Keeping watch like a gentle steel giant along North Ridge Drive in North Park stands an aging, sealed-off, 102-foot former water tower waiting to be awakened.
And it could happen soon.
Thanks to the efforts of the Allegheny County Parks Foundation and project supporters, the North Park Water Supply System Standpipe — commonly known as the North Park Observation Tower — is ready for a restoration project to reopen the once-climbable structure.
“The project will restore one of North Park’s most iconic landmarks while also transforming the surrounding site to improve accessibility, enhance visitor experience and expand opportunities for public use and community gathering,” said Jaime Filipek of the Allegheny County Parks Foundation.
A recently announced $20,000 public campaign by the Allegheny County Parks Foundation will allow community members to help get the final phase of the project across the finish line. Donations can be made at acparksfoundation.org.
Built in 1937, the storage tank was financed in part through the Public Works Administration, a New Deal program, and had a capacity of 300,000 gallons. The water was treated at the filtration plant above Lake Marshall, supplying the surrounding areas of what is now North Park.
It was once a favorite spot for families and visitors to the park, who could climb its 154-step iron spiral staircase to an open-viewing platform that offered a bird’s-eye view of the surrounding North Hills region and even glimpses of Downtown Pittsburgh buildings.
The tower’s viewing platform features vintage terrazzo flooring and a domed ceiling.
“The North Park Observation Tower has stood as a silent witness to cherished memories for generations. Restoring this treasured landmark is about reconnecting our community with those moments and opening the door for new ones to be made,” said Joey-Linn Ulrich, executive director of the parks foundation.
While an exact reopening date is uncertain, Filipek said the tower has been closed for decades, perhaps since the 1980s, because of structural issues and safety updates.
The restoration of the observation tower was formally recommended in the 2002 Allegheny County Parks Comprehensive Master Plan.
The total cost estimate of the project is $3.2 million, which will cover the structural and electrical rehabilitation of the tower as well as site improvements to enhance safety, accessibility and the visitor experience, according to Filipek.
The Babcock Charitable Trust committed $400,000 to the project in recognition of the same public value envisioned by E.V. Babcock, whose leadership helped establish the county park system and North Park nearly a century ago, according to a May 4 news release by the Allegheny County Parks Foundation.
While a majority of its funding has been accomplished, construction has not yet begun. Structural assessments were completed in preparation for the project confirming that the tower is in good overall condition, according to Filipek.
Allegheny County bid the observation tower project in March of this year and will bid the site improvements separately. The latter will include enhancements to the surrounding area with improved access, gathering space and amenities that serve all park visitors during regular park hours.
The ironwork railings along the staircase and the domed overlook will require additional features to make them compliant with current codes and assure public safety, according to a project description on the foundation’s website.
Planned improvements include structural repairs, interior and exterior restoration, sandblasting, repainting and safety upgrades. The project description notes the surrounding grounds will be enhanced with native plantings, shade trees, drainage improvements, a newly designed parking lot, accessible pathways, interpretive signage, a 1-acre wildflower meadow and a concrete plaza with seating.
The design reflects the Prairie School style used by Paul Riis, the first director of Allegheny County Parks and the landscape architect who designed North Park. It honors the park’s heritage while improving accessibility and visitor experience.
The current plan is to begin construction on the tower itself this summer or early fall, with site improvements anticipated next summer. If the project remains on schedule, the tower could reopen in 2027, Filipek said.
A groundbreaking to celebrate the start of construction will be scheduled. The tower is located near a lodge and baseball field.
Once opened, the observation tower will feature scheduled open hours and other programming led by the Allegheny County park rangers, providing safe public access for the first time in more than 30 years, Filipek said.
“The observation tower holds deep generational significance across the region, and the restoration effort reflects both its historic importance and its continued role as a beloved destination for residents and visitors,” Filipek said.
Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato called the iconic tower a “treasured piece of our history,” and reopening it will reconnect visitors to a “unique experience that generations once enjoyed.”
The Allegheny County Parks Foundation, an independent nonprofit organization, raised the funds for the project. Funding also was provided by Allegheny County, the Allegheny Foundation and the Richard King Mellon Foundation, according to the parks foundation.
North Park is one of Allegheny County’s nine parks. The other parks are Boyce, Deer Lakes, Harrison Hills, Hartwood Acres, Round Hill, Settlers Cabin, South and White Oak.
To learn more about the tower’s history, visit the entry on “Standpipe and Observation Tower: A Public Works Administration Project” by Deaglan McManus, the senior park ranger for the county’s north region, at theclio.com/entry/142053.