that participants wear layers and comfortable footwear. Some walking is required between sessions. Participants should note needed accommodations during registration and a Trying Together representative will reach out.

Tickets for the UnConference are $25. Space is limited, so those interested in attending should register by Sept. 30.

CLP Introduces Library of Things Collection Featuring Board Games and Activities

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has introduced its Library of Things, a collection of outdoor activities and board games that is available at all library locations.

Outdoor Activities

Library cards will give holders access to a variety of outdoor activities and games of various sizes. These include:

• A giant Connect Four game that’s four feet tall and wide

• Portable options such as tabletop curling and Bocce ball

• Pickleball and Spikeball sets

A variety of other outdoor games are available at library branches.

Board Games

All Carnegie Library locations also feature board games, from role playing to epic quests that library card holders can use on a tabletop. These include:

• Trekking the World

• Azul: Master Chocolatier

• Dinner in Paris

• Really Loud Librarians

• Hanabi

A list of more board games available at library locations can be found online. Those interested in using the library’s outdoor activities and board games can sign up for a library card online.