According to Ranger Stevie Smith, spring in Northside parks means ‘flowers, fungi and fawns.’ Photo: Stevie Wander Photography Hello, my park lover friends. I hope you had an amazing spring season, because summer is right around the corner!  Let's first wander to Allegheny Commons Park, where Lake E...

Park Ranger Stevie Smith talks about springtime in Allegheny Commons Park and Riverview Park. Photo: A pair of great horned owls — the same species as the ones photographed here in Florida — is living in the Northside’s Riverview Park. According to Ranger Stevie, owls typically mate in December and ...

Park Ranger Stevie Smith gives a shoutout to park volunteers, shares how you can continue to help fight against the invasive Spotted Lanternfly, and announces upcoming Ranger Walk & Talks. Photo: This month, Ranger Stevie gives a shoutout to the "Riverview Lady Litter Pickers," who are a volunteer g...

“I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.” - “The Old Astronomer to His Pupil” by Sarah Williams Photo: Allegheny Observatory Records, 1850-1967, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System. November is a great time to think about “Uncle John” Brashea...

Park Ranger Stevie Smith gives readers the lowdown on the Spotted Lantern Fly. Photo: Spotted lanternflies are invasive insects that feed on the sap of a number of different plants important to the state's economy, including grapevines and maples. By MTSOfan via flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) Hello Friend...

Read on for information about how you can protect your parks against a new invasive insect called the spotted lanternfly. Photo: Penn State Spotted Lanternfly Everyone’s help is needed to battle a new pest: the spotted lanternfly (SLF). This is an invasive insect from Asia that’s already being repor...

Park Ranger Stevie Smith says a walk through Allegheny Commons Park can help to fill your cup. Photo: Park Ranger Stevie Smith shows off some animal pelts and skulls inside of Allegheny Commons Park. By Lauren Stauffer Hello Friends, Ranger Stevie here. I wanted to start this column off by asking yo...

Ranger Stevie Smith takes readers through a morning stroll in Allegheny Commons Park. Photo: Morning strolls in Allegheny Commons Park in the late spring, says Park Ranger Stevie Smith, are "unlike any other." Courtesy of the author Morning strolls through the beautiful Allegheny Commons are unlike ...

April showcases nature's own coloring book in Allegheny Commons Park. Photo: Lake Elizabeth in the spring of 2020. Courtesy of Park Ranger Stevie Smith Allegheny Commons is like a honey bee hive: During the winter months people avoid it, staying inside to focus on themselves and their families; hibe...

Owl Prowls at Riverview Park give guests the tools to spot and identify local owl species. A crowd gathered at the Riverview Park Visitor's Center on Saturday, March 16, to hear a presentation about local owl identification and hike two miles through the park, with various stops along the path to li...