North Park has no shortage of opportunities for high-energy pastimes, ranging from kayaking to mountain biking. But for some locals, it’s also a great place to engage in a less strenuous activity, one that allows them to slow down and enjoy the park’s natural beauty.

On October 1, the McCandless-Northern Allegheny Heritage Center opened a special photography display featuring images of North Park taken by local residents. The idea for the exhibit came from a member of the McCandless town council, according to Abby Lucostic, executive director of the Heritage Center.

“Trish Cloonan, our town council liaison, was inspired to share some of the photography found on the Friends of North Park Facebook group,” she said.

The Friends of North Park group, which has more than 17,000 members, is a popular place for community members to share their personal photos with a wider audience.

“The group shares beautiful pictures of the park, but many of the photographers are amateurs who don’t often share their photos, so we gave them a chance to have their photos shared in the community,” Lucostic told The Uproar.

Carolyn Doyle is one aspiring photographer who has her work featured in the display.

“I love landscape photography, and North Park is one of my favorite places because I get to do two things I love at once: photography and biking,” Doyle said.

Many of her images feature sunrises and sunsets over the manmade North Park lake.

“There is something magical about capturing nature, especially during a stunning sunset or sunrise,” she said.

Leslie Benovitz, another beginning photographer, prefers to focus on the creatures that call North Park home.

“Everyone asks, ‘where did you take that picture?’ and they are often surprised when I say it was from North Park,” Benovitz said. “Many people don’t realize how much wildlife there is in our area.”

With North Park covering more than 3,000 acres, Benovitz is able to find plenty of opportunities for new shots.

“My favorite subjects are birds and waterfowl because I like the challenge of a moving target,” she told The Uproar.

Opened in 2016 by longtime North Allegheny employee Joe Bullick, the Heritage Center has enjoyed a busy event schedule throughout 2022. 

On Saturday, October 8, the Heritage Center hosted an opening reception for the North Park exhibit, including a silent auction and raffle. The featured photographers were also available to talk about their work.

At the end of September, the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum gave two sold-out presentations on the history of the Harmony Short Line, the trolley system that once connected the North Hills with downtown Pittsburgh.

On October 27, the Heritage Center will present “Notorious North Hills” at the North Park Lodge. A $50 ticket includes dinner and a presentation covering the myths and legends of our region.

Photography allows one to find beauty that can often be overlooked, including in one’s local area. It may be easy to take the largest park in Allegheny County for granted, but we truly are fortunate.

“We are very lucky to have such a gem in our backyard,” Doyle said.