CURRENT PROJECTS

ALLEGHENY LANDING
$50,000 Grant
City of Pittsburgh | Allegheny County

Riverlife seeks funding of $50,000 from the PA Parks Fund to revitalize Allegheny Landing, a 2.04-acre park situated on the north bank of the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh between the Warhol and Roberto Clemente Bridges. Allegheny Landing was dedicated in 1984 as one of Pittsburgh’s first modern riverfront parks and one of the nation’s first urban riverfront sculpture parks. Since 2010, Riverlife has led the renovation effort for the city-owned park, including the restoration of the public boat dock, addition of riverfront landscaping and green infrastructure, and trail redevelopment. However, after decades of wear-and-tear and deferred maintenance, the park has fallen into disrepair.

Outdated amenities, dying plants, and heaving pavers leave the space feeling uncared for and, at times, unsafe. More importantly, some foundational design issues prevent the park from adequately serving community members and other visitors. The park in its existing state is underutilized and poorly maintained. Riverlife is proposing a physical repositioning of Allegheny Landing that combines thoughtful design, sustainability, accessibility, and resiliency.

The Allegheny Landing project will remedy four core challenges at the current site: 1) limited visual and physical accessibility, 2) aging and low-performing landscapes, 3) a lack of family-focused amenities, and 4) more programmable spaces. Proposed updates include:
1) A seamless row of mature hedges separates the upper terrace from the sloping lawn and river below. Limited accessible routes between the upper and lower park exacerbate this disconnection and make it difficult or impossible to navigate for individuals with mobility issues. As a result, the upper plaza and lower park feel like separate spaces. Removing these hedges and adding accessible pathways will make for a seamless park experience from Isabella Street to the river.
2) Irregular maintenance has led to existing garden beds that are unkempt and overrun by invasive species. The park’s surroundings are also dominated by impervious surfaces like asphalt and concrete. Project plans include a replanting of the overgrown gardens and a maintenance plan to prevent invasive species from overtaking the landscape in the future. These gardens play an important role in stormwater management. Restored swaths of native species along the riverfront will slow and treat runoff before it flows into the river, while improving users’ trail experience. In addition, numerous trees on site are in deteriorating condition, and will be replaced with new native species to expand the canopy. Finally, an overabundance of mowed lawn attracts geese, and more natural plantings will help deter these messy visitors.
3) Pittsburgh’s riverfronts offer excellent opportunities for passive recreation like trail running, biking, or sitting by the water, but there is nowhere for kids to play. Except for the Point State Park fountain and the North Shore Riverfront Park water steps, both of which were not built for recreational use, there are few places where kids and their families might want to linger. Nor can you find many places to stop and use the restroom, or grab a snack. Adding playful sculptures to Allegheny Landing and working with nearby property owners to provide accessible restrooms and concessions will invite visitors of all ages to stay longer.
4) The Landing has hosted a number of events over the years, but each organization that programs the space, with concerts, markets, or other activities, has suggested that these events can be cost prohibitive because the park does not offer anything in the way of built-in infrastructure like a stage area, roofed structures, electrical outlets, etc. The updated park will build in essential infrastructure for programming to lower the cost of these events and enable a more vibrant park year round.

Allegheny Landing plays a central role in an open space network that links Downtown Pittsburgh to the North Shore, connecting the Cultural District and the Convention Center with the stadiums and The Andy Warhol Museum’s emerging Pop District. These regional assets on the North Side and Downtown draw millions of visitors each year, yet each institution works within their own boundaries.The connection of these assets through Allegheny Landing and another key Riverlife project, Allegheny Riverfront Park, comprise what Riverlife calls the “Sister Bridges Experience.” A revitalized Allegheny Landing will play a pivotal role in linking these attractions, further enriching the cultural experience of the North Shore and Downtown for residents, workers, and visitors alike.

After a competitive proposal process in 2023, Riverlife has engaged with Austin-based landscape architects dwg. and their local subconsultants to advance design development for the reconstruction of Allegheny Landing. Conceptual and schematic designs have been completed. Construction is anticipated to begin by spring of 2025.

An investment from the PA Parks Fund will support a highly visible and necessary undertaking that will activate the river’s edge and position the park as a community asset that is accessible, sustainable, welcoming to families, and an enhanced programmable space, drawing residents and visitors to the North Shore and Downtown.