SCHENLEY PLAZA PNC CAROUSEL REOPENS
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy announced today that the newly refurbished PNC Carousel in Oakland’s Schenley Plaza, one of city’s most cherished park attractions, has reopened to the public.
The classically styled carousel has been renovated with new safety and aesthetic improvements, including new brass plating, anti-slip deck surfacing, and fresh paint on the carved and brightly colored animals that have given the merry-go-round its distinct nostalgic character since it was first erected in 2006.
The PNC Carousel will operate with COVID-19 safety protocols in place, including mask-wearing and physical distancing, which may require skipping a row of animals on each ride. Families can ride together. Animals and surfaces will be sanitized after each ride.
Shawn Fertitta, Director of Visitor Experience, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, said the re-opening of the carousel means the sounds of summer will soon be returning to one of the city’s most vibrant public green spaces. “The laughter of children and the music of the old Calliope are all part of the charm and tradition of the carousel and of summers in Oakland,” he said. “We could not be happier about the carousel’s safe re-opening, the upgrades, and the excitement it creates for the families who get to enjoy it every year.”
The 2021 PNC Carousel’s operating hours will be Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
One of the few wheelchair-accessible amusement rides in the region, the PNC Carousel features not just a traditional horse, but a camel, elephant, giraffe, ostrich, rabbit, seahorse, and other animals meant to symbolize the diversity of Pittsburgh and its people.
Fertitta added that with four restaurants open and a fifth one on the way, Schenley Plaza is a great place for a family to spend the day. Plaza restrooms are again open to the public, after having limited access due to COVID-19, and are also frequently sanitized. There is also a large, tented area with chairs and café tables to escape the sun, if necessary.
$2-per-ride tokens for the PNC Carousel can be purchased using a credit card at a kiosk near the merry-go-round or by cash at the neighboring Asia Tea House restaurant. For a completely touchless option, a $60 season pass, providing unlimited rides for two adults and up to four children, can be purchased at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy website. To help ensure equitable access to this family friendly attraction, presenting an ACCESS or EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) card at the carousel secures one free ride for each member of a family per visit.
Families or groups also can reserve up to 10 tables under the tent for birthday parties and can purchase tokens for the carousel in bulk ahead of time.
2020 Season Passes will be valid throughout the 2021 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information or to purchase a 2021 pass to the PNC Carousel, visit pittsburghparks.org/park-projects/schenley-plaza/purchase-a-carousel-pass/.