The strip of land between Penn Avenue and Fort Duquesne Boulevard has been a no-man’s-land, more concrete cut-through than community hangout. But next year, Pittsburghers might start planning picnics there.

Construction began on Arts Landing, a four-acre public space in the Cultural District set to transform Downtown’s Eighth Street block. Arts Landing marks one of the Cultural District’s most ambitious projects in 25 years. A soft opening is planned for April 2026 during Pittsburgh’s much-anticipated NFL Draft, with a grand opening in June.

The $31 million project, envisioned and operated by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and designed by Field Operations, aims to be part botanical beauty, part open-air stage, and part architectural gem. Backed by a coalition of funders and folded into Pa. Governor Josh Shapiro’s $600 million Downtown Revitalization Vision, Arts Landing promises to energize the Downtown riverfront.

“Years from now, I hope Arts Landing stands not only as a vibrant community destination, but as a symbol of what we can accomplish in Pittsburgh when we work together,” Trust president and CEO Kendra Whitlock Ingram tells Pittsburgh City Paper. “Like in pivotal times throughout our city’s history, we’re creating progress with collective effort.”

That progress started with the land. “Since the earliest days of this project, we recognized the potential to design something truly extraordinary here,” Sanjukta Sen, an associate partner at Field Operations, tells City Paper. “The drama of the site — suspended above the Allegheny River and framed by Pittsburgh’s iconic Three Sisters bridges — presented a unique opportunity to strengthen the relationship between the river and the city.”

This effort included demolishing a Goodyear tire store to make way for the large lawn on Eighth Street between Penn Avenue and Fort Duquesne Boulevard.

Arts Landing will connect Downtown to the Allegheny River via what landscape designers call a “civic green.” That means walking paths, trees, art, music, kids tearing through splash zones, and the occasional person falling asleep on a sunny bench.

Several distinct zones will give the space shape and character. The Garden Walk, formerly eighth Street, will become a shaded, pedestrian-only promenade. The Flex Zone near Fort Duquesne Boulevard and Seventh Street will house three pickleball courts and a small running track. The Backyard, south of the play area, will offer picnic tables, planters, and overhead string lights for casual hangouts and events.

Field Operations, the same company behind New York City’s High Line and Presidio Tunnel Tops in San Francisco, envisioned a dramatic, yet grounded layout that could serve the evolving needs of Downtown.

Sen emphasizes that adaptability is built into every element. “For public spaces to be sustainable, they must be adaptable and community-focused,” she says. “We design civic spaces and public parks with the expectation and hope that the community will find unique ways to use it and make it their own.”

Ingram believes the one-acre Great Lawn and low-profile bandshell are perfect examples of this dual-purpose design. They can host large concerts and civic gatherings, then become an unobtrusive part of the landscape when unused.

Various Arts Landing attractions emphasize the “Arts” part. The project commissioned local artist vanessa german to create “Lifted,” a sculptural bench installation honoring Pittsburgh centenarians. The project, described as “facing the city’s bridges and rivers,” will gather hand tracings from volunteers aged 100 and over and cast them in aluminum. The Trust released a form for interested participants to apply and upload their hand photos.

The Play Room will feature sculptural, natural-material structures instead of standard jungle gyms, and temporary public art installations are planned near ninth Street and Fort Duquesne Boulevard.

A visitor pavilion in the renovated historic buildings at 819 and 821 Penn Ave. will provide information, seating, and much-coveted public bathrooms.

Field Operations also sought to blend ecological resilience with social inclusion. The design includes underground stormwater tanks, pollinator-friendly plantings, recycled materials, and plans to divert 75% of demolition waste from landfills. Lighting will be dark-sky compliant, and maintenance will avoid harmful chemicals.

“Some of the strategies we have incorporated include environmental elements like resilient plant selection and responsible stormwater management; social concepts like open access and community participation; seasonal activation; and with the Cultural Trust’s support, economic effects like job creation and catalyzing more investment in the neighborhood,” Sen says.

Though Arts Landing sits on Cultural Trust property, it is designed for open, public access, with free programming and broad community participation.

When asked what song would capture Arts Landing’s spirit, Ingram replies, “Pittsburgh’s hosting of the NFL Draft in 2026 has helped us accelerate progress on Arts Landing, so ‘Here We Go, Steelers’ comes to mind!” she says.

But there’s more to it than that. “The theme song for Arts Landing will change over time because the live music heard there will be as diverse as the artists performing and community organizations hosting events,” she says. “My hope is that everyone has a chance to hear their own theme song at some point in Arts Landing.”

For now, the construction dust is flying, and the renderings are promising. If all goes to plan, the Cultural District will get a new front lawn that’s free, open, and maybe even worth crossing a bridge for.