ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — Graduation parties, weddings and other celebrations at Allegheny County parks will look a little different moving forward.
Allegheny County has announced a ban on balloons at its parks and facilities. The county says the policy includes helium-filled, latex and water balloons, as well as balloon releases.
The ban applies to shelters, park facilities and event spaces, including wedding venues.
The announcement came as a surprise to Dave Weiss, the owner of Airheads Balloon Art. For 25 years, his company has created balloon columns, arches and garlands for events across the Pittsburgh area, including celebrations at county parks.
Weiss said he understands concerns about litter and the environmental impact of balloons but believes a blanket ban will hurt professional balloon companies and small businesses that clean up after events.
“Nobody wants litter in county parks,” Weiss said. “County parks are great. Leave them better than you found them. But to ban balloons specifically, I don’t think it addresses the root cause.”
Channel 11 spoke with park visitors who had mixed reactions to the new policy.
One park walker said he supports the ban, saying he has seen balloons left behind after parties and believes they can harm wildlife.
Another said she understands the county’s environmental concerns but has never personally noticed balloon trash being a problem at the park she frequently visits.
Weiss said he supports prohibiting balloon releases but believes the county should focus instead on holding people accountable for littering.
He posted on social media that a blanket ban could affect “reasonable families, event professionals and local small businesses.”
An Allegheny County spokesperson told Channel 11 there are currently no exceptions to the balloon ban. However, county leaders plan to have discussions in the near future about potential exceptions to the policy.
The spokesperson said helium-filled balloons will not be allowed, even if the county creates exceptions in the future.
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