History of Green Tree Park

History of Green Tree Park. . , Green Tree Park was once part of an area called Johnston Hollow, a low area between the higher hills of Westwood, Mount Washington, Banksville and the ridge of Greentree Road. Approximately 24 acres were filled in with an estimated 2.8 million cubic yards (250,000 truckloads) of rock, wood, brick, masonry, paper, metal and dirt from many different sources between 1950 to about 1994., Prior to 1950, much of this area plunged about 150 feet below the present location of the Parkway Interchange. (1) Greentree Road's elevation is about 1,190 feet in this area and the Hollow area had elevations ranging as low as 1,040 feet near the Parkway Interchange. (1) The area that was filled-in included a road which was called Suella Drive, so naturally the landfill became known as the Suella Landfill. During the years that the fill was taking place, the area was also referred to as Suella Park, Suella Hollow, Suella Valley, Suella Area and Suella Dump. The total area of Green Tree Park is 30.25 acres. (2) Suella Drive (see photos #5 and #6) was located in the same general area as the current Green Tree Park driveway entrance. It was relocated somewhat to accommodate the Parkway interchange construction., A letter to the Green Tree Historical Society from former resident Bill Lewis tells of some of his recollections of Green Tree: "the first 22 years of my life was spent in Greentree and they offer me the best memories of my life". The letter also tells of the first unloading that took place in Johnston Hollow. "I remember when the first truck started to dump loads of dirt to begin the fill-up of the valley of Johnston farm. The trucks hauled from the West End, what is now the West End By-Pass, up West End Hill, night and day for months at a time". (3), At that time, Mr. Lewis lived on the second floor of West's Store with his parents, Bill and Jennie Lewis, and was the grandson of Oscar West who was the owner of the store. West's Store was located at the corner of Greentree Road and Mansfield Avenue c. 1940-1951 (see photo #4). Parkway construction, which was completed in 1952, required the demolition of West's Store. Thus, over 50 years elapsed from the time that the filling of Johnston Hollow began until the dedication of Green Tree Park in 2002., During the time of the landfill operations, rubble from many Pittsburgh area demolition sites ended up here. Excavation for the construction of Gateway Center #4 in downtown Pittsburgh was a large fill that occurred in 1958 with 70,000 cubic yards (150,000 tons) being trucked to the site at that time. (4) Completion of the project was accelerated by material from the One Oliver Plaza and the United States Steel Building excavations in downtown Pittsburgh, as well as material from the demolition of Forbes Field and concrete from the Sears structure on the North Side. Also, ruins from razed houses on the North Side and the Hill District, as well as debris from old parking lots and the resurfacing of Banksville Road. The fill process involved dumping alternate layers of debris and dirt. This was known as the "trench method" process. "Almost anything but garbage is being accepted by the contractor..... on a good day, more than 200 trucks unload in Suella Hollow." (5), Mary Johnston owned a home with a large lot whose address was 923 Greentree Road. This house was located near where the Parkway Interchange is now located. The current site of the Parkway down to Banksville Road was then known as Johnston Hollow (see photo #3). The Johnston house was built in 1895 for Mrs. Johnston and her children. The farm had an apple orchard, vegetable gardens and they raised white turkeys. The house was known as a showplace at that time. It was four stories high with shingles. It had eighteen rooms, which included a front parlor, back parlor, music room and library. (6) (See Photo #4) The Johnstons lived in this house from 1895 to about 1952, when the house was razed for the Parkway., Between the 1930's and 1950's there were three homes located here on Suella Drive, which was named for Suella Anwyll who lived with her husband in the first house on the street (See photo #5). According to the 1940 census, there were four families living on Suella Drive: Joseph and Elva Pratt, Carl and Alice Schewnke, Arthur and Suella Anwyll, and Edmond and Mary Herold. Those living on Suella Drive in 1950-60's were the following families: Geese, Fox, Labelle, Schwenke, Reed, Gibellino, Pence and Egan. Others owning property in the fill area were Foliart, Johnston, Kamm, Miller and Spotts. (7), While the property was being filled, many uses for the land were considered, including the site of a new Borough Building. (8) By the early 1970's it was clearly understood to be a planned park area as per a 1965 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article which stated: "The conversion of waste material into usable land for future development through the sanitary landfill process will eventually produce a recreational