How this guide works
The CDC points out that you can be active in many ways, whether at home, in your community or at a gym. This guide is about the community part: public parks, pools, recreation centers and paths run by government in and around Pittsburgh.
It follows two strict rules. First, every statement about a local facility comes from that government body's own official web page, named in the sources box at the end. Second, it does not list private businesses, and it does not give opening hours, prices, schedules or event dates, because those change often and the official pages are the only reliable place to check them. This is a starting point for your own search, not a directory.
City of Pittsburgh: CitiParks
CitiParks is the City of Pittsburgh's Department of Parks and Recreation. On its official page, the city describes a park system that ranges from large regional parks to community and neighborhood parks, and lists these kinds of public offer:
- Swimming. City swimming pools and spray parks, and the historic Oliver Bath House, with information about tags, fees and lifeguard jobs.
- Community recreation centers. Year-round centers offering sports, education, crafts and leisure activities for all ages, with a location and hours page to find your nearest center. The city says fitness rooms are available at select centers.
- Healthy Active Living senior centers. Resources and centers for the city's older residents.
- CitiSports. A division offering sports such as baseball, basketball, cross country, football, futsal, softball and volleyball.
- Outdoor activities. Options the city lists include cycling, disc golf, skate parks and trails, with an interactive trail map.
- Tennis and skating. A tennis program for all skill levels, and a public ice skating rink in Schenley Park.
The same page describes a nonprofit partner that works with the city on park improvements under an official agreement. This site does not describe or rate any nonprofit or private organization; the city page is the place to read about its partners.
Allegheny County Parks
Allegheny County runs its own parks system, separate from the city's. According to the county's official parks page, it is made up of nine parks:
- North Park
- Boyce Park
- South Park
- Deer Lakes Park
- Harrison Hills Park
- Settlers Cabin Park
- Round Hill Park
- White Oak Park
- Hartwood Acres Park
The county says these parks cover more than 12,000 acres across the county and offer activities all year. It mentions four county pools in summer, winter sports such as skiing, snowboarding and ice skating, and sports including tennis, pickleball, soccer, hockey and softball. It also lists leagues, volunteering with the park rangers, and a tool to find the closest park.
Point State Park
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) runs Point State Park in downtown Pittsburgh. DCNR describes it as a 36-acre park at the confluence of three rivers, at the tip of the city's Golden Triangle, and notes that it is a National Historic Landmark commemorating the area's history during the French and Indian War. DCNR also lists public programs at the park, including guided outdoor recreation.
For directions, accessibility information and current conditions, use DCNR's own park page.
Matching places to the guidelines
A public facility is only useful if it helps you do the activity you need. Here is how the kinds of places above line up with the guidelines, using the CDC's own lists of activities:
| Kind of place | Activities from the CDC's examples | Guideline it supports |
|---|---|---|
| Parks and trails | Walking fast, hiking a trail, riding a bike | Moderate or vigorous aerobic activity |
| Pools | Water aerobics (moderate), swimming laps (vigorous) | Aerobic activity |
| Courts and sports fields | Doubles tennis (moderate), singles tennis and basketball (vigorous) | Aerobic activity |
| Recreation and fitness rooms | Lifting weights, resistance bands | Muscle-strengthening on 2 days a week |
| Classes such as yoga or tai chi, where offered | Activities that combine more than one type | Multicomponent activity for older adults |
The CDC also suggests walking in a mall when it is too hot, cold or wet to be outside, and recommends that new cyclists practice somewhere away from traffic, such as a park, a path or an empty parking lot. NHTSA mentions on-bike classes offered through recreation departments, among others, as a way to build confidence.
Worked example
This is an invented example and describes no real person. Someone wants to reach 150 minutes of moderate activity and two strength days. They look up their nearest city recreation center and the closest park with a trail on the official pages. Their plan becomes three brisk walks on the trail, one session in the center's fitness room if their center has one, and one strength session at home. Before going, they check the center's current hours and any fees on the city's own page, since this site does not list them.
Before you go
- Check the official page on the day. Seasonal pools, rinks and programs open and close at different times, and fees or registration may apply.
- Check the weather and air. The weather guide covers heat, cold, lightning and air quality, including Allegheny County's air data.
- Plan the journey. If you walk or cycle there, the active travel guide summarizes NHTSA's safety advice.
- Ask about accessibility. DCNR, for example, says visitors who need an accommodation because of a disability should contact the park they plan to visit. Other providers have their own arrangements; their official pages explain them.
What this guide leaves out
This guide does not mention gyms, studios, clubs, races or other private options, and it does not rate or recommend any place. It also does not cover every public provider: municipalities outside the city, school districts, libraries and other public bodies may offer their own facilities. If you live outside the city limits, your own borough or township's official website is the place to start.
Finally, the facilities above are described as their operators described them on the date this guide was reviewed against sources. Government websites are reorganized from time to time; if a detail here no longer matches the official page, the official page is right.
Next: Activity for older adults: aerobic, strength and balance