‘Three Rivers. One Loop. Campaign’ supports riverfront improvements, future connections, and ongoing care and maintenance
PITTSBURGH, PA, October 27, 2026 – Riverlife has completed its Three Rivers. One Loop. Campaign, raising $31 million and surpassing its $30 million goal to improve Pittsburgh’s riverfront parks and trails, close gaps between them, and provide for their ongoing care.
Led by campaign co-chairs Cindy Donohoe, Paul O’Neill, Jr., and Kamal Nigam, the campaign supports the first phase of Riverlife’s Completing the Loop vision plan. Some of that work is already complete, including the rehabilitation of Allegheny Riverfront Park’s upper promenade, the new UpKeep care and maintenance program, and the launch of a mobile programming barge, Shore Thing. Other investments will support improvement work at Allegheny Landing on the North Shore and planning for the West End Bridge Connectors project.
“People gave because they could see what this would mean for Pittsburgh: more places to gather by the rivers, better connections between neighborhoods and the resources to care for these spaces,” said Christine Mondor, Riverlife board chair and Principal at evolveEA. “I’m proud of everyone who helped us get here. Our donors and partners believed in this work, and our campaign chairs, committee, and staff put years into making it happen.”
The campaign brings together capital improvements, planning, community programming and long-term maintenance across Pittsburgh’s 15-mile riverfront Loop – a service area bounded by the 31st Street Bridge on the Allegheny River, the Hot Metal Bridge on the Monongahela River and the West End Bridge on the Ohio River. Campaign investments include:
- Allegheny Riverfront Park Upper Promenade Rehabilitation, now complete, in partnership with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and with lead support from The Heinz Endowments and Carol Brown.
- Shore Thing floating platform, with its second season now complete, with lead support from the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD).
- Allegheny Landing repositioning, a critical capital project with lead support from the Richard King Mellon Foundation.
- Planning for the West End Bridge Connectors project, part of the effort to close gaps in the riverfront Loop and connect neighborhoods on either side of the Ohio River, underwritten by the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County’s Trail Development Fund.
- UpKeep care and maintenance program, with lead support from an anonymous funder, dedicated to protecting riverfront investments and keeping spaces clean, safe and welcoming.
“I am beyond grateful for the overwhelming support to this campaign,” said Matthew Galluzzo, Riverlife President & CEO. “Together, we’ve been able to advance a suite of remarkable, transformative investments for the city’s most cherished assets: the rivers. It’s all thanks to the people and partners who share the vision.”
The campaign drew support from foundations, corporations, public partners, individual donors, volunteers, and friends of Riverlife.
“Finishing the campaign is a moment to celebrate, and it gives us a lot to build on,” Mondor said. “Our board and staff have been working on what comes next, and we look forward to sharing those plans in the coming weeks. For now, we want to thank the people who made this possible. They’ve helped shape riverfronts that everyone in Pittsburgh can enjoy.”
For more information, visit riverlifepgh.org/loop.
