Tag: Kids

  • Guide to Pittsburgh public pools: hours, cost, locations, rules

    UPDATE 6/2019 – Please visit Very Local Pittsburgh for an updated pool guide for 2019.

    Image courtesy of Citiparks.
    Image courtesy of Citiparks.

    All 18 Pittsburgh city pools are officially open for the summer, until September 2! Check the Citiparks website to make sure your local pool is open for the day.

    While none of the locations provide refreshments, guests are welcome to bring their own food and drinks (no alcohol).

    Don’t forget to check out the water carnivals, hosted by a different pool every few days in July. Basically an open pool party for the neighborhood, the carnivals feature unique themes, fun games, raffle prizes, and free food and drinks (normal admission prices apply).

    Hours

    Mondays – Fridays, 1:00- 7:45 p.m
    Saturdays, Sundays & Holidays, 1:00- 5:45 p.m.

    Adult Lap Swim:
    For individuals 16 years old and older.

    Mondays – Fridays, 5-6 p.m.
    Every pool

    Mondays – Fridays, Noon – 1 p.m.
    Highland, Moore, Schenley and Sue Murray

    Saturdays – Sundays, Noon – 1 p.m.
    Bloomfield, Highland, Jack Stack, Magee, Moore, Ormsby, Phillips, Ream, Riverview, Schenley, Sue Murray, West Penn and Westwood

    Family swim:
    Any individual under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult 18 years old or older.

    Monday- Friday 5pm-close
    Every pool

    Cost
    Payable by cash, check, or money order only.

    Year-long pool passes
    Year-long (June-June) pool passes can be purchased at outdoor pools (except Ammon) during operating hours, or at the Citiparks Office on the fourth floor of the City-County building (414 Grant Street, Downtown Pittsburgh).

    City of Pittsburgh residents (proof required)

    • Family of four: $60; each additional family member: $10
    • Adult (16 years old and older): $30
    • Youth (3-15 years old): $15
    • Kids (2 and under): free

    Free pool tags are available for City residents who are disabled veterans, plus families of active duty military and activated reservist/guard members. Proper ID is required.

    City of Pittsburgh residents who receive welfare benefits can buy tags at a 50% discount. A case print-out and proof of identity are required to receive the discount.

    Non-City of Pittsburgh residents

    • Adult or youth: $45

    Daily pool pass

    • Adult (16 years old and older): $4
    • Youth (3-15 years old): $3

    Locations

     [cetsEmbedGmap src=https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=203916488985198549708.0004892c3ba6bd1ec9f3a&msa=0&ll=40.443289,-79.962959&spn=0.128813,0.308647 width=500 height=425 marginwidth=0 marginheight=0 frameborder=0 scrolling=no]

    East/Central

    Ammon (Hill District)
    2217 Bedford Avenue
    Pittsburgh, PA 15219
    412-255-2627

    One of the biggest pools in Pittsburgh, they get a lot of camps during the day but quiet down after about 4pm.
    Water carnival: July 23

    Bloomfield
    408 Ella Street
    Pittsburgh, PA 15224
    412-622-6956

    Water carnival: July 9

    Highland Park -good for families -one of biggest
    151 Lake Drive
    Pittsburgh, PA 15206
    412-665-3637

    With a kiddie pool and a mushroom spray fountain, plus handicap accesible features, this pool is great for families. It’s also one of the biggest and busiest in Pittsburgh and has sand volleyball courts
    Water carnival: July 13

    Homewood
    540 N. Lang Avenue
    Pittsburgh, PA 15208
    412-244-4186

    Another pool that gets a good amount of camps during the day but is very quiet in the evenings.
    Water carnival: July 2

    Magee (Greenfield)
    745 Greenfield Avenue
    Pittsburgh, PA 15217
    412-422-4265

    Known for having one of the best swim teams in the program, this pool next to the recreation center gets decent crowds.
    Water carnival: July 9

    Schenley Park
    1 Overlook Drive
    Pittsburgh, PA 15213
    412-422-4266

    One of busiest, this pool is favored by the college-aged and young adult crowd, with not a lot of kids swimming here. It is a walk-in pool though, which is great for kids and new/apprehensive swimmers.
    Water carnival: July 13

    West Penn (Polish Hill)
    450 30th Street
    Pittsburgh, PA 15219
    412-622-6908

    Water carnival: July 20

    North

    Jack Stack (Brighton Heights)
    600 Brighton Woods Road
    Pittsburgh, PA 15212
    412-766-4577

    This newer walk-in pool (great for kids and different swim levels) also has a smaller kiddie pool.
    Water carnival: July 4

