If you would rather participate than sit on the sidelines, there are plenty of opportunities for you. The region's many major parks offer everything from swimming to ice skating to golf. Check those listings before you look under the specific activity listings. And have fun!

PARKS
City of Pittsburgh, 412-255-2539, www. city.pittsburgh.pa.us/parks

North

Allegheny Commons Park: swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball field.

Brighton Heights Park: swimming pool, basketball courts, baseball field.

Cowley Playground: recreation center, swimming pool, basketball courts, baseball field.

Cross/Strauss Park: basketball court.

East Park: swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball field.

Fineview Playground: hockey court, tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball field.

Fowler Playground: swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball field.

Gardner Field: baseball field.

Horace Mann School Park: baseball field.

Jefferson Playground: recreation center, basketball courts.

Leister Street Parklet: basketball courts.

Lookout Street Parklet: basketball courts.

Manchester Park: swimming pool, tennis courts.

Manchester Playground: basketball courts, baseball field.

Marmaduke Playground: hockey court, tennis courts, baseball field.

Marshall-California Parklet: basketball courts.

McKnight Playground: basketball courts, baseball field.

Riverview Park: swimming pool, tennis courts, baseball field.

Scherer Field: baseball field.

Spring Garden Playground: tennis courts, baseball field.

Spring Hill Playground: hockey court, basketball courts, baseball field.

Young Field: baseball field.

South

Able Long Parklet: tennis courts, basketball courts.

Arlington Playground: swimming pool, hockey court, basketball courts, baseball field.

Armstrong Playground: hockey court, basketball courts, baseball field.

Banksville School Field: baseball field.

Bigbee Field: baseball field.

Bon Air Parklet: basketball courts.

Brookline Memorial Park: recreation center, swimming pool, basketball courts, baseball field.

Carmalt School: baseball field.

Codben Street Court: basketball courts.

Devlin Playground: baseball field.

Eleanor Street Parklet: basketball courts.

Grandview Park: tennis courts, basketball courts.

Hays Parklet: basketball courts.

Leolyn Parklet: basketball courts.

Lodge Potenza Senior Citizens: recreation center.

McBride Park: swimming pool, hockey court, tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball field.

McKinley Park: recreation center, hockey court, tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball field.

Mission Street Field: baseball field.

Monongahela Playground: baseball field.

Moore Park: recreation center, swimming pool, basketball courts, baseball field.

Mount Washington Park: basketball courts, baseball field.

Oliver Bath House: swimming pool.

Olympia Park: recreation center, basketball courts, baseball field.

Ormsby Playground: recreation center, swimming pool, hockey court, basketball courts, baseball field.

Overbrook School Field: basketball courts, baseball field.

Panorama Ballfield: baseball field.

Pauline Parklet: basketball court.

Phillip Murray Playground: baseball field.

Phillips Park: recreation center, swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball field.

Quarry Field: basketball courts, baseball field.

Ream Parklet: swimming pool.

Revenue Parklet: hockey court, basketball courts.

Shaler Parklet: hockey court, basketball courts.

Southside Park: baseball field.

Tropical Parklet: hockey court, basketball courts.

Vanucci Playground: baseball field.

Volunteers Field: baseball field.

Warrington Playground: recreation center, swimming pool, basketball courts, baseball field.

Winters Playground: basketball courts, baseball field.

East

Ammon Playground: recreation center, swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball field.

Arsenal Park: hockey court, tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball field.

Blair Playground: basketball courts, baseball field.

Bloomfield Playground: recreation center, swimming pool, hockey court, basketball courts, baseball field.

Boundary Street Parklet: hockey court.

Bud Hammer Playground: hockey court, basketball court, baseball field.

Burgwin Playground: swimming pool, hockey court, tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball field.

Chadwick Playground: recreation center, basketball courts, baseball field.

Cliffside Park: basketball courts.

Dallas Parklet: basketball courts.

Davis Parklet: hockey court, tennis court, basketball courts.

Dinan Playground: hockey court, tennis courts, baseball field.

Duncan Parklet: hockey court.

East Hills Park: swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball field.

East Liberty Park: tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball field.

Enright Parklet: basketball courts.

57th Street Playground: basketball courts, baseball field.

Flynn Parklet: hockey court, tennis courts, basketball courts.

Fort Pitt Playground: basketball courts.

Four Mile Run Playground: hockey court, basketball courts, baseball field.

Frazier Playground: basketball courts, baseball field.

