First look: Arts Landing park
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Pittsburgh's newest park is nearly ready and will open the first day of the NFL draft.
Why it matters: Arts Landing converted a vacant lot into a 4-acre green space complete with Downtown's first public playground, plus sculptures, a great lawn and a canopy and stage that will be the Three Rivers Arts Festival's permanent home.
Driving the news: Gov. Josh Shapiro joined local officials to cut the ribbon Friday.
What they're saying: "We built a place for the community in the heart of Downtown," said Shapiro. "Pittsburgh is on the rise and this is just the beginning."
- "This park is part of the belief that we deserve better and can have better things," said Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato.
Zoom in: A wooden playground has ropes, a slide and climbers.
- The 1-acre great lawn is on a slight hill for views of the stage and Rachel Carson and Andy Warhol bridges.
- There are 23 works of art by 10 artists peppered throughout the park.
State of play: The park will initially be open draft days April 23–25, 9am–6pm for the Pitt Block Party.
- It will still be enclosed by fencing during the draft and will have a security screening, according to the Cultural Trust.
- A soft opening and removal of the fences is scheduled for April 29.
Between the lines: Arts Landing took 22 months from concept to ribbon cutting, a quick timeline for such a large project, said Cultural Trust CEO Kendra Whitlock Ingram.
- The deadline of the NFL draft next week helped speed up the process, she said.
Follow the money: The project cost $31 million and is funded by two-thirds private funds and one-third public funds, said Ingram.
- The Regional Asset District — funded by Allegheny County's 1% sales tax — contributed $5 million.
What's next: The grand opening is June 5 to coincide with the start of the Three Rivers Arts Fest, per the Cultural Trust.
- The park's visitor center — and its public restrooms — will open that day.
- Pickleball courts and a fitness track will open later in the summer, said Whitlock Ingram.