Allegheny County plans to complete and open its $4.7 million sculpture garden and renovate the Hartwood Acres grounds in June.

In June 2021, Allegheny County and the Allegheny County Parks Foundation launched the massive project. The parks foundation considers this effort its biggest and most complicated project.

The new sculpture garden centralizes and resets 13 large-scale works of art that once resided in County Park, the former country estate of John and Mary Flinn Lawrence. The county and foundation will add a new sculpture by artist Dee Briggs.

Site renovations near the stately Hartwood Mansion include ADA-accessible walkways through the sculpture garden, LED lighting, native landscaping with several hundred trees and shrubs, and thousands of perennials. Driveways and parking areas will be reconfigured and installed with green technology.

The weather could delay some parts of the project. Access to lawn areas may be restricted until new grass is established, said Joel Perkovich, landscape architect for the Allegheny County Parks Department.

The public has been prohibited from visiting much of the area surrounding the sculpture garden and the mansion due to security requirements during construction.

“Events at the mansion — like tea parties and tours — will resume once the project is complete and there will be no more construction zone,” Perkovich said.

Once the site officially reopens, all new parking lots and sidewalks will be fully accessible, including in and around the mansion, he said. Private events are already scheduled in the spring and summer before the site opens to the public.

Funding sources for the project include the Regional Asset District’s RADical ImPAct Grant program, Fox Chapel Garden Club, Garden Club of Allegheny County, Hillman Foundation and other sources.

For more information, visit acparksfoundation.org.