Frick Park: tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball field.

Garland Park: tennis courts, basketball courts.

Gladstone Park: baseball field.

Glen Hazel Playground: recreation center, basketball courts, baseball field.

Granville Parklet: basketball courts.

Herron Hill Park: tennis courts.

Heth's Playground: hockey court, tennis courts, baseball field.

Highland Park: swimming pool, tennis courts, baseball field.

Homewood North Parklet: basketball courts.

Homewood Playground: swimming pool, baseball field.

Homewood Senior Citizens: recreation center.

Joe Natoli Field: recreation center, basketball courts, baseball field.

June Bug Court: basketball courts.

Kennard Playground: tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball field.

Kite Hill Parklet: basketball courts.

Larimer Playground: basketball courts, baseball field.

Leslie Park: swimming pool, basketball courts, baseball field.

Lewis Parklet: hockey court, basketball courts.

Magee Playground: recreation center, swimming pool, basketball courts, baseball field.

Martin Luther King Field: baseball field.

Mellon Park: tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball field.

Niagara Parklet: basketball courts.

Osceola Parklet: hockey court.

Paulson Playground: recreation center, swimming pool, basketball court, baseball field.

Robert E. Williams Park: recreation center, basketball courts.

Schenley Park: swimming pool, tennis courts, baseball field.

Sullivan Field: baseball field.

Swisshelm Parklet: hockey court, tennis courts, basketball courts.

Vincennes Parklet: basketball courts.

West Penn Park: recreation center, swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball field.

Westinghouse Park: basketball courts.

Wightman Playground: basketball courts, baseball field.

West

Alton Playground: basketball courts, baseball field.

Banksville Park: swimming pool, hockey court, tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball field.

Chartiers Playground: tennis courts, baseball field.

Dunbar Playground: basketball courts, baseball field.

East Carnegie Parklet: tennis courts, basketball courts.

Fairywood Park: swimming pool, basketball courts.

Herschel Playground: hockey court, basketball courts, baseball field.

McGonigle Park: basketball courts, baseball field.

Mutual Parklet: basketball courts.

Oakwood Playground: hockey court, tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball field.

Pauline Parklet: basketball courts.

Sheraden Park: swimming pool, basketball courts, baseball field.

Stratmore Parklet: tennis courts, basketball courts.

Townsend Parklet: basketball courts.

Wabash Playground: basketball courts, baseball field.

West End Park: basketball courts.

Westwood School Playground: swimming pool, baseball field.

Allegheny County Parks, 412-350-7275 (Parks Hotline), www.county.allegheny. pa.us/parks.

Boyce Park: (724) 327-8798; skiing, tennis courts, wave pool.

North Park: (724) 935-1971; 18-hole golf course, ice skating, swimming pool, tennis courts.

Settler's Cabin: (412) 787-2750; tennis courts, wave pool.

South Park: (412) 835-5710; 18-hole golf course, ice skating, tennis courts, wave pool.

BOATING
We live along three rivers, with numerous lakes right in our back yard; no wonder you can so often find us out on the water. If you want to get your feet wet (so to speak) here are a few places to get you started.

Three Rivers Rowing Association, 412-231-8772, www.threeriversrowing.org. Located on historic Washington's Landing just north of Downtown, the organization was founded in 1984. The facility, open year-round, includes lockers, showers and boat storage. The association also features rentals and instruction for rowers and kayak users.

CAMPING
It's not hard to find a place to pitch a tent, but if you want to get away from it all without getting away from everything, there are some places nearby to recommend.

Raccoon Creek State Park, 724-899-2200, www.dcnr.state.pa.us. In Hookstown, with trails open to the public and a model airplane field.

Moraine State Park, 724-368-8811, www.dcnr.state.pa.us. In Portersville near the intersection of Interstate 79 and Route 422, featuring the 3,225-acre Lake Arthur and the Frank Preston Conservation Area.

FISHING
If your dad didn't teach you how to fish -- or show you some of the best fishing holes -- don't despair, there is still help.

Fishing Guides and Spots in Western Pa., 717-705-7800, www.fish.state.pa.us. There are numerous lakes, streams and the three rivers in and around greater Pittsburgh. For information, contact the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission office at Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106.

GOLF

For an indispensable guide to the region's public golf courses, you should buy the PG's "On Course" avaiable at the PG Store online.

