A voice for Northsiders who love the outdoors.
Erin Tobin is just one person.
Yet she speaks for thousands of Northside residents concerned about maintaining and improving the area's many beloved parks. A long-time Northside resident, Tobin is the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s Assistant Director of Community Engagement.
Her role: listening to what Northsiders desire for their outdoor spaces then conveying that information to those who can help."I do a lot of connecting the dots to help Northside residents and community groups advocate to see the improvements and changes they want to see," said Tobin. "A lot of times in community meetings, there's not a department of public works or city planning representative there. So, I make announcements, listen to feedback and take questions so I can best connect people to the landscape."
Outdoor spaces are Northside gems.
Bounded by rivers to the south and west and hills to the north, it's easy to think that the Northside's densely-packed population is devoid of outdoor spaces. In fact, the opposite is true. Its 18 neighborhoods boast a wealth of natural and recreational land - something Northsiders are acute to both cherish and protect.
"The Northside is a very busy place, but that's why it's so important for us to work there," said Catherine Qureshi, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy CEO. "We need to help create and maintain those natural gathering spaces on the Northside. Because in cities, nature manifests itself in parks and nature is part of the human experience."
Tobin agrees. In fact, her many sessions listening to Northsiders reminisce about their experiences has taught her this: the area's love of outdoor spaces runs deep.
"The parks on the Northside are where people have gathered for generations," said Tobin. "The amount of stories I've heard from people about what they did at Riverview Park back in high school or their birthday parties or their annual family gatherings. It's just amazing. Because when you live in an urban environment, not everybody has a backyard."
Outdoor spaces are Northside gems.
Bounded by rivers to the south and west and hills to the north, it's easy to think that the Northside's densely-packed population is devoid of outdoor spaces. In fact, the opposite is true. Its 18 neighborhoods boast a wealth of natural and recreational land - something Northsiders are acute to both cherish and protect.
"The Northside is a very busy place, but that's why it's so important for us to work there," said Catherine Qureshi, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy CEO. "We need to help create and maintain those natural gathering spaces on the Northside. Because in cities, nature manifests itself in parks and nature is part of the human experience."
Tobin agrees. In fact, her many sessions listening to Northsiders reminisce about their experiences has taught her this: the area's love of outdoor spaces runs deep.
"The parks on the Northside are where people have gathered for generations," said Tobin. "The amount of stories I've heard from people about what they did at Riverview Park back in high school or their birthday parties or their annual family gatherings. It's just amazing. Because when you live in an urban environment, not everybody has a backyard."
Outdoor spaces are Northside gems.
Bounded by rivers to the south and west and hills to the north, it's easy to think that the Northside's densely-packed population is devoid of outdoor spaces. In fact, the opposite is true. Its 18 neighborhoods boast a wealth of natural and recreational land - something Northsiders are acute to both cherish and protect.
"The Northside is a very busy place, but that's why it's so important for us to work there," said Catherine Qureshi, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy CEO. "We need to help create and maintain those natural gathering spaces on the Northside. Because in cities, nature manifests itself in parks and nature is part of the human experience."
Tobin agrees. In fact, her many sessions listening to Northsiders reminisce about their experiences has taught her this: the area's love of outdoor spaces runs deep.
"The parks on the Northside are where people have gathered for generations," said Tobin. "The amount of stories I've heard from people about what they did at Riverview Park back in high school or their birthday parties or their annual family gatherings. It's just amazing. Because when you live in an urban environment, not everybody has a backyard."
Outdoor spaces are Northside gems.
Bounded by rivers to the south and west and hills to the north, it's easy to think that the Northside's densely-packed population is devoid of outdoor spaces. In fact, the opposite is true. Its 18 neighborhoods boast a wealth of natural and recreational land - something Northsiders are acute to both cherish and protect.
"The Northside is a very busy place, but that's why it's so important for us to work there," said Catherine Qureshi, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy CEO. "We need to help create and maintain those natural gathering spaces on the Northside. Because in cities, nature manifests itself in parks and nature is part of the human experience."
Tobin agrees. In fact, her many sessions listening to Northsiders reminisce about their experiences has taught her this: the area's love of outdoor spaces runs deep.
"The parks on the Northside are where people have gathered for generations," said Tobin. "The amount of stories I've heard from people about what they did at Riverview Park back in high school or their birthday parties or their annual family gatherings. It's just amazing. Because when you live in an urban environment, not everybody has a backyard."
Outdoor spaces are Northside gems.
Bounded by rivers to the south and west and hills to the north, it's easy to think that the Northside's densely-packed population is devoid of outdoor spaces. In fact, the opposite is true. Its 18 neighborhoods boast a wealth of natural and recreational land - something Northsiders are acute to both cherish and protect.
