OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Public Hearing on Serpentine Drive in Schenley Park - June 4, 2026

City Council — Thursday, June 4, 2026
BodyPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, June 4, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:07:30
Transcript — Verbatim
1:07

Good afternoon, and welcome to Pittsburgh City Council's cable cast public hearing for Thursday, June 4th, 2026, relative to bills 20260487 and 2026 0516.

1:23

Will the clerk please read the titles of the bills?

1:26

Bill four eighty seven.

1:28

Petition from the residents of the city of Pittsburgh requesting a public hearing before City Council regarding reopening Serpentine Drive and Shenley Park to cars.

1:38

The Squirrel Hill Historical Society Board and the people signing this petition feel that this road was intended for vehicular traffic, including bikes, but not trucks, and not intended for pedestrians who have many nearby trails to walk on that go to go to the same places.

1:57

Serpentine Drive is the only road on the eastern side of Shenley Park that keeps traffic inside the park instead of sending it on long hazardous detours on nearby residential streets, including one that has no sidewalks.

2:11

Except for the Panther Hollow Bridge, it is the only road that connects the north side of the park with the south side without forcing traffic to leave the park.

2:20

It is also a safer connecting road to Oakland from the Greenfield Bridge.

2:25

The petition is valid in accordance with the Home Rule Charter.

2:29

In Bill 516, petition from the residents of the city of Pittsburgh requesting a public hearing before City Council regarding maintaining Serpentine Drive in Shenley Park as a pedestrian and bike only through way.

2:42

The petition is valid in accordance with the Home Rule Charter.

2:56

No, I don't think so.

2:57

Okay.

2:58

Um, so yes.

3:00

Oh, I'm sorry.

3:01

Oh, and Councilwoman Salonetro is with us online.

3:05

So the first order will be testimony from our registered speakers when you come up to speak, give your name and your neighborhood for the public record.

3:14

Each registered speaker will have three minutes to address counsel, and then if you're not registered, you'll be able to go at the end.

3:38

Hi, thank you for the opportunity to speak today.

3:40

I'm Leana Chris.

3:51

My family and I walk on Serpentine almost every day in all weather, often after dark, which is like four p.m.

3:57

in the winter.

3:58

It's a well-used space.

4:00

I often sit on the wall and read, and I see people using Serpentine not just as a way to get from one place to another, but as a destination in itself.

4:09

Walking and jogging up and down the road, riding bikes around the block multiple times, skateboarding, bird watching.

4:16

It's a backyard, it's a gym.

4:18

It makes that part of Shenley Park easy to access.

4:21

And it's part of what makes living in a dense urban neighborhood in apartments and row houses more pleasant and humane.

4:28

Unfortunately, cars and bikes and pedestrians cannot safely coexist on Serpentine.

4:34

The weird and erratic car and pedestrian encounters my family and I witnessed when it was open to traffic would blow your mind.

4:42

Opening Serpentine to cars would close it to everyone else.

4:46

You have an incredible opportunity here to easily and cheaply make Pittsburgh even more competitive with peer and aspirational cities by making it clear to residents and to people thinking about moving to Pittsburgh that we're serious about vision zero and about not fragmenting our green spaces.

5:03

Nobody ever decided not to move to a city because there wasn't enough traffic in the park.

5:09

All you really have to do is nothing.

5:12

It costs nothing and takes no effort to keep Serpentine closed traffic as it is now.

5:16

But I'm sure y'all don't want to be back here in another six months hearing the same arguments.

5:21

I'm asking you to formally and decisively declare it to be a bike and pedestrian only space.

5:27

Make the barriers at either end look a little less temporary, a little less optional.

5:32

Maybe put a put up a couple of those brown wooden signs to show that it's open to bikes and pedestrians.

5:38

And publicize it.

5:39

Instagram reel with the mayor.

5:41

We're here at the newly restored Serpentine Drive Historic Trail and Overlook.

5:46

I'm gonna try roller skating for the first time since I was 12.

5:50

Come on down.

5:51

Just let people know it's here, that the construction mass is finally gone, and that we're welcome to enjoy this beautiful singular amenity.

6:01

I appreciate your time and the care I know you'll put into this decision.

6:04

Thank you.

6:06

Thank you.

6:08

Next up we have Travis Ben, and then after that will be Thomas Harr.

6:18

Thank you all for the time.

6:20

My name is Travis Ben.

6:21

I live in Squirrel Hill.

6:23

I'm a dad.

6:24

I walk, I bike, I take the bus, and I even drive a car.

6:31

Much of this decision around Serpentine Drive has been framed as a question of historic preservation.

6:37

But that argument quickly falls apart because when Shinley Park opened in 1889, there were no cars in Pittsburgh.

6:48

The first car wouldn't appear for another six years, and by 1910, there was only one car for every 636 residents of Allegheny County.

6:59

And the idea that streets should be reserved primarily for vehicles rather than shared by people didn't emerge for decades.

7:09

Bigelow designed Serpentine for low speeds, light traffic, horse-drawn carriages, and scenic recreation, not car commuter cut throughs.

