Summerset at Frick Park will be buzzing with activity this weekend, including a Fall Festival, groundbreaking ceremonies, and a remembrance of the late community development leader Mark Schneider.
During the community’s Fall Festival on Saturday, October 27th, a parade will lead through the neighborhood, culminating at Crescent Park. In attendance will be the Alderdice Marching Band, Studio Capezzuti’s Giant Puppets, the Frick Park Environmental Center, and a half dozen food trucks including Franktuary, Oh My Grill, and Peddlin’ Company Pierogies.
In addition to the festival, the community is gathering to remember Mark Schneider, the late visionary who led the development to transform a former slag heap into this vibrant home place.
Craig Dunham, of Summerset Land Development Associates, says Schneider was the leading vision and voice for the development.
“Mark was a leader in our partnership, really in the forefront of the project since its inception back in 1997,” Dunham says. Schneider died earlier this summer after being injured in a bicycle accident in Maryland. He was 55.
To commemorate his life and contributions to the city, a new community park will be dedicated to Schneider within Summerset. New townhomes will face the square, which will include a lawn, trees, a pedestal and plaque, as well as benches and bicycle racks.
“It’ll be a little, quiet place within the community that is surrounded by homes and very much a central part of the neighborhood,” Dunham says.
Schneider was an avid cyclist, longtime trail proponent, and a co-founder of Pedal Pittsburgh. Dunham says the Three Rivers bicycle racks will be placed at the site to commemorate that aspect of his life.
In addition to the new park, construction has begun on a new 131-unit apartment complex. Designed by Rothschild Doyno Collaborative, it will be the largest rental community at Summerset. Dunham expects the first units to be complete by April of next year.
And finally, a series of new roads are set to be opened within the site, including Park View Boulevard, Biltmore, Overton, Beardsley, and Shelburne Lanes.
The Festival will take place from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at Crescent Park on Parkview Boulevard. 412-420-0120.
Writer: Andrew Moore
Source: Craig Dunham