"The Northside is a very busy place, but that's why it's so important for us to work there," said Catherine Qureshi, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy CEO. "We need to help create and maintain those natural gathering spaces on the Northside. Because in cities, nature manifests itself in parks and nature is part of the human experience."
Tobin agrees. In fact, her many sessions listening to Northsiders reminisce about their experiences has taught her this: the area's love of outdoor spaces runs deep.
"The parks on the Northside are where people have gathered for generations," said Tobin. "The amount of stories I've heard from people about what they did at Riverview Park back in high school or their birthday parties or their annual family gatherings. It's just amazing. Because when you live in an urban environment, not everybody has a backyard."
Outdoor spaces are Northside gems.
Bounded by rivers to the south and west and hills to the north, it's easy to think that the Northside's densely-packed population is devoid of outdoor spaces. In fact, the opposite is true. Its 18 neighborhoods boast a wealth of natural and recreational land - something Northsiders are acute to both cherish and protect.
"The Northside is a very busy place, but that's why it's so important for us to work there," said Catherine Qureshi, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy CEO. "We need to help create and maintain those natural gathering spaces on the Northside. Because in cities, nature manifests itself in parks and nature is part of the human experience."
Tobin agrees. In fact, her many sessions listening to Northsiders reminisce about their experiences has taught her this: the area's love of outdoor spaces runs deep.
"The parks on the Northside are where people have gathered for generations," said Tobin. "The amount of stories I've heard from people about what they did at Riverview Park back in high school or their birthday parties or their annual family gatherings. It's just amazing. Because when you live in an urban environment, not everybody has a backyard."
Outdoor spaces are Northside gems.
Bounded by rivers to the south and west and hills to the north, it's easy to think that the Northside's densely-packed population is devoid of outdoor spaces. In fact, the opposite is true. Its 18 neighborhoods boast a wealth of natural and recreational land - something Northsiders are acute to both cherish and protect.
"The Northside is a very busy place, but that's why it's so important for us to work there," said Catherine Qureshi, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy CEO. "We need to help create and maintain those natural gathering spaces on the Northside. Because in cities, nature manifests itself in parks and nature is part of the human experience."
Tobin agrees. In fact, her many sessions listening to Northsiders reminisce about their experiences has taught her this: the area's love of outdoor spaces runs deep.
"The parks on the Northside are where people have gathered for generations," said Tobin. "The amount of stories I've heard from people about what they did at Riverview Park back in high school or their birthday parties or their annual family gatherings. It's just amazing. Because when you live in an urban environment, not everybody has a backyard."
Outdoor spaces are Northside gems.
Bounded by rivers to the south and west and hills to the north, it's easy to think that the Northside's densely-packed population is devoid of outdoor spaces. In fact, the opposite is true. Its 18 neighborhoods boast a wealth of natural and recreational land - something Northsiders are acute to both cherish and protect.
"The Northside is a very busy place, but that's why it's so important for us to work there," said Catherine Qureshi, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy CEO. "We need to help create and maintain those natural gathering spaces on the Northside. Because in cities, nature manifests itself in parks and nature is part of the human experience."
Tobin agrees. In fact, her many sessions listening to Northsiders reminisce about their experiences has taught her this: the area's love of outdoor spaces runs deep.
"The parks on the Northside are where people have gathered for generations," said Tobin. "The amount of stories I've heard from people about what they did at Riverview Park back in high school or their birthday parties or their annual family gatherings. It's just amazing. Because when you live in an urban environment, not everybody has a backyard."
Turning listening into action.
Tobin said that one project Northsiders embraced was renovating Riverview Park's popular Valley Refuge Shelter. Originally built during the Great Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the structure was long overdue for an upgrade. After receiving resident feedback, Tobin helped make improvements happen, organizing funding to replace the slate roof, modernize plumbing and ensure the lighting is both efficient and reliable. Project work kicked off in February 2024 and crews are scheduled to finish this spring.
"We hear loud and clear from the community that this was a space that needed some love," said Tobin. "So, we requested funding from the city and matched that funding from One Northside to do the repairs."
Turning listening into action.
Tobin said that one project Northsiders embraced was renovating Riverview Park's popular Valley Refuge Shelter. Originally built during the Great Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the structure was long overdue for an upgrade. After receiving resident feedback, Tobin helped make improvements happen, organizing funding to replace the slate roof, modernize plumbing and ensure the lighting is both efficient and reliable. Project work kicked off in February 2024 and crews are scheduled to finish this spring.
