What’s Next for Pittsburgh's Open Space Programs
Over the past decade, the city has built programs that let residents, community groups, and local organizations activate Pittsburgh’s green spaces, growing food, creating public art, hosting events, and stewarding the corridors that connect our neighborhoods.
Now, three of those programs are up for review, and the City Council wants to hear from you before Wednesday, June 10, 2026.
Here's what you need to know about each program and how to weigh in.
1. Adopt-A-Lot Program (Chapter 454)
The Adopt-A-Lot Program lets individuals, organizations, and community groups temporarily activate city-owned vacant lots through gardening, public art, beautification, special events, and even limited commercial vending.
There are three main pathways:
- An Adopt-A-Lot License is a short-term, renewable annual arrangement for individuals looking to do a temporary project on a vacant lot.
- An Adopt-A-Lot Lease is a longer-term arrangement (one year, with the option to renew for up to three more) for more established projects.
- A Vending Lease is a special category for projects that want to sell or donate unprocessed edibles or flowers grown on-site, or conduct limited on-site commercial vending, capped at $25,000 in annual sales.
The code updates clarify program administration, strengthen community process requirements, and refine the rules around vending and liability to make the program more accessible and accountable.
2. Greenways Program (Chapter 455)
Pittsburgh's greenways are permanently conserved, primarily passive open spaces that benefit adjacent neighborhoods and the public at large.
The Greenways Program allows individuals and community-based groups to become stewards, taking on responsibility for maintaining and operating designated sections of a city greenway through a formal agreement.
There are two agreement types:
- A Greenway Stewardship Agreement runs one to five years, with the option to renew. Stewards maintain and care for a designated greenway area.
- An Urban Agriculture Agreement starts as a one-year term, with renewal options of one to five years, for groups that want to grow food in a greenway area.
The Greenways chapter establishes clearer joint oversight by the Directors of Public Works, Parks, and City Planning, and codifies program rules around permitted uses, vegetation management, and design standards for greenway improvements.
3. Adopt-A-Park Volunteer Program (§ 139.03)
The Adopt-A-Park Program is one of Pittsburgh's longest-running community engagement efforts, allowing volunteers to help improve and maintain city parks, playgrounds, ball fields, courts, and other facilities managed by the Department of Parks and Recreation. Volunteers register with the department and enter into a formal agreement to provide services. Groups and organizations can also partner with the city to help develop and coordinate the broader program.
The updates bring Adopt-A-Park into closer alignment with the Adopt-A-Lot framework, clarifying considerations for commercial vending leases in park spaces, strengthening liability and indemnification requirements, and reinforcing community process for proposed garden projects in city parks.
Across all three programs, the proposed code updates are aimed at:
- Making it easier for residents and organizations to understand how to participate
- Strengthening liability, indemnification, and insurance requirements to protect both participants and the public
- Reinforcing that proposed projects go through a community process before approval
- Giving program administrators the authority to update toolkits and guidelines as the programs evolve
City Council will consider these updates at a public meeting on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. Before that date, you can make your voice heard. Visit pittsburghpa.gov to sign up to speak in person or submit written comment or email your council member directly with "Public Comment – Open Space Programs" in the subject line.
Your neighborhood's green spaces are on the agenda, make sure your voice is too.
