Jun 16, 2008 1:29 pm US/Eastern
Mayor Rededicates Mt. Washington "Green" Parklet
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and community members came together today to rededicate the Charles Lewis Memorial parklet in Mount Washington.
The park's new design incorporates green technology that Lewis, the city's former fire chief, could only have dreamed of.
The parklet is the gateway to Mount Washington and it was the brainchild of Charles A. Lewis, who served as city fire chief from 1980 to 1985.
"He thought this might be a really nice place for the community to have a place to go," said Mary Kay Sullivan, Lewis' daughter.
The park, however, suffered from wear and tear over the years.
The Mount Washington Mainstreets program stepped in, forging a partnership with the Community Development Corporation, the city, and the design firm Burt Hill to turn the park into what is called a "rain garden".
It uses native plans to absorb rain water that would normally run off into storm drains.
The mayor says the project is important to the community.
"It also continues to advance our green agenda by having a rain garden and keeping Pittsburgh at the forefront of investing in green technology and development and building and it's good news all the way around," said Ravenstahl.
Two of Lewis' sons, a nephew and numerous cousins have all followed the chief's footsteps into the fire department.
The parklet is located at the corner of Shiloh and Virginia Streets.
Among Lewis' many accomplishments, his proudest achievement was the "fill the boot" campaign as a part of the annual fund drive for the muscular Dystrophy Association.
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