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City may get its own Department of Public Health and Park Improvement Funding—City Council Week of June 9

City Council

A City Department of Public Health.

The City's own health department closed in 1957, when the Allegheny County Health Department was created. On June 10, a council member introduced a bill to bring it back. It would sit under Public Safety, led by the chief of building inspection, who could appoint a certified public health deputy. Next, a committee will discuss it at a future meeting.

Written by Amy Whipple

  • At the June 10 General Meeting, Councilperson Kail-Smith introduced a bill to re-establish a Department of Public Health for the City of Pittsburgh.
  • The Department would come under the Department of Public Safety. Its Director would be the Chief of the Bureau of Building Inspection. The Chief would be able to appoint a Deputy who is a trained and certified public health professional.
  • Councilperson Kail-Smith introduced the legislation alongside other bills in order to streamline development.
  • The City’s previous Department closed in 1957 at the creation of the Allegheny County Health Department.
  • More information to come after discussion at a future Standing Committees meeting.

City Council

$40,484 reallocated for Bedford Park planning.

Plans to remake Bedford Dwellings in the Hill District include a new public park, Bedford Park. Council has advanced moving $40,484 left over from finished projects, like Bloomfield Pool upgrades, toward it. That covers the City's $37,500 match for a $250,000 State grant Public Works will seek.

Written by Amy Whipple

  • Council affirmatively recommended three reallocations totaling $40,484 to put towards creating a new public park, Bedford Park.
  • Creating Bedford Park is part of a larger set of plans to remake Bedford Dwelling) in the Hill District.
  • Director Hornstein said the money is left over from completed projects and is able to be released: Those projects were:
  • pool equipment upgrades (general), Bloomfield Pool upgrades, and Chartiers Spray Park construction
  • The Department of Public Works will apply for a $250,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Economic Development’s Greenways, Trails, and Recreation Program. The reallocation meets an ask for a $37,500 match from the City.

City Council

$150,500 match for Fort Pitt Playground Project.

A community-led master plan calls for renovating the 3.8-acre playground at Fort Pitt Park in Garfield. To help pay for it, council has advanced a $150,500 City match. It goes with Public Works' application for a $250,000 State grant. Citywide, 38 of 176 parks have improvement projects underway or recently completed.

Written by Amy Whipple

  • The Department of Public Works will apply for a $250,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Economic Development’s Greenways, Trails, and Recreation Program for the Fort Pitt Playground Project.
  • Council gave an affirmative recommendation for a requested match from the City for $150,500.
  • The playground is 3.8 acres of space inside of Fort Pitt Park in Garfield.
  • The renovation is part of the Fort Pitt Park Master Plan, which is a community-led project.
  • 38 of the City’s 176 parks are in the process of—or have recently completed—improvement projects