Mellon Square Grand Reopening Tomorrow | Blogh

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Mellon Square Grand Reopening Tomorrow

Posted By on Wed, May 28, 2014 at 2:32 PM

The last time this Downtown landmark and lunch spot looked so good, we doubt they had rock bands and singer-songwriters playing there. But tomorrow’s grand-reopening also marks the kickoff of the park’s summer concert series.

Everyone (probably even pigeons, to some extent) is welcome to join the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy to mark the end of five years’ worth of renovations, restoring the 1.37-acre urban park on Smithfield Street to something like it looked in its heyday. The park originally opened in 1955, but in recent decades had fallen into disrepair.

The park, unique for one its size, sits atop a parking garage. Its fountain has been restored and seating and green spaces enhanced.

The reopening starts at noon with live music by Mia Z. Remarks follow by speakers including Parks Conservancy CEO Meg Cheever, Mayor Bill Peduto and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. More live music follows, and there’ll be food trucks on William Penn Place.

There’s also a $100-a-head cocktail reception tonight, if that's more your style.

The $10 million makeover, a project of the Parks Conservancy, was funded by donors including The Richard King Mellon Foundation, the Colcom Foundation and The Eden Hall Foundation. The restoration team included Heritage Landscapes and Preservation Landscape Architects & Planners, with Pfaffmann Associates, Hilbish McGee Lighting Design, Atlantic Engineering and Mortar + ink.

The concert series continues at noon (weather permitting) every Thursday through Aug. 21.

Next up: Angel Blue & The Prophets (June 5), Lyndsey Smith & Soul Distribution (June 12) and Charm & Chain (June 19). The complete schedule is here.

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