To get you started, here are a few nearby courses:

Grand View Golf Club, 412-351-5390. 18-hole golf course with stunning views of the east side of Pittsburgh and surrounding suburbs. Located in North Braddock, the course also has a full-service restaurant.

Pittsburgh North Golf Course, 724-443-3800, www.pittsburghnorthgolf.com. 27 holes with club rental and group outings available. Located 15 minutes north of Downtown in Richland.

Quicksilver Golf Club, 724-796-1594, www.quicksilvergolf.com. Located west of the city in Robinson, this championship 18-hole course features global positioning in its golf carts and a roomy, full-service clubhouse. Has hosted a Senior PGA Tour event in the past.

Cranberry Highlands Golf Course, 724-776-7372, www.cranberryhighlands. com. Owned and operated by Cranberry Township, this course is located north of Pittsburgh. Built in 2002, the 18-hole layout features more than 90 bunkers and plays to over 6,400 yards. It is very challenging.

HORSEBACK RIDING
This isn't the Wild West -- unless you ask someone from Philadelphia -- but you can still saddle up.

Rolling Hills Ranch, 412-221-9926, www.rolling-hills-ranch.com. Horseback riding available to the public during the spring, summer and fall months. Hourly rates available, with reservations required for parties of 15 or more. Located in Bridgeville, just minutes south of Downtown.

HUNTING
For information on purchasing a hunting license and hunting in Western Pennsylvania, contact the Pennsylvania Game Commission: Southwest Regional Headquarters at 724-238-9523.

SKATING/HOCKEY
Strap on a pair of skates -- or rent them when you arrive -- and hit one of the nearby ice rinks.

Blade Runners, www.bladerunnersice. com. A family fun center for ice skating and hockey with three locations. Rinks in Bethel Park (412-833-8500), Harmarville (412-826-0800) and Warrendale (724-772-0022).

Iceoplex, 724-745-6666, www.iceoplexatsouthpointe.com. Hockey and ice skating available at the North Strabane facility.

Mt. Lebanon Ice Center, 412-561-4363, www.mtlebanon.org. Year-round rink with daily public skating and classes. Hockey programs also available.

PPG Ice Rink, 412-394-3641. Seasonal outdoor ice rink located in the middle of PPG Plaza in Downtown.

RMU Island Sports Center, 412-262-3335, www.rmuislandsports.org. Figure skating and hockey camps with clinics and leagues located on Neville Island.

SWIMMING
We don't get a lot of opportunities to sit by the pool -- or jump in the water -- so Pittsburghers like to take advantage of it when we can.

Allegheny County Parks, 412-350-7275, www.county.allegheny.pa.us/parks.

Citiparks Pools, 412-323-7928, www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/parks. Pittsburgh operates outdoor and indoor pools. The pools are situated throughout the various city neighborhoods and are open from June through September. Lessons are available.

TENNIS
It's not as easy to find a court as it was in the sport's heyday, but there are still lots of public courts and a few other recommendations.

Glen Creek Tennis Club, 412-833-3080, www.glencreektennis.com. 10 courts, six indoor and four outdoor. Also boasts locker room facilities and instructors for all ages and ability levels.

Mellon Park Tennis Center, 412-665-4017. Located along Fifth Avenue within the City of Pittsburgh and owned and operated by the city. The venue has five courts, which are covered in the winter with a weather-resistant bubble.

Mt. Lebanon Tennis Center, 412-343-3411, www.mtlebanon.org. More than 15 courts at the municipal venue located just south of the City of Pittsburgh. The courts are home to the West Penn Open.

TRAILS
Take a hike on one of these outstanding trails.

Arrowhead Trail, 724-942-5000, www.peterstownship.com. Four miles of winding trail along Brush Run Creek in Peters.

Butler-Freeport Community Trail, 724-352-4783, www.dcnr.state.pa.us. More than 10 miles of crushed limestone surface.

Eliza Furnace Trail, 412-255-2626, www. city.pittsburgh.pa.us/trails. Nearly three miles of trail running from Downtown to Greenfield between Second Avenue and the Parkway East.

Montour Trail, 412-831-2030, www.montourtrail.org. More than 30 miles of trail from Carnegie to Weirton, W.Va.

Three Rivers Heritage Trail, 412-488-0212, www.atatrail.org. Five miles of trail beginning at Washington's Landing and running along the picturesque Allegheny River to the North Shore.

Yough Trail North, 724-872-5586, www.youghrivertrail.com. From McKeesport to Connellsville, the trail encompasses 43 miles along the Youghiogheny River.

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