Pittsburgh adding public art in new Lincoln-Lemington spray park

Kids and adults this summer can cool off while enjoying some artistic surrouondings at Pittsburgh’s newest spray park in Lincoln-Lemington.

The city incorporated two public art installations in Paulson Spray Park scheduled to open in May.

Pittsburgh commissioned Will Schlough, a Seattle-based artist and graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, to create a mural on the park’s ground surface. Schlough came up with a water themed mural, including brightly colored fish and other underwater life.

Pittsburgh also had an existing 1980’s sculpture - “Pipe Movement in Blue” by Josefa Filkosky - completely refurbished. The metal sculpture stands at the park entrance.

DPW along with the city Planning Department’s Public Art and Civic Design Division collaborated on the art projects.

“I am extremely pleased with how the project turned out,” said Yesica Guerra, Pittsburgh’s public art and civic design manager. “I hope as the city we can keep providing opportunities for artists and more public art to keep happening in public property.”

She said sculpture rehabilitation and mural cost the city a total $23,000.

Public Works staff last year started work on converting the former Paulson swimming pool grounds into a spray park. The $1.2 million project required filling in the old pool and included improvements to an existing pool house, installation of new play equipment and water features, and redesigned landscaping.

Paulson pool fell victim to Pittsburgh budget cuts in 2003 when the city was facing a $60 million shortfall and bankruptcy. The city closed nearly half of its 32 pools including Paulson. Eighteen remain open. The city has since built seven spray parks, six on former swimming pool sites. Paulson will mark the eighth spray park.

“We are excited about the rehab of the pool into a new spray park facility for all of the Lincoln-Lemington families,” said City Councilman Rev. Ricky Burgess, who represents the neighborhood. “Thank you to Mayor Peduto and the Department of Public Works for bringing this amenity into the community for the residents.”