Pittsburghers may soon be able to grow food, install public art and host community events in city-owned green spaces and empty lots.
A proposal introduced Tuesday to City Council would allow Pittsburgh residents and organizations to make use of stagnant city-owned sites. That could include growing vegetables, opening food stands or building trails.
Under a program called City Farms Garden, sites could be leased in Pittsburgh’s parks and greenways for urban agriculture. Leases could last up to five years. Applications are expected to open this summer.
The measure also would expand the Adopt-A-Lot Program, which since 2015 has allowed residents to build temporary rain, food and flower gardens on vacant lands. If approved, the properties could be used for public art, community signage, commercial vending and special events.
The goal is to make it easier for residents to put vacant or underused spaces to good use, said Andrew Dash, deputy director of the Department of City Planning.
“Through these updated programs, we hope to expand opportunities for food access, neighborhood beautification, and create community spaces for gathering and recreation,” Dash said in a statement Tuesday.
City officials identified about 3,000 vacant parcels with steep, landslide-prone slopes that are candidates to be preserved as greenways.
Under the legislation introduced Tuesday, residents or community groups could care for such spaces, building trails, planting trees, hosting community clean-up events or removing invasive species.
Molly Onufer, a spokeswoman for the city, said there will be no charge for residents or organizations looking to lease green spaces through the program unless they’re using the site for vending. In those instances, they’d pay $25 for a vending license.
Onufer said officials want to ensure costs don’t create barriers for people looking to participate.
Plus, Onufer said, the city will spend less money maintaining those properties when residents and community groups are caring for them.
City Council will further consider the legislation next week and could take a final vote as soon as the following week.