Panther Hollow Lake
A picture of the lake with the Panther Hollow Bridge rising above it
Location of Panther Hollow Lake in Pennsylvania, USA
Location of Panther Hollow Lake in Pennsylvania, USA
Panther Hollow Lake
Location of Panther Hollow Lake in Pennsylvania, USA
Location of Panther Hollow Lake in Pennsylvania, USA
Panther Hollow Lake
LocationPanther Hollow, Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Coordinates40°26′13″N 79°56′53″W / 40.43685°N 79.94810°W / 40.43685; -79.94810
TypeArtificial lake
Part ofPanther Hollow Watershed
Primary inflowsPhipps Run
Panther Hollow Run
Primary outflowsFour Mile Run

Panther Hollow Lake is a human-made lake in Schenley Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The lake as seen from Panther Hollow Bridge

Watershed

The lake serves as a catch basin for the 300-acre (120 ha) Panther Hollow Watershed, which includes sections of Schenley Park and Squirrel Hill. It receives storm drainage from the watershed, which it sends to the Monongahela River via the Four Mile Run.[1] Two streams, Phipps Run and Panther Hollow Run, flow through Schenley Park, feeding the lake.[2]

History

Before the park

Before Schenley Park was built and Squirrel Hill was heavily settled, there were several tributaries throughout the park and Squirrel Hill which formed a part of the watershed. Today, the streams in Squirrel Hill are buried, and feed the city sewer system instead of the lake.[1]

Construction

The lake was originally constructed in 1892 as part of the early development of Schenley Park. At this time it was about 600 feet (180 m) long and 275 feet (84 m) wide.[3] The lake was a popular gathering place which was used for rowing in summer and ice skating in winter. However, by 1907 it had filled with so much sediment that it was only 6 inches (15 cm) deep in most places.[4] Around the same time, Schenley Park was undergoing a new round of improvements, such as the construction of Schenley Oval and the Tufa Bridges.[5] In 1909, the lake was expanded and rebuilt with a concrete lining and a new boathouse was added.[6][7]

Decline and first renovation

Over the years, sediment and silt built up in the lake, raising the bottom of the lake bed significantly. A major renovation was ordered in 1957 by then‑mayor David L. Lawrence, in which the lake was drained completely, the walls of the lake re-constructed, and the lake re-filled with small shrubs. However, after a two-year period of shrubs, water was returned into the lake.[8]

Originally, there was a boathouse located on the lake, which provided patrons with a pastime. Ice skating was also popular on the lake up until the 1970s.[8]

Second decline and second renovation

After many years of neglect, the boathouse was demolished in 1979,[8] and the lake gradually fell out of use with the general public. The lake sediment began to pile up again, rendering the majority of the lake less than 4 feet (1.2 m) deep. Currently, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has adopted a plan to bring the lake back to its original splendor, including a full restoration of the lake, a rehabilitation of the watershed, and a reconstruction of the boathouse.[9]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Panther Hollow Lake.

References

  1. 1 2 "Archived copy" (PDF). www.pittsburghparks.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 May 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). www.pittsburghparks.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 August 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ↑ "A Place of Beauty: Schenley Park Growing in Attractive Features". Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette. July 4, 1892. Retrieved August 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Panther Hollow Lake in Schenley Park Is a Bog". Pittsburgh Gazette Times. June 2, 1907. Retrieved August 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "History". Archived from the original on 2014-10-09. Retrieved 2014-09-27.
  6. ↑ "New Lakes for Park". Pittsburgh Press. February 24, 1909. Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "New Lake Nearly Ready". Pittsburgh Press. July 8, 1909. Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 3 "Panther Hollow Lake Through the Years". 8 September 2010.
  9. ↑ "Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy takes aim at Panther Hollow restoration". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
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