Downtown leaders are hoping that closing part of Fort Pitt Boulevard will bring more traffic to the city.
From Tuesday, May 11 until Thursday, October 7, two lanes of Fort Duquesne Boulevard along the Allegheny River will close between Stanwix and 7th streets to accommodate the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s (PDP) Allegheny Overlook Pop-up Park.
During the Three Rivers Arts Festival, which runs June 4-13, the pop-up park will host two to three live acts daily on the Riverside Stage, along with offering food and refreshments. The venue will remain open throughout the summer for performances.
“This is a unique opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind temporary park-like experience that leverages one of Pittsburgh’s most iconic views and has been made possible due to reduced traffic volumes that are significantly lower than ever before,” says Richard Hooper, PDP’s vice president of marketing & communications. “Plans are also in place to manage traffic flow as volumes increase or additional events occur.”
To encourage more people to come Downtown, the PDP will continue to beautify and expand al fresco dining spaces and offer Yoga in the Square on Sundays at 10 a.m. and Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m through Oct. 13. Live entertainment will return to Market Square in late June when the Saturday Night Market is revived.
Check the PDP’s website for new events as they are added.