    Riverview (Perry North)
    400 Riverview Avenue
    Pittsburgh, PA 15214
    412-323-7223

    Water carnival: August 6

    Sue Murray (North Side)
    301 Cedar Avenue
    Pittsburgh, PA 15212
    412-323-7914

    Although it gets busy with camps during the day, this walk-in pool with slides is much more quiet in the evenings. It’s also handicap accessible with a lift chair.
    Water carnival: July 6

    South/West

    Banksville
    1461 Crane Avenue
    Pittsburgh, PA 15220
    412-571-3231

    A great (yet quiet) pool for families, this facility has a kiddie pool and fountain, baseball fields, playgrounds, an attached pavilion available for rent, and a brand new deck hockey rink sponsored by the Penguins.
    Water carnival: July 11

    McBride (Lincoln Place) – good for families
    1785 McBride Street
    Pittsburgh, PA 15207
    412-476-1311

    This pool is handicap accessible.
    Water carnival: July 23

    Moore (Brookline)
    1801 Pioneer Avenue
    Pittsburgh, PA 15226
    412-571-3223

    A big, popular walk-in pool, there’s slides onsite and a large shallow area that’s good for kids.
    Water carnival: July 16

    Ormsby (South Side)
    79 S. 22nd Street
    Pittsburgh, PA 15203
    412-488-8377

    This pool gets crowded with a wide variety of people, from teens to families to random passersby, and is right on the busline.
    Water carnival: July 27

    Phillips (Carrick) -good for families
    201 Parkfield Street
    Pittsburgh, PA 15210
    412-885-7498

    This quiet, mostly neighborhood pool has a spray pad for kids not quite ready for the actual pools, making it great for families with young kids. There’s also an attached rec center.
    Water carnival: July 6

    Ream (Mt. Washington)
    321 Merrimac Street
    Pittsburgh, PA 15211
    412-488-8312

    Right on the busline, this pool has a lot of programs and a playground.
    Water carnival: July 20

    Sheraden
    1071 Adon Street
    Pittsburgh, PA 15204
    412-777-5011

    Water carnival: July 25

    Westwood
    100 Guyland Street
    Pittsburgh, PA 15205
    412-937-3061

    Water carnival: July 16

    Rules

    The pool promotes a family-friendly environment at all times.

    • Pool tags must be worn at all times.
    • Swim suits are required for the pool and deck area.
    • Patrons must shower before entering the pool.
    • No running, dunking, horseplay or profanity.
    • No diving on the shallow side of safety line.
    • Smoking is prohibited inside the facility, including e-cigarettes.
    • Food and drink are permitted only in designated area.
    • Swimmers under six years of age must be accompanied by an adult 16 years or older.
    • The Head Lifeguard must approve all flotation devices. Inflatable flotation devices are prohibited.
    • Lounge chairs & strollers must be kept at a minimum distance of ten feet from poolside.
    • Patrons with medical conditions should inform the Lifeguards.
    • Citiparks is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged property.
    • Complaints – see the Head Lifeguard for procedures.
    • Lifeguards are responsible for your safety, so please follow the rules.
    • Violations of above rules may result in disciplinary action up to and including loss of pool privileges.

    Click the links for more information about the four spray parks the city operates, swim lessons, and other swimming programs.

    Got information to add? Dying to know an answer to a question about the pools? Facebook us, send us a tweet, or leave a comment below. You can contact the city pools directly here: http://pittsburghpa.gov/city-info/swimming-pools.html

  • Record a Custom CD Card for Mom with the Saturday Light Brigade

    Record a Custom CD Card for Mom with the Saturday Light Brigade

    Mother’s Day… Yes, Folks that important holiday is right around the corner.  (Dear Wigle Whiskey – please be planning a mothers day tasting event!).   Mother’s day gifts can be tricky – but the Children’s Museum has stepped into save the day!

    This is such a cool idea from the folks at Saturday Light Brigade.  If you aren’t familiar with SLB – it is a a public radio show that has been on the air since 1978 with acoustic music and family friendly fun.  A few years ago the SLB started broadcasting from the Children’s Museum.

    For mothers day they will help you record a cd with an audio message for mom from their recording studio.

    DATES: April 28–May 13 (for Mother’s Day) and June 2–June 17 (for Father’s Day)
    TIME: 1–4 p.m.
    LOCATION: SLB Radio Productions, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
    COST: $12 for a card/CD kit from the museum shop

    Let your own voice be the unique message and special one-of-a-kind gift you give this year for Mother’s Day and/or Father’s Day!

