On any given day, and in all seasons, scores of people flock to North Park to walk, run, or bike around the lake. In the summer, many come to swim in the pool, children and adults fish the waters while other make use of the tennis or paddle courts. During the fall, visitors come to the park to appreciate the breathtaking foliage or watch deer scampering through the woods. In short, residents in the North Hills really use the largest and most visited of the Allegheny County Parks.

However, most of us really don’t know much about the geology and history of North Park. We take it for granted. Albert Kollar does not. Kollar a geologist at The Carnegie Museum, appreciates the site and would like others to learn more about the geology of the park. His interest in geology has led him and his colleague, Dr. David K. Brezinski, to develop several educational tools that help people to learn more about the rocks in western Pennsylvania and North Park in particular. Together they have written a five-page guide “The Geology of North Park,” which includes a geological guide to a hike in the park.

Both are experts in the field. Brezinski’s expertise includes a range of many geologic subjects. He is internationally recognized as an authority on paleoecology, paleobiogeography and evolution. Kollar who has been with the Carnegie Museum of Natural History for 30 years works in the Section of Invertebrate Paleontology.

In 2004, they formed PAlS(Patrons and lauradanae Supporters) a group of geology friends and supporters of the Section of Invertebrate Paleontology of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Their intent was to give people the opportunity to learn more about the rocks in western Pennsylvania. The activities of this group have been focused on helping people to understand more about geology. Those who enjoy the outdoors in North Park most often have little or no idea how the hills, valleys and rocks actually formed. Kollar and Brezinski want to change that and have written some guides that make visiting the parks more interesting as well as educational. Only those who are members of PAlS can receive these guides. However, the guide to North Park can be accessed on the North Park website at: www.county.allegheny.pa.us/parks/npfac.aspx

Other interesting facts about the rocks at North Park can be found on the website, too. Most people would be surprised to learn that the bedrock layers that are under the park were put there more than 300 million years ago! According to the information, Pittsburgh was once located near the equator and huge palm-like trees grew in tropical forests that they eventually formed coal deposits.

Kollar and Brezinski are also involved in other educational efforts. In June, they will offer an exclusive teacher workshop entitled “Geology and Paleontology of Western Pennsylvania and Beyond,” which is sponsored by the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Included in the workshop will be many hands-on activities as well as a geology hike through Schenley Park.

Call 412-622-3288 to register. For those interested in joining the PAlS organization, contact Albert Kollar at 412-662-5513.

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