Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Working To Restore Schenley Park's Westinghouse Memorial
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- It has been called the "finest portrayal of American boyhood."
If you've ever been to Schenley Park, you have likely walked by the Westinghouse Memorial, which features a school boy gazing at three panels featuring the accomplishments of George Westinghouse.
Now the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is working to restore the memorial to its original glory, and they got some help Monday from two women who were there for the original groundbreaking back in 1930.
There might be no more historic but hidden treasure in Pittsburgh than the monument to visionary inventor George Westinghouse in Schenley Park and the nearby reflecting pond.
Dedicated in 1930, the years have taken a toll on the monument, which is now cracked and chipped and the pond clogged and often flooded.
That is why the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy unveiled plans to restore both the pond and memorial to their former glory.
"Somehow Westinghouse, I guess cause he's a 'W' and later in the alphabet, he doesn't always get mentioned, but he really was an amazing genius," said Meg Cheever, of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy.
The Westinghouse Memorial and surrounding landscaping will include a new pond liner, updated piping under the pond and meadow and rain guards.
"We could maintain it to minimal standard and we'd have a long-term capital project that would be ongoing and it would always fall into disrepair," said Mayor Bill Peduto. "But when the community comes together with the city we're, not only able to restore these gems were able to enhance upon it."
The memorial features three panels that represent the life of George Westinghouse. The memorial is made of bronze and granite.
Work to repair it is already underway. The surrounding park will be redeveloped with new landscaping, pathways and subtle lighting that will allow visitors to enjoy it day or night.
"What makes this city great in every way is what we always call third places," said City Councilman Dan Gillman. "It's not necessarily where you work or where you live, it's that third place that makes a neighborhood a neighborhood and a community a community. It's your schools, your churches, your coffee shops, your main streets, and most importantly, it your parks."
The restoration will cost about $2.5 million. The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has raised more than $2 million already.
If you would like to donate to help restore the memorial, visit:
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