    During the hands-on program, children and youth ages 5 and up will record a personal message, poem, song, or story for their mother, father, grandparent, or special caregiver. SLB staff will conduct welcoming interviews about the person receiving the card, and will record greetings and messages live onto an audio CD in its award-winning broadcast studios.

    After the recording session, the professional-quality cards will be edited on site. The audio CD will be affixed to a special card, which children and youth will decorate and personalize using a variety of art materials. Ready for delivery in just a short time, audio cards will be brought home that very day as a Mother’s Day/Father’s Day gift that will be cherished for a lifetime.

    Creation of personalized audio cards is available for recording in May and June each year at SLB. No appointment is necessary. Purchase of a CD Creation Card Kit is required in the Children’s Museum gift shop prior to recording. The cost is $12, which includes a CD, card kit, decorating supplies, studio time, and editing. All proceeds benefit programs for children and youth at SLB Radio.

    You can follow the Saturday Light Brigade on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/slbradio and Twitter @SLBradio.

  • Dormont Street Fair & Music Festival

    DORMONT FALL STREET FAIR & MUSIC FESTIVAL

    Pittsburgh legends Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers to headline free Potomac Avenue event

    DATE: Saturday, October 10, 2009 4—11 p.m.
    LOCATION: Potomac Avenue between West Liberty and Belrose Avenues,  Dormont, PA

    the Borough continues its ongoing Centennial Celebration and hosts its most exciting Street Fair to date! From 4 to 11 p.m., join friends, neighbors and surrounding South Hills community members for the 3rd Annual Dormont Street Fair & Music Festival. Check out local Dormont businesses, boutiques, artists, and organizations, and support the town’s Potomac Avenue commercial district. Get fit with Zumba, test your Salsa skills, and see if you’ve got rhythm with InnerBeat Drum School.

    Rock the night away to live music by legendary Pittsburgh musician, and Dormont resident, Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers, who is the event’s featured headlining act.  (more…)

  • Radio Round Up – November 7, 2008

    Jen and MorganImage by juliekaffe via FlickrStreet with a View

    • Adding art to Google Maps
    • Google Street view, Sampsonia Way on the North Side

    Bikes Before Christmas

    • Kraynick’s Bikes and Pittsburgh Police are collecting used bikes for kids.
    • Mr. Kraynick and volunteers will fix up the bikes
    • Last year 230 bikes were donated to area kids
    • Drop off bikes at Kraynick’s on Penn Ave in Garfield or any Pittsburgh police station

    Sprout Fund Harvest Festival and Penn Avenue First Fridays

    • Stop by the Spround Fund offices for food, drink and music
    • Learn about some of the great projects the Sprout Fund supports
    • Friday from 5:30-9:30pm

    Handmade Arcade

    • Huge handmade craft sale – art, t-shirts, gifts and more
    • Crafters from all over the country
    • Saturday and Sunday at Hunt Armory in Shadyside

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  • Donate Bikes and Mr. Kraynik will fix them for Kids

    Kraynick's on Penn AveImage by lemonad via FlickrI have been fascinated by this bike shop ever since I read about this project last year in the Post-Gazette (click here to see the 2007 article). I wasn’t even sure that shop was still in business but ever since I read the article I keep seeing people wearing Kraynick’s Bike T-shirts (Where can I get one?).

    Well Bike Pgh just posted an article from the Post-Gazette – the Bike Before Christmas project is back for another holiday season. This is a project that is coordinated by the City of Pittsburgh Police and Jerry Kraynick. This is the 4th year of the program – last year Mr. Kraynick with the help of some volunteers tuned up 230 bikes which were distributed to kids for Christmas.

    You can help by donating bikes to:

    Kraynick’s Bikes, 5300 Penn Ave or any of the City’s Police Stations

    • Zone 1, 1501 Brighton Road, North Side
    • Zone 2, 2000 Centre Ave., Hill District
    • Zone 3, 18th and Mary Streets,
    • South Side
    • Zone 4, 5858 Northumberland St., Squirrel Hill
    • Zone 5, Penn Circle West at Broad Street, East Liberty.

    Check out this awesome panorama photo of the bike shop that the Post-Gazette put together. Here is a write up on the shop in Dirt Rag magazine.

    I enjoyed reading more about this bike shop – here is what some other bloggers that wrote about Kraynick’s:

    • Maintain – compares a NYC shop to Kraynick’s
    • Breathing Dirt – Mr. Kraynick helped him build a bike to ride in the MS150
    • Null Space – Chris Briem cites this article as “What Makes Pittsburgh Pittsburgh”
    • SF Cyclotouring – “my all-time favorite shop in the whole wide world”
    • Everything Nathan – Mr. Kraynick helped build Nathan’s bike

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