The Pittsburgh Penguins will donate $500,000 to help modernize the Ammon Recreation Center in the Hill District as part of an agreement meant to mitigate decades of neighborhood disinvestment dating back to the development of the Civic Arena.
Teddy Werner, the Penguins’ alternate governor, called the 85-year-old recreation center just blocks away from PPG Paints Arena a “cornerstone” of the Hill District — “and we want to make sure it stays that way.”
Ammon offers numerous academic and wellness programs as well as basketball courts, a swimming pool, a playground and baseball fields.
Though popular, it was ranked in 2020 by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy as one of the city’s most investment-starved parks.
The Penguins’ contribution stems from a community benefits agreement signed in 2019, in which the team pledged $1 million to Ammon for a new multipurpose space, dek hockey facility and more. In 2020, the organization made good on part of that promise with $100,000 toward what was dubbed the Rec2Tech computer lab.
Slow movement on investments into Ammon and other elements of the agreement have become a sore spot for community groups.
The team initially planned to simultaneously build a $64 million entertainment venue run by Live Nation, a 910-space parking garage and a public safety center. In July, the city’s Urban Development and Sports and Exhibition authorities allowed the Penguins to cleave off the venue from the rest of its pledges.
“I’m pleased to see this progress payment made,” said Marimba Milliones, president and CEO of the Hill District Community Development Corporation. “It’s important to note, however, that other negotiated benefits were either removed or given an extended deadline by the URA and SEA just last year.”
The benefits cited by Milliones include the Curtain Call project — a proposed public art project in the neighborhood — a housing stabilization fund tied to the parking garage, the public safety station and the remaining investments into Ammon.
According to city spokeswoman Olga George, the Penguins’ outstanding $400,000 commitment will go toward the parking garage, though there is no timeline for when that project might start.
The Penguins’ press office did not immediately return a request for comment.
Groundbreaking on the concert venue was set for December, but was postponed without a new date.
Once it opens, a $2 cut will be taken from each ticket for the URA-managed Greater Hill District Neighborhood Reinvestment Fund.