The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s new civic space planned for Downtown has been named.
Construction will begin this April and a soft opening is planned in time for the 2026 NFL Draft of “Arts Landing” right on the 8th Street Block.
The new civic space will be built on vacant lots between Penn Avenue and For Duquesne Boulevard, where the Goodyear building is located.
The Cultural Trust shared the highlights and details of the project (names are subject to change):
Great Lawn & Bandshell | The heart of Arts Landing is a one-acre great lawn. The gorgeous green space centers the Allegheny River and two of the Three Sisters Bridges, welcoming pedestrians from multiple entrances.
Garden Walk | Current-day 8th Street, between Penn Avenue and Fort Duquesne Boulevard, will transform into a pedestrian-friendly Garden Walk—a verdant escape in the center of the city. No longer accessible to vehicular traffic, the Garden Walk will accommodate Cultural Trust operations and emergency vehicles as needed.
Play Room | Visitors will not find typical swing sets and see-saws in Arts Landing’s family-friendly play area. Instead, the play equipment will have artful expressions, made with natural materials well-suited to the Cultural District.
Designed for a wide range of ages, these locations will encourage play and nature-based curiosity.
Visitor Center | Conveniently located next to the family-friendly play room is a new Visitor Center serving Arts Landing. The Visitor Center will be located in the renovated ground floors of historic Cultural Trust-owned buildings at 819 and 821 Penn Avenue near the intersection at 9th Street. The space will include public restrooms.
Backyard | The relaxing, fun atmosphere nurtured in recent years at the temporary “Backyard” activations on the 8th Street Block site will live on in a new, inviting area just south of the Play Room. The Backyard will invite passersby along Penn Avenue with a variety of seating options, picnic tables, games, planters, and overhead lighting. The adaptable space can be used for food truck roundups, pop-up markets, and other event-specific purposes.
Flex Zone | On the opposite side of Arts Landing from the Backyard, near the intersection of Fort Duquesne Boulevard and 7th Street, the Flex Zone will provide a second, inviting hardscaped area. When Arts Landing opens, the Flex Zone will open with three Pickleball courts and a small running track, providing nearly 30,000 square feet of flexible recreation area.
The $31 million project is part of the Downtown Revitalization Vision that was announced in 2024 by several local groups and Governor Josh Shapiro’s 10-year, $600 million plan to revitalize Downtown Pittsburgh.
“Arts Landing will welcome residents and visitors, host festivals and performances, exhibit public art, and provide opportunities for everyday recreation and relaxation,” said Kendra Whitlock Ingram, President & CEO of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. “We are grateful to our civic leaders and project partners whose generosity and collaborative spirit continue to push the downtown revitalization vision forward.”