7:21

So when the historical society claims they're defending his vision by reopening the road to car traffic, they're actually advocating for its opposite.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation███████████████████████████████████35%
Active Transportation██████████████████████████26%
Transportation Safety████████████12%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████10%
Community Engagement████████8%
Public Safety███3%
Procedural███3%
Historic Preservation██2%
Youth Programs█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Public Hearing on Serpentine Drive in Schenley Park - June 4, 2026

The Pittsburgh City Council held a public hearing on June 4, 2026, at 1:00 PM in Council Chambers to hear testimony on two petitions regarding Serpentine Drive in Schenley Park. Bill 2026-0487, submitted by the Squirrel Hill Historical Society and residents, requested reopening the road to cars (excluding trucks). Bill 2026-0516 requested maintaining the road as a pedestrian and bike-only throughway. The hearing featured 20 registered speakers, with council members also providing comments. No vote was taken; the decision remains with the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI), which previously decided to keep the road closed to motor vehicles.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Leana Chris (Squirrel Hill) – Supported keeping Serpentine car-free. Described it as a well-used space for walking, jogging, biking, and recreation. Argued cars and pedestrians cannot safely coexist on the narrow road. Urged council to formally declare it a bike/pedestrian space.

  • Travis Ben (Squirrel Hill) – Supported keeping closed. Noted the road was designed for horse-drawn carriages, not cars. Argued reopening would prioritize driver convenience over safety. Submitted 95 additional signatures.

  • Thomas Harr (East Allegheny, Bike Pittsburgh membership manager) – Supported keeping closed. Represented Bike Pittsburgh (4,000+ members). Stated parks are not shortcuts; reopening would make the route more dangerous and contradict Vision Zero.

  • Kathleen Weinert (neighborhood not given) – Supported keeping closed. Cited tick-free walking route for her dogs. Noted no alternative pedestrian pathway exists (other trails are steep and rocky).

  • Mary Shaw (Squirrel Hill) – Supported keeping closed. Lived near park since 1967. Questioned assumptions that road was designed for cars and that pedestrians were not originally permitted. Cited DOMI's 2024 public process that decided to keep it car-free.

  • Helen Wilson (Squirrel Hill South) – Questioned the safety of closing Serpentine. Presented crash data: Serpentine had 5 crashes (0 pedestrian) in 14 years, while detour routes had many more (e.g., Whiteman: 113 crashes, 16 pedestrian). Asked if a licensed engineering study was done and if the city is committed to Vision Zero. Did not explicitly state a position for or against reopening.

  • Audrey Glickman (Greenfield) – Supported reopening to cars. Argued the park belongs to all city residents, not just neighbors. Serpentine provides a pleasant, expedient route. Opposed closing roads to cars.

  • Lori Fitzgerald (Beacon Street) – Supported reopening with a bike lane. Measured road width at 40 feet, argued it can accommodate cars and bikes. Called for data-driven decision, not anecdotal.

  • Martha Isler (Darlington Road) – Supported reopening. Noted she was not notified of DOMI's public comment period. Observed low usage by cyclists and pedestrians during restoration work. Questioned spending $2.26 million for a bike-only road.

  • Maria Cohen (Squirrel Hill South, Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition) – Neutral. Stated SHUC has not taken a formal position. Called for a structured, data-informed review including traffic, safety, and connectivity studies.

  • Tom Engel (Squirrel Hill) – Supported reopening. Argued Serpentine is the quickest route to Oakland hospitals; extra seconds could save lives. Cited a paramedic who said they would use it.

  • Chris Saroski (Darlington Road, Friends of Shenley Park board) – Supported keeping closed. Shared photos of a stuck truck and crash damage. Argued protecting park health and minimizing car traffic is best.

  • David Mahler (Beacon Street) – Supported keeping closed. Described Serpentine as a "lingering place" for social interaction, birdwatching, and recreation.

  • Roy Weil (Dominican Road) – Supported keeping closed. Noted safer bicycle route and observed regular use by families, chalk drawings, etc.

  • Tim Gottesard (Birchfield Avenue) – Supported keeping closed. Cited Strava data: 5,000 athletes, 65,000 efforts on Serpentine. Concerned about speeding cars if reopened.

  • Sarah Wallace (Squirrel Hill) – Supported keeping closed. Moved to Pittsburgh in 2009 partly for parks. Called Serpentine a safe, calm space.

  • Tony Indivina (Greenfield, Squirrel Hill Historical Society board) – Supported reopening. Argued parks exist for all residents, many need to drive. Suggested a parallel trail could be built. Questioned the legitimacy of DOMI's public process.

  • Rebecca Green (Greenfield) – Supported keeping closed. Mother of small children who use the road for biking/scooting safely. Opposed losing one of few car-free spaces.

  • Catherine Adams (Greenfield) – Supported keeping closed. Provided mileage/travel time data showing existing driving routes are equally fast. Emphasized safety disparity between car and bike.

