Pittsburgh Cultural Trust to Transform 8th Street Block into Arts Landing Civic Space

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust regularly programs top notch magicians at Liberty Magic. And now the Cultural Trust has just announced a big magic trick of their own. At a press conference Thursday the Trust announced they will transform, within a one year period, a largely undeveloped piece of land into a multifaceted gem of civic space called Arts Landing. The property is part of what the trust has called the Backyard. It sits at 7th Street, Penn Avenue and Ft. Duquesne Boulevard. 8th Street will be incorporated into the park as well as the space on Ft. Duquesne Boulevard where the Goodyear Tire Store now sits.

With help from many Pittsburgh foundations, RAD, Governor Josh Shapiro, County Executive Sara Innamorato, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and a host of other organizations and individuals, the new urban greenspace and recreational area will have a soft opening in time for Pittsburgh to host the NFL draft in April 2026. Construction will begin this April.

“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.”

An aerial view of the new Arts Landing civic space. (A rendition of the Great Lawn during the summer season. (Rendering by Field Operations courtesy of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust)

The civic space will incorporate several themed areas: a Great Lawn and Bandshell, Garden Walk, Play Room, Visitor Center, Backyard, and Flex Zone. Arts Landing is a very well designed project. With details envisioned on many levels including natural areas with indigenous trees and plants, a children’s playground with equipment built from sustainable materials, art installations, storm water runoff and capture, a sloping amphitheatre area, pickleball courts, running track, and a visitor’s center with public bathrooms. Arts Landing overlooks Pittsburgh’s iconic sister bridges. The space, when finished, will cover four acres and cost 31 million dollars, making it one of the largest projects in the Cultural District in recent years.

“The 8th Street Block Civic Space in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District is a cornerstone of the Downtown Revitalization plan,” said David Holmberg, Chair of the Cultural Trust’s Board of Trustees, Chair of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development’s Board of Directors, and President and CEO of Highmark Health. “Envisioned and developed by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Arts Landing is truly transformative. It is not a short-term fix or incremental improvement to an existing space. This is reimagining and building an entirely new destination that will delight and benefit our community.”

Arts Landing will be an exciting new space for downtown residents and visitors alike, and another jewel in Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle.

Flex Zone space at Arts Landing. (Rendering by Field Operations courtesy of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.)

Rick Handler is the executive producer of Entertainment Central.

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