Community Brings Arts Landing To Life

One of the greatest things about opening a new public space is watching a community make it its own.

That is exactly what we’re seeing Downtown at Arts Landing. 

On any given day, you’ll find people eating lunch, meeting friends after work, children playing, relaxing on the lawn, or simply passing through. Others come for live music, fitness classes, performances, and community events. We continue to welcome approximately 1,500 visitors each day, with even more joining us when activities are underway. 

Arts Landing has quickly become part of people’s everyday routines. I know it has become part of mine. I stop by every day, and each visit offers a new window into how people are using the space and connecting with one another. Those everyday moments matter just as much as the performances and festivals. They’re helping create the kind of vibrant, welcoming Downtown that benefits residents, workers, visitors, and local businesses alike. 

Arts Landing's vibrant pickleball courts, designed by artist Sharmistha Ray, and the athletic track.

This month, we put the finishing touches on Arts Landing. The Highmark Courtyard now features three artist-designed pickleball courts – the first of their kind in the region – along with a fitness track that invites exercise and recreation. The Giant Eagle Foundation Backyard is complete as well, with comfortable outdoor seating, shade umbrellas, free Wi-Fi, and the new Weeble Wobble bar and concessions stand, making it an inviting place to enjoy lunch, catch up on work, or spend time outside. Together, these amenities create even more opportunities for people to gather, connect, and enjoy Downtown.

Partnerships are helping us activate Arts Landing in new ways, too. During Picklesburgh, we partnered with the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership to offer pickleball clinics and tournaments as part of one of Pittsburgh’s signature festivals. It was a great example of organizations working together to create experiences that benefit the broader community.

This weekend, we will host our first-ever Family Fest, a day filled with hands-on activities, performances, and experiences for children and families. Creating a place where families feel welcome has been an important goal from the beginning, and we look forward to continuing Family Fest on August 15 and September 19.  

As we introduce these pilot programs, we’re learning alongside the community. We are listening to feedback and watching how the space is used. Every event, conversation, and observation helps shape our plans for the future. 

Lessons learned will influence not only the programming we present, but also how we welcome others into the space. Next year, we will intentionally combine our own programming with events produced by community partners. Like Three Stories, our 95-seat theater that local artists and arts organizations utilize rent-free, Arts Landing will serve as a Cultural Trust venue where artists and community groups can present activities without paying rent. 

The arts have always had the power to bring people together and contribute to downtown’s revitalization. At Arts Landing, that can happen through a performance or festival, but also during a fitness class, a pickleball game, or a conversation between neighbors. 

The performances and festivals will always be part of what makes Arts Landing special. But what I’ve loved most is seeing everything that happens in between, and watching the community bring the space to life. 

Thank you for being part of its story.