Unaccompanied minors will be temporarily barred from entering Market Square, the newly renovated Downtown gathering spot that recently has been the scene of large-scale fights.
Molly Onufer, a spokeswoman for Mayor Corey O’Connor, said the new policy mandates anyone 18 or younger be accompanied by someone over the age of 21 to enter Market Square from Thursday to Sunday between 3 p.m. and midnight.
The new policy went into effect last week, Onufer said. Private security and Pittsburgh police will be positioned at the six intersections surrounding Market Square to enforce the measure.
Officials have not yet decided how long the new rule will be in place, she said.
“This is a focused, temporary response as we work to identify sustainable, long-term solutions to help support a safer experience for everyone spending time in the Square,” Onufer said in a statement. “We will monitor conditions in real time to assess effectiveness and adjust the approach as needed.”
In March, multiple juveniles were arrested after a brawl that saw dozens of people fighting in the square. Teens — and later police officers — deployed pepper spray in the scramble.
Fights also broke out there during the city’s annual Light Up Night celebration. A man was shot in the leg there about a month later.
In 2024, a teenager was arrested after he allegedly attacked a homeless man in Market Square in broad daylight. Two years before that, a police officer was injured while breaking up a fight in the vicinity.
The new policy restricting access to unaccompanied youth comes just weeks after officials unveiled a $15 million revitalization of the public space. Market Square — which draws about three millions visitors a year and is home to nearly 50 businesses and vendors — was renovated just in time of the 2026 NFL Draft. A large open-air pavilion, expanded dining spaces, new trees and improved lighting were among the upgrades.
“Creating a safe and welcoming Market Square is the focus right now,” the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership said in a statement.
The square hosted music, photo opportunities and food vendors during the draft late last month.
The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership already is planning additional events for the space, including the return of a farmers market featuring local vendors.
The group also recently announced plans for Skate The Square, a pop-up roller skating activation scheduled in the square starting Thursday and running through May 25. The event — a collaboration with nonprofit PGH SK8 — will allow people to rent roller skates and enjoy music from a lineup of live DJs in Market Square.
Anita Drummond, 69, of East Liberty said she sees lots of kids throughout Downtown, particularly in the evenings after school lets out.
“I’ve never seen any problems down here, but you hear about it,” said Drummond, who is the executive director of the Pittsburgh Positive Young People’s Association, an East Liberty-based group that hosts an annual Harambee Black Arts Festival and youth programming.
Drummond said she feels that there needs to be a stronger police presence in Market Square to deter bad behavior.
“I think it would stop the problem if they see visible officers,” she said.
Drummond said she’d like to see a curfew for kids Downtown that bars unaccompanied youth from not just Market Square but the broader Downtown area after 10 p.m. She doesn’t feel it’s safe for kids to be wandering around by themselves.
“I don’t think children should be down here after 10 without their parents,” she said.
She said young kids need more programs and activities to keep them engaged and off the streets.
“They have nothing to do,” she said.