At the Aug HPCC meeting, representatives of the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium presented plans for renovating the entry plaza at the August HPCC Community Meeting. View their presentation here: https://youtu.be/nOi8usuKgcU . The project must be approved by the City Civic Design Committee and is slated for a public hearing on Wed Sept 27 at 4 pm. The HPCC submitted a letter opposing this plan. *To learn more about the plan, the HPCC's opposition, and how to provide feedback or testify, please visit our website: https://hpccpgh.org/pittsburgh-zoo-entry-plaza-proposed-renovation/ <https://hpccpgh.org/pittsburgh-zoo-entry-plaza-proposed-renovation/>* *Summary of Heth's Run History and Zoo proposal:* The zoo parking and ticketing areas are located in Heth's Run, a valley that once was home to a creek that ran into the Allegheny River. For over 20 years, the HPCC, HPCDC, and other organizations (including the PPC) have been working toward the restoration of Heth's Run. The goal is to replace the surface parking lots with a parking structure for the zoo and green space and trails, giving the zoo a beautiful new entrance and connecting the park to the waterfront. This restoration would not only benefit the environment and assist the city with storm water management, but it would provide east end residents with access to the zoo and the waterfront via trails. There are long-term plans to redevelop both sides of the riverfront, so these trails would eventually enable people to access Aspinwall, downtown, the north side, and the Gap Trail entirely on dedicated trails, and enable people in those locations to similarly access to the zoo, the park, and the surrounding neighborhoods via trail. Unfortunately, the zoo has not engaged the public in its planning process for this project nor its soon to be released Master Plan. And, given that the Zoo recently repaved approximately half of its parking area without talking to the neighboring communities, we have concerns about the Zoo’s commitments to - or understanding of the importance of - the restoration of Heth’s Run. It appears instead that the Zoo is trying to incrementally implement its Master Plan without meaningful public engagement or consideration of the impacts on Heth’s Run. -- Click here to visit our website <https://hpccpgh.org/>