Allegheny Landing Park, North Shore: 301 Isabella Street
Today, Pittsburgh’s riverfront parks and trails are so celebrated that for many, it’s hard to imagine a time before they existed. That’s why Allegheny Landing on the North Shore is so important: it was Pittsburgh’s first riverfront park. Sandwiched between the Roberto Clemente and Andy Warhol Bridges on the northern bank of the Allegheny River, it was created in 1984 as part of Mayor Richard Caliguri’s Renaissance II development plan. This was a time when Pittsburgh’s rivers could be described as suffering from an “industrial-era hangover,” but the potential for recovery was there, and a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. While Caliguri (1931-1988) did not live to see how beautiful and popular Pittsburgh’s riverfronts would become, this space became one of the nation’s first riverfront sculpture parks, and its presence sparked interest in a new life for Pittsburgh’s iconic three rivers.
In 2026, Riverlife launched a redesign of Allegheny Landing, preserving the original intentions of the public art while introducing new elements. Work should be completed next year. Until then, meander down the Three River Heritage Trail and take a good look at The Builders, Pittsburgh Variations, The Forks, and Piazza Lavoro & Mythic Source, and the transformative contributions their artists have made.
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