Fowler Park Master Plan

Project Overview

Fowler Park is the only green space serving the Perry South neighborhood of Pittsburgh so its role in the community is very important, but it is in critical need of redevelopment. OpenSpacePGH, the City’s open space plan, recommends investment and expansion in the park and a master plan is needed to ensure that future park developments meet the needs of the neighborhood as well as organizations involved in partnership with the park. 

Core Services Performed:

  • Stakeholder Coordination
  • Meeting Planning
  • Public Outreach

Client: City of Pittsburgh, PA

Prime: Pashek MTR

Timeline: 2021 – 2022

Project Website: engage.pittsburghpa.gov/FPMP

Stakeholder & Public Outreach

Pashek MTR, has contracted E. Holdings to coordinate both stakeholder and public engagement. As there are several organizations that are deeply involved in the current and future upkeep and operation of the park, it is critical that robust, thorough, and meaningful engagement is conducted not only to ensure their voices are heard but that they understand the process and can agree on goals and next steps. 

The park has already been identified for several potential developments. Most notably, ALCOSAN (Allegheny County Sanitary Authority) has indicated that Fowler Park would serve as an ideal location for their GROW program grant funding for green stormwater infrastructure, as this area has a high overflow removal efficiency rate and availability of public land. The City and PWSA (Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority) would like to explore opportunities for green stormwater infrastructure via this master planning process, in anticipation of a GROW grant application. One of the most critical areas for improvement is circulation and visibility within the park and improvement of entrances to the park, which lacks strong presence along public streets. While much of the park is surrounded by severely steep, landslide-prone hillsides, there are certainly opportunities for improved access to and through the park. 

There will also be a concurrent neighborhood planning process called the Northside CHOICE Plan. This will focus primarily on the redevelopment of public housing, but will also include open space and public realm improvements. It is anticipated that this Fowler Park master plan will be included or referenced in the CHOICE neighborhood plan, so coordination between the two processes will be necessary to ensure that they are not redundant or in conflict.

View the final plans at https://engage.pittsburghpa.gov/FPMP

Dave Broniecki
Data Engineer, Associate Project Manager

Dave is a NASSCO certified Mechanical Engineer. Specializing in retrieving and analyzing data from various sources to support condition assessment and capital improvement planning activities. Utilizing data to coordinate and track progress on key organizational performance indicators, he assists stakeholders in making decisions related to strategic planning. He has been integral in establishing data management programs essential for planning the future repair and management of large-scale sewer networks.  David works with clients to develop training programs and SOPs that address current maintenance needs and future Capital Improvement Planning.

Contact: dave.broniecki@eholdingsinc.com

Christine Barton, PE, PLS
Project Engineer

Christine Barton is a registered civil engineer and land surveyor with expert experience in site design, land development, water resources design for civil/site projects including layouts, utility plans, and permitting, and coordination/management of field survey work.  She has successfully held positions as project manager, project designer, and office manager to serve the needs of the clients within the residential, commercial, military, industrial, and healthcare industries. Core proficiencies include coordination with local land development planning agencies, county conservation districts, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and the  Pennsylvania Department of Environment.

Contact: christine.barton@eholdingsinc.com

Irvin Williams, President

As the President and founder of E. Holdings, Irvin is currently focused on the company’s succession, strategic growth, and development. He has both a professional and personal interest in Pittsburgh’s success.  A Pittsburgh native and founder of several development companies, he has an extensive understanding of finance and business, which are vital to the success of this company. He has served in numerous management positions including financial advisor, senior vice president, project manager, general contractor, developer, and construction manager. Active in the local community, he made the decision to dedicate his expertise to rebuilding economically sustainable communities with the approval of their existing residents. In 1996, he and his wife became the first African Americans in Western Pennsylvania to develop and own a commercial office building, Williams Square. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University with an AAS in Mathematics.

Contact: irvin.williams@eholdingsinc.com | 412-434-6290

Amy Wiles, AICP
Manager of Planning & Design

Amy’s professional experience crosses a variety of disciplines, ranging from county and multi-municipal comprehensive plans and land use ordinances (zoning and subdivision and land development) to specialized planning studies, such as wayfinding master plans and parks, recreation, trails and greenways plans. She has been employed by E. Holdings for two years and has 20 years of professional experience.

Contact: amy.wiles@eholdingsinc.com | 724-448-0286

Alexis Meier, MPP
Director of Communications

Alexis is the Director of Communications at E. Holdings. There she has worked as the Municipal Coordinator for an in-depth municipal assessment project for the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN). She oversees all of E. Holding’s public relations and public outreach efforts. She also brings experience as a Government Affairs Manager for Duane Morris Government Strategies. She worked on community development projects and developing and executing government relations strategies as well as fundraising efforts. She has also spent time navigating our political system in Washington D.C. as the Legislative Staff Assistant for U.S. Senator Rick Santorum. Her understanding of legislation and politics gives her a unique viewpoint when collaborating on civic projects. 

Contact: alexis.meier@eholdingsinc.com | 412-656-8850

Janai Williams Smith, MCP
Managing Director and EVP

Janai Smith is the Managing Director and Principal of E. Holdings, Inc. Janai is a versatile, goal-oriented Program Manager with 20+ years of experience supporting the strategic direction of large-scale programs, setting budgets and managing risks while achieving overall company goals and exceeding customer expectations. As a planner and economist, Janai has been involved in a diverse array of projects, among them master plans, urban revitalization plan, visioning studies, brownfield and infill redevelopment projects, strategic planning and infrastructure improvement programs.

Janai’s interest in urban planning, design and infrastructure programs is rooted in a passion for the creation of sustainable communities that deliver equity in planning and implementation by making connections with people and their built environment. Her affinity for complex problem-solving can be seen in the diverse array of projects in which she’s been engaged from revitalization plans for depressed urban neighborhoods to brand new communities and programs. Leading a process-oriented, multidisciplinary team, Janai’s dedication to achieving consensus in her client’s goals and stakeholders’ vision has made a significant contribution to the successful development of numerous projects. 

Contact: janai.smith@eholdingsinc.com | 412-728-5726