"We hear loud and clear from the community that this was a space that needed some love," said Tobin. "So, we requested funding from the city and matched that funding from One Northside to do the repairs."
Turning listening into action.
Tobin said that one project Northsiders embraced was renovating Riverview Park's popular Valley Refuge Shelter. Originally built during the Great Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the structure was long overdue for an upgrade. After receiving resident feedback, Tobin helped make improvements happen, organizing funding to replace the slate roof, modernize plumbing and ensure the lighting is both efficient and reliable. Project work kicked off in February 2024 and crews are scheduled to finish this spring.
"We hear loud and clear from the community that this was a space that needed some love," said Tobin. "So, we requested funding from the city and matched that funding from One Northside to do the repairs."
Turning listening into action.
Tobin said that one project Northsiders embraced was renovating Riverview Park's popular Valley Refuge Shelter. Originally built during the Great Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the structure was long overdue for an upgrade. After receiving resident feedback, Tobin helped make improvements happen, organizing funding to replace the slate roof, modernize plumbing and ensure the lighting is both efficient and reliable. Project work kicked off in February 2024 and crews are scheduled to finish this spring.
"We hear loud and clear from the community that this was a space that needed some love," said Tobin. "So, we requested funding from the city and matched that funding from One Northside to do the repairs."
Turning listening into action.
Tobin said that one project Northsiders embraced was renovating Riverview Park's popular Valley Refuge Shelter. Originally built during the Great Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the structure was long overdue for an upgrade. After receiving resident feedback, Tobin helped make improvements happen, organizing funding to replace the slate roof, modernize plumbing and ensure the lighting is both efficient and reliable. Project work kicked off in February 2024 and crews are scheduled to finish this spring.
"We hear loud and clear from the community that this was a space that needed some love," said Tobin. "So, we requested funding from the city and matched that funding from One Northside to do the repairs."
Turning listening into action.
Tobin said that one project Northsiders embraced was renovating Riverview Park's popular Valley Refuge Shelter. Originally built during the Great Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the structure was long overdue for an upgrade. After receiving resident feedback, Tobin helped make improvements happen, organizing funding to replace the slate roof, modernize plumbing and ensure the lighting is both efficient and reliable. Project work kicked off in February 2024 and crews are scheduled to finish this spring.
"We hear loud and clear from the community that this was a space that needed some love," said Tobin. "So, we requested funding from the city and matched that funding from One Northside to do the repairs."
Turning listening into action.
Tobin said that one project Northsiders embraced was renovating Riverview Park's popular Valley Refuge Shelter. Originally built during the Great Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the structure was long overdue for an upgrade. After receiving resident feedback, Tobin helped make improvements happen, organizing funding to replace the slate roof, modernize plumbing and ensure the lighting is both efficient and reliable. Project work kicked off in February 2024 and crews are scheduled to finish this spring.
"We hear loud and clear from the community that this was a space that needed some love," said Tobin. "So, we requested funding from the city and matched that funding from One Northside to do the repairs."
Turning listening into action.
Tobin said that one project Northsiders embraced was renovating Riverview Park's popular Valley Refuge Shelter. Originally built during the Great Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the structure was long overdue for an upgrade. After receiving resident feedback, Tobin helped make improvements happen, organizing funding to replace the slate roof, modernize plumbing and ensure the lighting is both efficient and reliable. Project work kicked off in February 2024 and crews are scheduled to finish this spring.
"We hear loud and clear from the community that this was a space that needed some love," said Tobin. "So, we requested funding from the city and matched that funding from One Northside to do the repairs."
Behind many initiatives is One Northside.
Both Tobin and Qureshi are candid that Northside outdoor space projects wouldn't happen without adequate funding. And a critical part of that funding is provided by One Northside, a multi-decade initiative of the Buhl Foundation to improve quality of life for all Northside residents.
"One Northside and the Buhl Foundation are just incredible champions for the Northside," Qureshi said.
Tobin sees this financial support backing a number of key Northside park initiatives. One example is not just the renovation - but reimagination - of upper and lower Fowler Fields. Thanks to resident feedback, Tobin envisions a space that's upgraded for athletic events and practices, but also a place that all members of the community can use for exercise and enrichment.
"There's absolutely a desire by the community to have amenities that allow for health and wellness there," Tobin said. "Who knows? While football practice is going on, we could have a space for mothers and fathers and their children to enjoy themselves, too. We can create a space for cooking classes or dance classes or other things."
Tobin said she's looking forward to community input this spring with an eye to completing the Fowler Fields upgrade in 2027. Under her watch, Northsiders know the project will be done right.
The parks on the Northside are where people have gathered for generations. Because when you live in an urban environment, not everybody has a backyard.
