PARK IS GOING TO BRING TO DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH. MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO, THIS AREA HERE WAS NOTHING MORE THAN A SIDEWALK ABOUT SIX FEET IN WIDTH. TODAY, IT’S THE REHABILITATED UPPER PROMENADE FOR THE ALLEGHENY RIVERFRONT PARK. A VISION FOR THIS PROJECT STARTED IN 1994 FROM THE CREATIVE MIND OF CAROL BROWN, FORMER PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST. IT’S A CULTURAL BELIEF THAT THE APPEARANCE AND USE OF THE CITY’S RIVERFRONT SHOULD BE ELEVATED. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE. WE SHOULDN’T TURN OUR BACKS ON OUR RIVERS ANYMORE. WE SHOULD EMBRACE THEM. AND NOW HOW CAN WE ACTUALLY BUILD WITH THEM INTO THAT FUTURE, THAT VIBRANCY THAT EVERYBODY CAN ENJOY THEM IN ALL ASPECTS, AND THAT IS THE ATTRACTION. AND TODAY, WITH THE REHABILITATION OF THE UPPER PROMENADE HERE AT ALLEGHENY RIVERFRONT PARK, WE CAN ONCE AGAIN ENJOY AND CELEBRATE THIS VITAL LINK BETWEEN DOWNTOWN AND OUR RIVERFRONT. IT IS HAILED AS THE FACE OF ALLEGHENY RIVERFRONT PARK. IT IS A CRITICAL COMPANION PIECE ALONG THE ALLEGHENY RIVER FOR PUBLIC USE. NEW LIGHT FIXTURES, 35 NEW TREES AND OTHER FEATURES WIDEN CORNERS FOR BETTER VISIBILITY, AND THE SIDEWALK CONSISTS OF THE HIGHLY POPULAR NATURAL BLUESTONE, THE CARE THAT WENT INTO SELECTING THIS PARTICULAR PART OF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE WAS YEARS IN THE MAKING, AND WE’RE VERY PROUD TO HAVE INSTALLED THIS IMMACULATE SURFACE, THIS REHABILITATION PROJECT IS CELEBRATED AS A CRITICAL PIECE TO THE URBAN LANDSCAPE ALONG THE ALLEGHENY RIVER. AND SO WHAT YOU’RE SEEING IS A SPACE THAT IS NOW TRULY ACCESSIBLE. IT’S MORE RESILIENT AND MORE WELCOMING MOVING FORWARD. RIVERLIFE HAS SECURED A $1 MILLION ENDOWMENT FOR FUTURE MAINTENANCE OF THE ALLEGHENY RIVERFRONT
Allegheny Riverfront Park rehabilitation completion celebrated with ribbon-cutting in Pittsburgh
Updated: 7:53 PM EDT Apr 2, 2026
What was a sidewalk, 6 feet wide, along Fort Duquesne Boulevard, overlooking the Allegheny River, is now a spacious modern-day public space called the Upper Promenade.It’s celebrated as a critical piece to the urban landscape along the Allegheny River, accented with 35 new trees, new street light fixtures, railings, and the highly popular bluestone sidewalk.”What you’re seeing is a space that is now truly accessible. It’s more resilient, and more welcoming,” said Matt Galluzzo, president and CEO of Riverlife.Rehabilitating the area is the result of collaboration between Riverlife, the city of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and The Heinz Endowments.An investment of $5.4 million brought the project to completion, elevating the appearance and use of the city’s riverfront.”We shouldn’t turn our backs on our rivers anymore. we actually should embrace them,” said Chris DeCardy, president and CEO of The Heinz Endowments. “And now, how can we actually build with them into that future, that vibrancy that everybody can enjoy them in all aspects? And that is the attraction.”
PITTSBURGH —
What was a sidewalk, 6 feet wide, along Fort Duquesne Boulevard, overlooking the Allegheny River, is now a spacious modern-day public space called the Upper Promenade.
It’s celebrated as a critical piece to the urban landscape along the Allegheny River, accented with 35 new trees, new street light fixtures, railings, and the highly popular bluestone sidewalk.
“What you’re seeing is a space that is now truly accessible. It’s more resilient, and more welcoming,” said Matt Galluzzo, president and CEO of Riverlife.
Rehabilitating the area is the result of collaboration between Riverlife, the city of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and The Heinz Endowments.
An investment of $5.4 million brought the project to completion, elevating the appearance and use of the city’s riverfront.
“We shouldn’t turn our backs on our rivers anymore. we actually should embrace them,” said Chris DeCardy, president and CEO of The Heinz Endowments. “And now, how can we actually build with them into that future, that vibrancy that everybody can enjoy them in all aspects? And that is the attraction.”