Kaitlyn Hughes | features editor

An outdoor music venue.

Three new pickleball courts.

And a walkway through newly planted trees.

In 2026, these amenities will be available on Pittsburgh’s 8th Street Block.

As part of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s $31 million civic space project, known as Arts Landing, the area will become a place of recreation and relaxation.

The four acres beside the Allegheny River, from Penn Avenue to Fort Duquesne Boulevard in the Cultural District, is currently nothing more than a concrete slab.

In the Cultural Trust’s Greer Cabaret Theater one might usually find artists performing, but on Feb. 6 the space was filled with dozens of press and local officials to unveil renderings and the official name of the upcoming project.

Arts Landing will be an entirely new destination that will revitalize Downtown, create a flourishing regional economy and improve the quality of life in the area, according to a news release. Short-term fixes will not be the solution to overcoming the challenges the city faces, therefore this destination will be perpetual, said David Holmberg, chair of the Cultural Trust’s Board of Trustees and the Allegheny Conference on Community Development’s Board of Directors.

“When you’re hosting friends or family from out of town, showing off the city, the new civic space will be on your tour of must-see places,” Holmberg said.

Arts Landing will come fully equipped with a one-acre green space with a bandshell for performances, play equipment made out of natural materials which reflect “artful expressions,” multiple seating options, three pickleball courts and a running track.

Designed by architecture firm Field Operations, the project aligns with the Cultural Trust’s mission to serve the community.

“It’s suspended above the river. You’re framed by Pittsburgh’s iconic bridges. It presents this really unique opportunity to strengthen the relationship … between Downtown and the river,” said Lisa Switkin, partner at Field Operations.

Construction for the project will commence in April, and the grand opening will take place in June 2026.

Arts Landing aims to incorporate various plant species and about 100 trees, according to a news release.Through committing to sourcing materials from local manufacturers and fabricators and diverting about 75% of waste from demolition and construction from the landfill, the project is dedicated to sustainability. This goal will be carried out after the manufacturing process through the use of fertilizers that avoid plastics and “forever chemicals” in landscape maintenance.

Beyond sustainability, Arts Landing considers social equity and economic sustainability, offering open access and free programming.

“This will be a place for coworkers to meet after work, for families to bring their kids down to play, for people to go out on their first dates,” said County Executive Sara Innamorato. “It’s going to be an incredible asset for the people of Pittsburgh for generations to come.”

The project is a part of the Downtown Revitalization Vision by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Allegheny County, City of Pittsburgh and Urban Redevelopment Authority. Announced at the end of last year, the plan aims to support a diverse workforce, create living spaces for families with different social and economic backgrounds, provide a clean environment and engage the community.

Mayor Ed Gainey said the project requires collaboration, which is already being seen within the region. During the press conference, Gainey said that when county and city officials went to meet with Gov. Josh Shapiro he was surprised to see them working together.

After coordinating with Shapiro, he granted the city $600 million over 10 years to revitalize the area.

“I think that was a mighty, mighty big investment,” Gainey said.

There was a decrease from 71 to 42 homicides over the past two years, according to the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. The mayor credited this decline to the grant given by the state.

Gainey wants to make Arts Landing comparable to a living room — a place where everyone wants to come together and take part in entertainment.

This project is also in preparation of the upcoming NFL draft, which will be held in Pittsburgh April 2026 when Arts Landing will have its “soft opening.” Gainey predicts that a million people will show up for the event.

“This draft will show the world who we are today. How we moved from the smoky city to a technology one,” Gainey said. “It will be the heart of what we do and who we are.”