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View photos of the Allegheny Landing restoration

By September 15, 2015December 12th, 2016Blog

“This was a park that needed some love after 30 years of wear and tear”

Workers restore the dock at Allegheny Landing

Long before the North Shore was built, bringing crowds of Pittsburghers to the North Side riverfront, Allegheny Landing stood as a pioneering green destination on the northern bank of the Allegheny River.

Situated between the 6th and 7th Street bridges on the north bank of the Allegheny next to PNC Park, Allegheny Landing was one of Pittsburgh’s first modern riverfront public open spaces. When it was dedicated in 1984 it was also one of the nation’s first urban riverfront sculpture parks with several works of public art commissioned specifically for the site. In an era where Pittsburgh’s riverfronts were viewed as dirty, unsafe and inaccessible, the Landing was established in recognition of the city’s potential for riverfront design, recreation, and incorporating arts within the urban landscape.

As the riverfront park system grew around Allegheny Landing in the 1990s and 2000s, usage of this modest green space increased beyond its initial capacity. Over the course of the past 25 years, inclement weather, river flooding, vandalism and neglect greatly impacted the park resulting in disrepair beyond that which can be managed through regular maintenance.

Allegheny Landing aerial and close up of dock

In 2013 Riverlife and community partners began a planning and fundraising process to restore Allegheny Landing back to its original glory, with modern updates that would make it more flood- and weather-resistant and incorporate landscape improvements to help manage stormwater.

The restoration process is ongoing, with the renovated dock completed in 2013 and the restoration of the public artwork ongoing throughout summer and fall of 2015. Want to see just how much of a difference the renovation has made?