Frick Woods Nature Preserve

Henry Clay Frick bequeathed land to the City of Pittsburgh in his will so it could become a public park, along with a $2,000,000 trust fund to develop and maintain it. Frick Park began as 151 acres just south of Clayton, Frick's family mansion, and between 1919 and 1942 some of the funds were used to increase the park's size, though the woods remained at its core. Frick wanted these 151 acres to remain largely untamed so the people of Pittsburgh could enjoy an undeveloped wildlife area and a true nature experience, and that vision has made this park unique in the Pittsburgh system. Re-dedicated as the Frick Woods Nature Reserve on Earth Day 1991, this core area is filled with native plants, provides extensive wildlife habitat, and offers a network of trails, workshops, and stewardship projects through the Environmental Center. Now the largest park in Pittsburgh at 561 acres, it has few roads through its boundaries, keeps traffic to the edges, discourages bicycling in this section, and supports rich flora and fauna, including many wildflowers native to Western Pennsylvania. Along the Clayton Hill Trail, Clayton Hill is a major regional birding destination where more than 100 bird species have been spotted, and its summit is a popular stop for warblers and other migratory birds.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · United States