Shaler Township Boasts Close-Knit Community and Top-Tier Amenities

Shaler Area School District

Shaler isn’t just a great place to live and raise children—it’s also a great place to raise your grandchildren. Just ask Tim Farrell. Farrell and his late wife raised their four children in Shaler, and now his grandchildren are growing up in the same area.

“I’ve lived here for 32 years. We were looking for a larger home, and my wife was a Shaler graduate who liked the school district,” Farrell said. It wasn’t just the school district that was appealing, however—the close proximity to Pittsburgh, where Farrell worked, was convenient, along with numerous other assets.

“The people in the community are its strength. I’ve found them to be welcoming,” he said. “Plus, our library provides so many opportunities for children—my grandkids are always attending something there! And two hidden gem parks are Fall Run and the Eagle Canyon Walk off Fawcett Field,” said the active grandfather.

Business owner and resident Amanda Fitzgerald agreed with Farrell. “We love that Shaler is family-oriented. It has a great sense of community, and we enjoy engaging in neighborhood events and activities,” she said.

Fitzgerald also echoed a few of Farrell’s other compliments. “Our parks are phenomenal. My kids are obsessed with all the different playgrounds they can visit, and we love our community pool. I also love that it’s close to town and everything the North Hills has to offer.”

Fitzgerald not only loves Shaler as a home, but when she was looking for a location for her business, Steel City Yoga & Barre, she didn’t have to look any farther than her hometown. “I wanted to open my business within my local community—I’ve lived here since 2008 and, prior to that, grew up over in North Hills. I really love the community element within Shaler and wanted to make sure my business was part of that.”

She continued, “I like that it’s a smaller, close-knit community. People support each other and local businesses. I wanted to make sure we were serving that community and also giving back to the residents at the same time.”

Eric Truscott, co-founder of Acrospire Brewing Co., is another business owner who lives and works in Shaler. “We’re proud to live in the Shaler area, so bringing our craft brewery here felt like a natural fit. Shaler is a vibrant, welcoming community that we care deeply about—and we saw a perfect opportunity to fill a void by creating a local gathering place it was missing,” he said of himself and co-owners Greg Long and Kevin Murphy.

Truscott has lived in Shaler for 24 years. “We moved here to have an easy commute into the city and never left. There’s a neighborly feel to the township that we’ve fallen in love with. We found a great church, library, parks, and friends, and didn’t want to leave.”

The brewery, located in the Mt. Royal Shopping Plaza, is a small-batch craft brewery offering a wide range of flavors and styles, along with carefully selected local alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. “We’re a welcoming, family-friendly neighborhood spot with strong roots in the community—regularly hosting events and welcoming a rotating lineup of local food trucks. Shaler is a close-knit community, full of friendly, fun-loving people who know how to appreciate a great beer,” Truscott said.

The owners of Three Brothers Bagels, also located in Mt. Royal Plaza, feel the same way as Truscott. Sofia Whiddon, who owns the shop with her husband, Colin, said, “The location is wonderful—it’s on a visible, active street with residences, schools, the Shaler library, fire station, and churches all along the road. It’s also very convenient for people commuting to work to stop in and pick up their order in the mornings. On weekends, it’s not a far trip for people from outside the Shaler area to drive over.”

The Whiddons are also big fans of the community. “Shaler is an established neighborhood with a strong sense of community. We’ve seen evidence of this in a number of Shaler Area school and township events throughout the year,” Whiddon said. “Many businesses actively contribute to and participate in the events, and residents are regulars at local establishments, creating a strong, collaborative effort toward the community’s success.”

Shaler Area School District Superintendent Dr. Bryan O’Black shared a few of the attributes that the schools add to the community. “Shaler Area stands out because of its commitment to meeting the needs of the whole child—academically, socially, and emotionally. Our schools provide a strong foundation of individualized instruction, ensuring that every student has the support they need to thrive,” he said.

“We offer a wide range of programs designed to challenge students academically while also nurturing their interests and talents—whether in the arts, STEM, athletics, or career and technical education. We also place a strong emphasis on college and career readiness, providing students with early exposure to career pathways, dual enrollment opportunities, and hands-on learning experiences. Families are supported every step of the way through school counseling services, parent engagement events, and regular communication. The partnership between home and school is a key reason why families choose—and stay in—Shaler Area.”

The district is also very forward-thinking, he explained. “One of the most exciting initiatives underway is our strategic planning process, which we launched this fall. This effort invites students, families, staff, and community members to help shape the future of the district through 2030. It’s not just about setting goals—it’s about co-creating a shared vision rooted in the values of our community. The process has created space for meaningful dialogue about what matters most: student achievement, innovation, and ensuring Shaler Area remains a destination school district.”

Sharon McRae, Director of the Shaler North Hills Library, is yet another fan of the locality’s support. “Shaler Township is a caring community—an actively caring community, not a passive one. People want to make things better for others. It’s a very resilient community, with an expectation of excellence in its public services—library, schools, emergency services, and township functions,” she said.

And an important part of that feeling is the library. “The library is a hub of the community—hyperlocal and a regional asset. The staff and volunteers have huge hearts and provide outstanding service. SNHL serves as a gathering space, welcoming everyone without the expectation of purchase. We celebrate community and creativity, champion literacy, and empower residents by providing tech support and a variety of quality programs,” McRae said.

Judy Kording, Assistant Manager of Shaler Township, listed numerous strengths of the region, highlighting several mentioned above. “Shaler Township offers top-notch police, public works, EMS, fire service, and recreational events, including the Shaler North Hills Library. Primarily a bedroom community, Shaler is close to the city, with a variety of sports, cultural, and entertainment options. The township has affordable housing stock and relatively low property taxes,” she said.

And the Farrell family isn’t unique, Kording pointed out. “Many Shaler residents have been here their entire lives, and many of their children have bought homes here as well.”

The township is celebrating its 125th anniversary as a First-Class Township in 2025, Kording said, which includes numerous activities throughout the year. These activities can be found on the township’s website at https://www.shaler.org.