John Beale, Post-Gazette The $10 million transformation as viewed from the Cathedral of Learning.

By Patricia Lowry, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pitt students have been tossing footballs and Frisbees on it for weeks, but when Schenley Plaza has its official opening this week, it will invite a wider range of characters and activities to a space where not so long ago the chief activity was parking cars.

	John Beale, Post-Gazette William Pitt Union is reflected in the carousel at Schenley Plaza in Oakland. Click photo for larger image.

Schenley Plaza's $10 million transformation from parking lot to park-like plaza is complete, and to mark the occasion, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is hosting a four-day party. The opening celebration begins Thursday at 8 a.m. with a marching band, a stilt walker, human statues, a caricature artist and balloons.

Long after the festivities end, the plaza, designed by Sasaki Associates and modeled on New York's Bryant Park, still will offer something for just about everyone: food and drink, movable tables and chairs and a 1-acre lawn to put them on, small gardens for quiet conversations, wireless Internet access, a big tent for shelter and shade, restrooms and even a carousel.

The carousel was inspired both by Schenley Park's long-vanished one at the corner of Panther Hollow and Greenfield roads and the one in Bryant Park. Schenley Plaza's PNC Carousel was made by Chance Rides Manufacturing of Wichita, Kan., and funded by the PNC Financial Services Group. It holds 20 people, on 15 1950s-style animals or in a handicapped-accessible chariot and a spinning tub suitable for small children and their parents.

Most of the animals have been adopted by supporters who paid $20,000 each to help fund annual operating costs. Carousel rides will be free during the four-day opening event and $1.25 per ride thereafter. It will be open seven days a week from May through October.

	John Beale, Post-Gazette Above: The PNC Carousel is a centerpiece of the new Schenley Plaza, modeled on Manhattan's Bryant Park. Below: PNC Carousel opens to the public on Thursday, with free rides through next Sunday. At left is the Cathedral of Learning. Click photos for larger image.

Schenley Plaza's four food kiosks are the Bagel Factory, The Dog House, Schenley Pizza Company and Asia Tea House. Atria's restaurant is expected to open in a new building in 2007.

Major funding for the plaza came from a $5 million state grant and $3.1 million raised by the Oakland Investment Committee, comprising the Richard King Mellon Foundation, Heinz Endowments, Carnegie Mellon University, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Kennametal Inc., University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh. Additional support came from the Buhl Foundation, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Dominion, Duquesne Light Company, Eden Hall Foundation, Hillman Foundation, Oakland Task Force, the PNC Financial Services Group, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy raised an additional $2 million to support the construction and subsequent operations, which includes 24-hour security. After the opening celebration, ongoing summer programming in the plaza includes Zany Umbrella Circus performances, live jazz, docent-led tours of Schenley Park and a National Geographic film series.

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Schenley Plaza festivities

Grand Opening celebration schedule

Thursday

8 a.m.: Opening entertainment: marching pep band, Uncle Sam stilt walker, balloon distributors, human statues, caricature artist (ongoing).

8:45 a.m.: Grand opening ceremony.

9:30 a.m.: PNC Carousel First Ride Ceremony for sponsors of PNC Carousel animals.

10:30 a.m.: PNC Carousel opens to the public; free rides through next Sunday.

10:30 to 11:30 a.m.: Zany Umbrella Circus performing "The Enchanted Toy Box."

Noon to 1 p.m.: Zany Umbrella Circus performing "The Enchanted Toy Box"; Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation and Oakland Business Improvement District provide historic tours around Schenley Plaza.

1 to 4 p.m.: Jazz with Betsy Lawrence.

1:30 to 3:30 p.m.: Human statues.

7 to 8 p.m.: Zany Umbrella Circus performing "The Enchanted Toy Box."

Friday

11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Balloons, Human Statues, Caricature Artist.

Noon to 1 p.m.: Zany Umbrella Circus performing "The Enchanted Toy Box."

1 to 4 p.m.: Freedom Band (reggae).

7 to 8 p.m.: Zany Umbrella Circus.

Saturday

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Balloon artists; Human Statues; Caricature artist face painting; strolling entertainment.

11 a.m. to noon: Zany Umbrella Circus performing "The Magic Toy Box."

Noon to 3 p.m.: Kenny Blake jazz band.

3 to 4 p.m.: Zany Umbrella Circus performing "The Magic Toy Box."

3 to 4 p.m.: Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Historic Walk through Plaza and Schenley Park.

4 to 6 p.m.: Steel drum band.

7 to 8 p.m.: Zany Umbrella Circus performing "The Magic Toy Box."

Sunday

Noon to 5 p.m.: Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales: 6th Annual Summer Reading Extravaganza, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

1 to 2 p.m.: Zany Umbrella Circus performing "The Magic Toy Box."

12:30 to 2:30 p.m.: Human Statues.

3 to 4 p.m.: Zany Umbrella Circus performing "The Magic Toy Box."

Summer programming

Zany Umbrella Circus: Thursday at 10:30 a.m., noon and 7 p.m.; Friday at noon and 7 p.m.; Saturday at 11 a.m. and 3 and 7 p.m.; next Sunday at 1 and 3 p.m.; June 15 at noon and 7 p.m.; June 16 at noon and 7 p.m.; June 17 at 11 a.m., and 3 and 7 p.m.; June 18 at 1 and 3 p.m.

National Geographic Outdoor Film Festival: Films begin at sunset, weather permitting, on July 13 and 27 and Aug. 10 and 24.

Live jazz: From 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. weekdays and 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturdays, through October.

Carousel Story Time Readings, Puppet Show and Balloon Fun: 1 p.m. on June 18, July 3 and 16, Aug. 20 and Sept. 17.

Docent-led Park Walks of Schenley Park: Every Sunday from June 11 to Oct. 29, leaving from the oval in the plaza (not Schenley Oval) at 1 p.m.