  • Jesse Wilson (East Liberty, formerly Squirrel Hill South) – Supported reopening. Cited $2.5 million taxpayer cost, questioned lack of traffic studies, and argued detour roads are more dangerous.

Discussion Items

  • Councilwoman Erica Strasberger (representing part of Squirrel Hill adjacent to the area) – Stated the decision has already been made by DOMI and the hearing is not a council decision. Noted overwhelming public support for keeping Serpentine closed based on petitions, emails, and testimony. Expressed desire to "put this to bed."

  • Councilman (district representative, likely Warwick) – Thanked participants. Provided numerical summary: 175 signatures and 53 emails for keeping closed, 12 speakers; 38 signatures and 7 speakers for reopening. (Note: The transcript shows 6 explicit supporters for reopening and one neutral speaker who questioned the closure, suggesting a possible discrepancy in the councilman's count.) Clarified Vision Zero aims to keep cars on larger thoroughfares and invest in safety improvements on high-injury networks, not divert traffic to smaller streets. Noted Panther Hollow Bridge reopening in August/September 2026. Highlighted upcoming school feeder pattern changes that will increase student travel between Greenfield and Squirrel Hill, making safe bike/ped routes important.

  • Councilwoman Salonetro (West End) – Thanked speakers for their passion and love for Schenley Park.

Key Outcomes

  • No vote was taken. The public hearing fulfilled the requirement to hear testimony on the petitions.
  • Council members expressed support for the existing DOMI decision to keep Serpentine Drive closed to motor vehicles.
  • The matter remains with DOMI; no further council action is required.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon, and welcome to Pittsburgh City Council's cable cast public hearing for Thursday, June 4th, 2026, relative to bills 20260487 and 2026 0516. Will the clerk please read the titles of the bills? Bill four eighty seven. Petition from the residents of the city of Pittsburgh requesting a public hearing before City Council regarding reopening Serpentine Drive and Shenley Park to cars. The Squirrel Hill Historical Society Board and the people signing this petition feel that this road was intended for vehicular traffic, including bikes, but not trucks, and not intended for pedestrians who have many nearby trails to walk on that go to go to the same places. Serpentine Drive is the only road on the eastern side of Shenley Park that keeps traffic inside the park instead of sending it on long hazardous detours on nearby residential streets, including one that has no sidewalks. Except for the Panther Hollow Bridge, it is the only road that connects the north side of the park with the south side without forcing traffic to leave the park. It is also a safer connecting road to Oakland from the Greenfield Bridge. The petition is valid in accordance with the Home Rule Charter. In Bill 516, petition from the residents of the city of Pittsburgh requesting a public hearing before City Council regarding maintaining Serpentine Drive in Shenley Park as a pedestrian and bike only through way. The petition is valid in accordance with the Home Rule Charter. No, I don't think so. Okay. Um, so yes. Oh, I'm sorry. Oh, and Councilwoman Salonetro is with us online. So the first order will be testimony from our registered speakers when you come up to speak, give your name and your neighborhood for the public record. Each registered speaker will have three minutes to address counsel, and then if you're not registered, you'll be able to go at the end. Hi, thank you for the opportunity to speak today. I'm Leana Chris. My family and I walk on Serpentine almost every day in all weather, often after dark, which is like four p.m. in the winter. It's a well-used space. I often sit on the wall and read, and I see people using Serpentine not just as a way to get from one place to another, but as a destination in itself. Walking and jogging up and down the road, riding bikes around the block multiple times, skateboarding, bird watching. It's a backyard, it's a gym. It makes that part of Shenley Park easy to access. And it's part of what makes living in a dense urban neighborhood in apartments and row houses more pleasant and humane. Unfortunately, cars and bikes and pedestrians cannot safely coexist on Serpentine. The weird and erratic car and pedestrian encounters my family and I witnessed when it was open to traffic would blow your mind. Opening Serpentine to cars would close it to everyone else. You have an incredible opportunity here to easily and cheaply make Pittsburgh even more competitive with peer and aspirational cities by making it clear to residents and to people thinking about moving to Pittsburgh that we're serious about vision zero and about not fragmenting our green spaces. Nobody ever decided not to move to a city because there wasn't enough traffic in the park. All you really have to do is nothing. It costs nothing and takes no effort to keep Serpentine closed traffic as it is now. But I'm sure y'all don't want to be back here in another six months hearing the same arguments. I'm asking you to formally and decisively declare it to be a bike and pedestrian only space. Make the barriers at either end look a little less temporary, a little less optional. Maybe put a put up a couple of those brown wooden signs to show that it's open to bikes and pedestrians. And publicize it. Instagram reel with the mayor. We're here at the newly restored Serpentine Drive Historic Trail and Overlook. I'm gonna try roller skating for the first time since I was 12. Come on down. Just let people know it's here, that the construction mass is finally gone, and that we're welcome to enjoy this beautiful singular amenity. I appreciate your time and the care I know you'll put into this decision. Thank you. Thank you. Next up we have Travis Ben, and then after that will be Thomas Harr. Thank you all for the time.

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