The McKinley Park Master Plan strives to improve neighborhood connections to the park and within the park, manage stormwater for the benefit of the community and water quality of the Saw Mill Run Watershed, to improve recreation opportunities, neighborhood safety, and spur community and residential revitalization. The Master Plan recommends new accessible entrances at Upper McKinley Park, to establish new trails that better connect the park to the adjoining neighborhoods, to reconfigure existing fields and recreation facilities, to turn park streets into ‘complete streets’, and to renovate the Community Center building.

The plan focuses on connectivity, diversity, and flexibility. The Master Plan was designed to implement city-wide recommendation of the Open Space PGH plan, the design for a green, open space network throughout Pittsburgh’s most diverse neighborhoods.

McKinley Park occupies a substantial area of open space within the Saw Mill Run Watershed, which Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) identified as a priority stormwater reduction target. The combined sanity-storm sewers traverse the park and discharge into the river, causing combined sewage overflow during nearly every rainstorm. The park has steep topography, is full of erosion, and has experienced flooded amenities.