Three Rivers. One Loop.

Completing the Loop – Today and for Years to Come

Pittsburgh’s rivers are our city’s greatest assets. Over the past two decades, Riverlife has helped reclaim riverfront access for residents, workers, and visitors, transforming parking lots and industrial edges into parks, trails, and destinations where our city comes alive.

Now, it’s time for Pittsburgh’s next great legacy project. Together, we can finish what we started: completing the 15-mile, 1,055-acre riverfront “Loop.” When we close the gaps and connect the trails, we don’t just improve access to the water – we unite neighborhoods, strengthen our economy, and give every Pittsburgher a front row seat to the rivers.

This is our chance to shape the future of Pittsburgh’s riverfronts, today and for generations.

The Loop covers 15 miles of riverfront space between the West End, Hot Metal, and the 31st Street Bridges.

Where Our City Comes Alive
Our riverfronts are the beating heart of the city. They are where we run, walk, bike, dance, celebrate, and gather. From the Strip District to Downtown and the South Side to the West End, they are places for:

• Connection: linking neighborhoods and people to and across the rivers.
• Celebration: unforgettable moments, public art, and events that make Pittsburgh one-of-a-kind.
• Care: creating a system where green spaces and welcoming parks are safeguarded for all.

But critical gaps remain. Too many neighborhoods remain disconnected. Too many places lack the safety, beauty, and amenities that make them truly world-class. Our three rivers deserve one complete system built for everyone. It’s time to Complete the Loop.

“Pittsburgh’s rivers are at the heart of our city, and they belong to all of us. Completing the Loop is about connecting communities, creating world-class destinations, and ensuring our riverfronts remain accessible and world-class for generations.” — Matthew Galluzzo, President and CEO, Riverlife

How Will We Build It – Together

We’re raising $30 million to fund the first phase of Riverlife’s award-winning Completing the Loop plan, which calls for a comprehensive connected system of parks, trails, and green spaces that will be accessible to all and infused with unique experiences. Here’s how:

• Projects: Advancing the Sister Bridges Experience by creating iconic destinations, such as the rehabilitation of Allegheny Riverfront Park, the redevelopment of Allegheny Landing, and the launch of Shore Thing.
• Planning: Ensuring design excellence with strong community input to deliver on the promise of “riverfronts for all” as we plan for a major investment effort around the iconic West End Bridge. 
• Programming: Activating the riverfront with arts, fitness, festivals, and community events such as Riverlife’s Chalk Fest.
• Care and Maintenance: Establishing a permanent fund to keep the Loop thriving for years to come.

$5 Million by May 2026

To date, we have raised more than $25 million for the first phase of the Completing the Loop plan. Only together can we cross the finish line by raising the final $5 million. It requires a commitment from everyone in our communities. Please click below and consider making a one-time gift, becoming part of our monthly giving program called the Riverlife Crew, or joining the Headwaters Circle major giving society.

Recognition & Legacy Opportunities
Riverlife is honored to recognize the generosity of those who help make Completing the Loop possible. A variety of naming and recognition opportunities are available for donors who wish to leave a lasting legacy along Pittsburgh’s riverfronts. If you’d like to discuss making a special gift, please contact Sarah Spiegel at sarah@riverlifepgh.org.

Join Us

Between now and May 2026, there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved through events, gatherings, and other activities that bring our community together. Check back here for updates and ways you can take part.

This campaign belongs to everyone. Please spread the word and get involved today.

About Riverlife

Since 1999, Riverlife has worked to create, activate, and celebrate Pittsburgh’s riverfronts. A nonprofit leader in building a community vision for Pittsburgh’s riverfronts, Riverlife has overseen a $150 million investment in the city’s waterfront transformation, catalyzing $4.2 billion in related economic development, arts and culture spending, and ecological sustainability on or adjacent to the city’s riverbanks. 

We center our work on the belief that the riverfronts belong to everyone, and world-class riverfront experiences can be created for all using community-driven, equitable development and high-quality, regenerative design. Our work continues to “complete the loop,” now and into the future.

The Three Rivers. One Loop. Campaign is possible thanks to the vision and dedication of Riverlife’s leadership, who continue to lead the way:

• Cindy Donohoe, Co-Chair
• Paul O’Neill, Jr., Co-Chair
• Kamal Nigam, Co-Chair
• Peg McCormick Barron
• Kenya T. Boswell
• Diana Bucco
• Kathleen W. Buechel
• Maris Dauer
• Chip Desmone
• Lynn Desmone
• Michelle Figlar
• Chuck Hammel
• Mary Beth Jenkins
• Abass Kamara
• Ann McGuinn
• Mary Lou McLaughlin
• Caryn Rubinoff
• Kathy Testoni
• Bonnie VanKirk

Riverlife Board of Directors 

• Christine Mondor, FAIA, Chair
• Dr. Kathy W. Humphrey, Vice Chair
• Terry Wirginis, Treasurer
• Kenya T. Boswell, Secretary
• Matt Ankrum
• Scott Bricker
• LaShawn Burton-Faulk
• Lauren Connelly
• Andrew Dash
• Maris Dauer
• Michelle Figlar
• Ray Gastil
• Jason Robert Henry
• William E. Hunt
• Sallyann Kluz
• Jennifer Liptak
• Kathy Testoni

Learn More About the Completing the Loop Plan

A great riverfront is more than the sum of its parts, and Pittsburgh’s rivers need a holistic approach. River rooms organize districts and focus on cross-river connections, placing the rivers at the heart of the Loop.

Funding for our Completing the Loop plan was provided by Henry L. Hillman Foundation, Riverlife, and the Environmental Stewardship Fund, a grant program of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.