Traversing the trails of North Park nearly every day of the week has given members of the North Park Trail Runners group more than just the health and spiritual benefits of vigorous outdoor exercise.
They have become attuned to an alarming environmental change occurring in the more than 3,000-acre Allegheny County park located in Hampton, McCandless and Pine.
“The tree canopy in North Park is rapidly declining,” said Amy Nelson, president of the 450-member nonprofit recreational running group. “Our organization utilizes the park daily, and we recognize the important role trees play in preventing invasive species from taking over, stabilizing the land to prevent erosion, contributing to cleaner air, providing habitat for the wildlife and shade during the summer.”
On Oct. 11, several dozen members of the group worked to counter the loss of trees by planting more than 130 saplings under the guidance of a park ranger.
“Being in the woods, on the trails, is one of my great joys,” said David Dames, a group member from Ross. “Without it, my life would be less rich, less satisfying.
“To contemplate a diminishment of a resource so wonderful is painful,” he said. “So I suggested that we plant trees — something living and giving to the future.”
The group planted seven varieties of trees along a stretch of the park’s Orange Trail: spicebush, white oak, flowering dogwood, tulip tree, sassafras, pagoda dogwood and witch hazel.
North Park Trail Runners was founded in 2017 and conducts group runs five times a week, year round. On Sundays, “relaxed runs” are held for new and less experienced runners. There is no cost to participate, but the organization welcomes donations to help fund its projects.
“Recently, we’ve expanded our group runs to include trails in the (Pittsburgh) city parks, which affords access to a larger, more diverse population,” Nelson said. “Accessibility and inclusion are deeply important to our organization.”
The organization’s next big event will be the 4th Annual #OptOutside — a family fun run and hike co-hosted with the Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy.
This year’s event will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. on Nov. 27 in Pittsburgh’s Riverview Park.
