Hartwood Acres Sculpture Garden officially opens after years of work on the project

A formal ribbon-cutting was held Sunday afternoon to officially open the Hartwood Acres Sculpture Garden.

The yearslong Allegheny County project involved refurbishing and relocating sculptures around the landscape to provide a centralized experience for parkgoers.

There were 12 sculptures acquired in the mid-1980s that were sandblasted, repainted and rewelded. New accessible pathways, walls and a revamped landscape were installed around the 629-acre property.

Caren Glotfelty, executive director of the Allegheny County Parks Foundation, said the sculptures look as new as they did 40 years ago. The foundation decided to raise funds for the renovations because paint was peeling on a lot of the sculptures.

“We thought this could be an attraction destination in the park,” she said.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald was excited to see the garden officially open after three to four years of working on the project.

“It enhances the beauty and what the park has to offer for years to come,” he said.

An estimated 70 people attended the grand opening. Fitzgerald gave opening remarks while introducing other speakers, including Briggs; Chester Babst, chairman of the board of the directors for the Allegheny County Parks Foundation; and Dusty Kirk, chairwoman of the board of directors for the Allegheny Regional Asset District .

Kirk said the garden’s opening comes after a period of time when covid made clear the importance of showcasing parks and encouraging people to spend time outdoors. RAD donated $1 million to the estimated $3.9 million project.

“We have lots of concerts here; the symphony played here; and now we have this spectacular garden,” she said.

A new piece commissioned by Wilkinsburg artist Dee Briggs was included in the collection in June 2021 during the groundbreaking ceremony for the project. Briggs has done work all over the world, but her work at Hartwood Acres Park is her first public project commissioned in the Pittsburgh area.

“Knowing this piece is so close to home has been a thrill and honor,” Briggs said.

The sculpture garden received praise from attendees who walked along the new pathways.

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett said the sculpture garden will give people something to see on their walks.

“Maybe this will inspire someone else to do sculpture work to be placed here in the park,” he said.

McCandless resident Mike Tomera said the garden helps highlight the park’s beauty. Previously, people might have driven by and not even realized what the park had to offer, he said.

“Refurbishing them was overdue. Now with them in natural condition, it will highlight and fit the nature more,” Tomera said.

North Side resident Traci Weatherford-Brown, an avid arts enthusiast, said the centralized location helps people explore the artwork rather than wandering around to find pieces scattered in different locations.

“It really helps put Pittsburgh on the map for contemporary sculptures and parks,” she said.