Latest news with #KathrynVargas
CBS News
30-06-2025
- CBS News
Pittsburgh implements chaperone policy at Ormsby Pool
A new chaperone policy went into place at a city pool on the South Side. After a few incidents at the start of the season, the city said it's putting the policy in place at Ormsby Pool. According to the new policy, chaperones are going to have to show their IDs to prove they are 21 or older to allow anyone 15 and under inside. "Most kids, they all need to be supervised to an extent. They need to have supervision, definitely," Audrey Smith said while her kids played at Ormsby Pool. Parks and Recreation Director Kathryn Vargas said there have been a few incidents of kids not listening to rules and regulations to start the season. She said crowds have been bigger with the hot temperatures. While nothing reached the level of criminal activity, it proved to be a distraction to the lifeguards' main duty. "For us, our primary goal is safety, so making sure that every person in the water is safe, our guards need to really be able to focus there," Vargas said. The policy is the same as the one at the Highland Park Pool that started last summer. Over the weekend, there were no reported issues at Ormsby. "It just makes it safer. Kids should be watched. I mean, kids think they're adults at 15, but they're really not," South Side resident Barbara Harrington said. "It's gone well. We haven't had any issues at Highland Park where we've had to do anything dramatic," Vargas said. If anyone doesn't abide by the new policy, they will not be let in and staff at the gate will explain it to them. Chaperones will also be responsible for making sure minors they are watching follow all pool rules. "I think it's important to make sure your kids follow the rules so that it's safe for everyone. If they don't follow the rules, eventually the pools are gonna get closed," Smith said. According to the city, they are not planning to do this at every city pool. Right now, it is just a case-by-case basis.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CitiParks Farmers Markets returning to Pittsburgh neighborhoods beginning on Sunday
Residents and visitors can enjoy the colors, flavors and sounds of summer when the CitiParks Farmers Markets return to Pittsburgh beginning on Sunday. On Wednesday, the City of Pittsburgh announced the 2025 schedule for the popular markets, which offer residents and visitors a chance to shop for fresh, local and sustainable products in their own neighborhoods. 'We're thrilled about this year's farmers markets and the continued investment in our city's local economy,' said CitiParks Director Kathryn Vargas. 'Our goal is to support the growth of small, sustainable businesses while creating an experience that every Pittsburgher will be excited to be part of. With revamped market layouts, we're able to add more vendors and continue to increase food access in these city neighborhoods.' With four neighborhood markets operating throughout the city, organizers promise something for everyone to enjoy. Here are the 2025 market locations and schedule: Sundays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. - Squirrel Hill (May 11 – Dec. 21) Beacon/Bartlett parking lot Mondays 3 – 7 p.m. - East End (June 2 – Nov. 17) Liberty Green Park, Larimer Ave. Wednesdays 3 – 7 p.m. - Carrick (June 4 – Nov. 19) Carrick Dairy District, 1529 Brownsville Rd. Fridays 3 – 7 p.m. - North Side (May 16 – Nov. 21) Allegheny Commons Park, East Ohio & Cedar On Sunday, the Squirrel Hill market will open with a special market to celebrate Mother's Day. CitiParks will offer a beer garden at the North Side market on the last Friday of every month, featuring musical entertainment. Beginning in June, markets will feature special programming and theme weeks with community partners and more. The markets, which are operated by Pittsburgh's parks and recreation department, are set to feature expanded vendor selections, revamped layouts and new community programming, intended to make visits more engaging and accessible. Shoppers with SNAP benefits have access to fresh, nutritious and locally grown food, including produce, meat, dairy, bread and baked goods, produce plants, seeds and honey, organizers said. Hot prepared food items, alcohol and non-food items are not eligible for SNAP purchases. Food Bucks provide Fresh Access food stamp shoppers with extra money to spend on fruits and vegetables, organizers said. For every $5 spent on food stamps, they can receive an extra $2 to spend on produce. Owing to a grant from the Food Justice Fund, Just Harvet will add another $3 to these benefits for the 2025 market season, effectively doubling all SNAP benefits at all CitiParks Farmers Markets for the 2025 season. More information is available at More information on the 2025 markets can be found at or by emailing farmersmarkets@ Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
