10/2/23 Frick Park Restrictions Follow Up

Dear ECS Families,

Thank you for your patience as ECS took some time to gather additional information about the bow hunting in Frick Park and make educated decisions regarding our internal safety procedures. On Friday, ECS met with Erica Heide, Pittsburgh City Park Ranger at Frick Park who provided the following details:

• 15 archers were selected from a lottery, and all had a clean background check, a clean game violation record, and passed a 100% accuracy test.

• Each archer is assigned to specific areas, all of which avoid heavily populated areas such as the main trails, playgrounds, dog parks, and the hills behind Blue Slide playground. They cannot be within 50 yards of a dwelling, school, playground, etc. 

• The archers will wear an identification card at all times and will use labeled trail cameras. Signage has also been posted in the park.

As a follow-up to Friday's communication and given this consultation, the administration met this morning to discuss internal safety procedures. Starting tomorrow, Tuesday, Oct. 3, students and staff are permitted to continue their regular use of Frick Park. However, reusable orange vests will be provided to classes and clubs who interact with the park. 

If you have any questions about the bow hunting program in Frick Park, please contact Erica Heide at erica.heide@pittsburghpa.gov.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about ECS’s use of the park for educational programming and clubs as we work to reimagine ways to interact with Frick Park.

Sincerely,

Mandy Cribss, EdD

Superintendent