Diane Nelson Jones report that Pittsburgh's famous Mellon Square, called the city's "emerald oasis," will reopen this week after closing for renovations in 2011.
Mellon Square will reopen to the public this week after a $10 million, three-year renovation. According to the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy website, the renovation was made possible with funding from the Richard King Mellon Foundation, The Colcom Foundation, The Eden Hall Foundation, and BNY Mellon, among others.
Diane Nelson Jones explains the need for the renovation of the park that opened in 1955 to acclaim and has already been renovated once. "After a late 1980s renovation, no funds were set aside for maintenance, and the next three decades saw the square little used by office workers and torn up by skateboarders and stunt cyclists. Drainage failures cracked the terrazzo surfaces and caused mineral deposits. The fountain mechanisms corroded. Many trees and shrubs died."
Now the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has an agreement with the city "to operate and oversee the square" with $4 million set aside for that purpose.
Among Mellon Square's new features, is "a terrace overlooking Smithfield, [which] was part of the original design but not originally installed. It expands the usable area by 15 percent," according to Nelson Jones.
FULL STORY: Coming-out party for Mellon Square
Pittsburgh's Mellon Square Re-Opened After Six-Year Wait
Named as one of the APA's Great Public Spaces in 2008, Mellon Square in Pittsburgh was badly in need of repair. Earlier this month, the park completed a $10 million restoration process that launched in 2009.
Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower
A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.
Pittsburgh Excels at Low-Cost, Quick-Build Traffic Calming
The city’s traffic calming initiative has led to a 6 percent average reduction in speeds on corridors with recent interventions.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?
King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.
Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.
Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie