Pittsburgh Riverfronts

Pittsburgh’s modern riverfront transformation began with the construction of Point State Park during the first “Pittsburgh Renaissance” movement of the 1940s and 50s by then-mayor David L. Lawrence. The 36-acre park at the confluence of Pittsburgh’s three rivers (the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio) was conceived as a transformational urban renewal project that would create public green space at the tip of the Pittsburgh peninsula. Today Point State Park is downtown Pittsburgh’s front lawn and premiere space for outdoor events and recreation.

Features

Managing Partner

Point State Park is owned and operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).

For park hours, information about the site’s history, special events and educational opportunities, please visit DCNR’s official Point State Park website.

The 2007-2013 renovation of Point State Park was led by DCNR, Riverlife, and the Allegheny Conference on Community Development.

Development

Point State Park first opened to the public in 1974 after several decades of planning and construction. Near-constant public usage over the course of three and a half decades caused the Park to fall into disrepair. Planning for the renovation of the park started in 2001, and work commenced in 2007 as part of the Allegheny Conference’s Pittsburgh 250^th anniversary.

The dedication of the renovated Point State Park fountain on June 7, 2013 marked the final phase of a complete overhaul of the entire 36-acre Point. The $35 million investment is the largest park project in Pennsylvania history. Since its reopening, attendance in the park has risen to over 2.35 million visitors annually.