area in Green Tree on what is now an unusable tract of real estate". (9), The Green Tree Park property is owned by the Borough of Green Tree, which acquired the Keystone Oaks School District portion of land in 2018. The Keystone Oaks School District portion was the rectangular area extending from the Aiken School grounds down to the eastern-most large baseball field. The school district had purchased this property in 1949 with the possibility of building a high school on it. Of course, Aiken Elementary School was built in 1959 (See Photo #1 and #2). A 1965 proposal to construct a public works building on the site was rejected by Green Tree voters 1,509 to 729. (10), Green Tree Park was formally named in 2002, but this name was decided upon by Borough Council as far back as 1965 ".... the committee has discussed it and has decided to name the recreation area near Suella Drive Green Tree Park." It was also decided at that time that each of the baseball fields would be named after "long needled trees such as juniper, cedar, spruce, hemlock and pine, which stay green all year around...first baseball field is to be named Hemlock Field and that hemlock trees be planted around this field" (11), Green Tree Park is now home to a 1/3-mile lighted walking track, Hemlock I and Il ball fields, a Keystone Oaks High School field, an Aiken School field, a street hockey rink, soccer fields and a leash-free dog park. Hemlock I and II are Little League fields and are also used for softball. The annual Octoberfest community event has been held in Green Tree Park since its inception in 1997, as well as the Farmers Market during the summer months. Various other community activities have been held here over the years including the Green Tree Centennial in 1985, summer music concerts, and fireworks. It is also host to many Keystone Oaks School District activities. There is an area for processing the Borough's autumn leaves and an associated mulch pickup for residents throughout the year, as well as a rock salt storage facility. The park also includes a concession stand, restrooms and ample parking for on-site activities, as well as park and ride services for Green Tree residents., The largest ball field at Green Tree Park is home to the Keystone Oaks Golden Eagles baseball team, and in 2011 became the home of Point Park University Pioneers baseball. Previously, it was the home field of the Duquesne University Dukes program from 1995 until the university discontinued men's baseball after the 2010 season. This field features an all-grass infield and field dimensions of 400 feet in center, 333 feet down the foul lines and 365 feet in the gaps. Amenities at the ballpark include spacious dugouts, batting cages and bullpens. (12), Green Tree Park represents the transformation of an unusable tract of land into an outstanding recreational facility. Funding for the project was provided by Green Tree Borough. Keystone Oaks School District, state grants, local donations and contributions from local businesses and community organizations., References , (1) Topographic map of Green Tree prepared by The Gateway Engineers June 5, 1974 , (2) Allegheny County Property Assessment records , (3) Letter to Green Tree Historical Society from Bill Lewis dated March 6, 2001 , (4) "Point Trucking On Down To Greentree", Pittsburgh Press August 10, 1958 , (5) "Greentree's New Park", Pittsburgh Press June 3, 1973 , (6) Green Lore August, 2006 p. 5 (publication of Green Tree Historical Society) , (7) Map of Borough of Greentree Allegheny County prepared by Vegeler-Ramsey and Co./Borough Engineers-pre 1950; Green Tree Historical Society property owners/occupants data base for Suella Drive , (8) "Land Disputed In Green Tree", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, April 8, 1969 , (9) "Fill Area Is Creating Play Space", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 1, 1972 , (10) "Most Areas Issues Beaten Back", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 4, 1965 , (11) Green Tree Borough Council Meeting Minutes, June 7, 1965 р. 261 , (12) PointPark.edu/Athletics/Facilities and Directions/Green Tree Park, (Captions):, Photo #1 - Aerial view of Green Tree Park 1970's showing partially completed Parkway Center and downtown Pittsburgh in the background., Photo #2 - Area from Green Tree Community Directory showing Green Tree Park and Adjacent areas., Photo #3 - A barn on the Johnston property in the foreground, now a Parkway ramp. Suella Drive in center (three houses pictured below in photos #5 and #6); building in background center is the Greentree Garden Apartments; trucks in background reflect Parkway Center construction., Photo #4 - Greentree Road at Mansfield Avenue; Johnston's home on the left; West's store on right of center, gas pumps in front; St. Margaret's Church (formally Cutler's Store) on far right (1949)., Photo #5 - Home of Arthur and Suella (Scott) Anwyll. First house on Suella Drive., Photo #6 - Looking down Suella Drive from Greentree Road circa 1940's, the second and third houses.