Oct 15, 2025 - Culture

Giant steel raccoon debuts at Millvale park

Chrissy Suttles

Large geometric metal sculpture of a raccoon with angular shapes, set outdoors on grass near a brick building and small tree with a protective cage. — Millvale's newest mascot at Rainbow Raccoon Park. Photo: Chrissy Suttles/Axios

Millvale's Rainbow Raccoon Park has a new mascot — a 12.5-foot, 5,000-pound steel raccoon that serves as public art, a tourist draw and a one-of-a-kind performance space.

Why it matters: The installation marks a milestone in the borough's decade-long effort to revive overlooked urban spaces through community-driven design.

Catch up quick: Wicked Pittsburgh founder Michael Schwarz and manager of Braddock-based Gallery AFK Filip Agren, the sculpture's lead fabricator, led the effort earlier this year after the Millvale Community Development Corp. chose Agren's plan to build the walk-in sculpture behind the Strange Roots taproom on East Ohio Street.

Built on a former junkyard, the park opened in late April with a basketball court, picnic area and more. Future plans include safety fencing, new slides, wheelchair-accessible swings and play paths.

The latest: To celebrate and raise funds for continued park improvements, organizers are hosting the Rainbow Raccoon Renegade fundraiser on Saturday.

Local and national DJs will perform inside the raccoon, with food trucks like Cold Friends Kitchen and Pittsburgh Sandwich Society, plus an outdoor bar via Strange Roots.

If you go: The celebration is Saturday from 3pm-11pm at Rainbow Raccoon Park, 533 E. Ohio St. in Millvale.

Free until 7pm, pay-what-you-can after.
Afterparty at Strange Roots until 1am.

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Giant steel raccoon debuts at Millvale park

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