2026 Goals CORE
Clean Public Realm
• Sustain Downtown’s stability by optimizing Clean and Outreach team staffing, expanding workforce development with Renewal, Inc., and securing long-term funding for these services.
• Keep Downtown riverfronts, public spaces, and key corridors across Downtown, Uptown, and the South Side clean and welcoming through neighborhood partnerships.
• Improve coordination during inclement weather and strengthen property owner engagement to address accessibility concerns.
• Strengthen Clean + Safe forums as trusted platform for convening partners and advancing strategies for a cleaner, safer, and more welcoming Downtown for all.
Safe & Secure Public Spaces
• Expand youth engagement programs by supporting partnerships and community-based initiatives.
• Strengthen collaboration with public safety and outreach partners to address challenges and connect people to existing and new services.
ACTIVATION
Events & Activations
• Support the successful execution of the 2026 NFL Draft, welcoming tens of thousands of visitors to Downtown.
• Produce four large-scale annual festivals that attract visitors from across the region and beyond.
• Activate Market Square with a new robust, year-round event calendar through diverse partnerships that engage workers and residents.
Constituent Services
• Promote local businesses and drive customer traffic to support the retention and growth of Downtown’s retail and restaurant community.
• Strengthen member-to-member connections through events, partnerships, and promotional opportunities.
Streets & Transportation
• Support implementation of Smithfield Street Reconstruction Phase 1 and advance planning for future phases from Fort Pitt Boulevard to Liberty Avenue.
• Support development of a new vision for Boulevard of the Allies to better connect First Avenue with the heart of the Central Business District.
• Promote alternatives to single-occupancy commuting and improve access to affordable parking for service workers.
Public Realm
• Support Market Square restaurants through grants and design assistance to create a world-class public space in the heart of Downtown.
• Design and install public art and lighting projects that make streets and alleys more vibrant and inviting.
TRANSFORMATION
Diverse & Resilient Neighborhoods
• Continue supporting new retail through the Downtown Rent Abatement Program and Project Pop-Up while identifying additional ways to encourage investment along commercial corridors.
• Engage government, nonprofit, and privatesector partners in developing innovative economic development strategies to support the redevelopment of historic office buildings.
Stakeholder Collaboration & Collective Action
• Position the PDP as a trusted leader and authority in Downtown Pittsburgh.
• Showcase Pittsburgh’s achievements and culture while driving engagement with Downtown during the NFL Draft.
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
Strategic Communications
• Shape the regional and national narrative around Downtown Pittsburgh’s recovery and transformation.
• Expand digital reach and audience engagement to promote Downtown events, businesses, and initiatives.
• Promote Downtown as a premier cultural, dining, and entertainment destination.
• Keep members and stakeholders informed through clear, consistent communication about Downtown progress.