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  An Invitation to AttendDear Friend of Urban and Historic Parks, In 2008, the City of Pittsburgh will mark its 250th anniversary. We have much to celebrate, and I hope you’ll have a chance to see for yourself when you come to Pittsburgh for Body and Soul: Parks and the Health of Great Cities. Over the past 20 years, Pittsburgh has reinvented itself, rising from the ashes of the industrial era to become a leader in higher education, green-building technology, and medicine. Ecological restoration of the once foul Three Rivers has returned these majestic waterways to the people, who can enjoy them from wonderful riverfront parks. Pittsburgh’s parks have been a big part of the city’s transformation. In 1997, a partnership between the City of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy launched the renewal of our great parks. A decade later, more than $60 million in restoration has revived many of these spaces. Within the last year, Pittsburgh was named both the “Greenest City in America” and “America’s Most Livable City.” One of the reasons people love Pittsburgh is that it has managed to hold onto its traditions while embracing its future. You’ll find blue-collar neighborhoods dotted with trendy bistros and art galleries. You can grab a pierogi or a kielbasa sandwich or enjoy a sophisticated dinner at an elegant restaurant in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District. Within a couple of blocks of the conference hotel, you’ll find the O’Reilly Theater and Heinz Hall, home of the Pittsburgh Symphony. And a short walk across the Allegheny River takes you to the homes of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Steelers or art installations at the world-renowned Mattress Factory. There’s something here for everyone! The powerhouse presentations we have planned for Body and Soul will draw parks leaders from around the world. I look forward to welcoming you to our great city.
Sincerely, |
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