Parking Essentials: First Night Pittsburgh

Which streets will be closed. Which garages will be open. It’s all right here.

photo by brian Siewiorek

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s yearly Highmark First Night signals the conclusion of one year and start of another. Droves of ’Burghers and out-of-towners, particularly arts enthusiasts, come out to enjoy the festivities in and around the Cultural District. (Learn more about the programming here.)

To make way for the crowds and activities, the city will close the following streets on Dec. 31 at 10 a.m.; most of the roads won’t reopen until Jan. 1 at 1 a.m.

•       Fifth Avenue Extension, from Fifth Avenue Place to Fort Duquesne Boulevard (though guests still will be able to access the Fifth Avenue Place garage on the Liberty Avenue side)
   
•       Seventh Street at Liberty Avenue to the Theatre Square garage, which will be open to those traveling on Fort Duquesne Boulevard
   
•       Eighth Street/Tito Way down to Exchange Way and over to Garrison Place at French Street (the parking lot will be accessible via Fort Duquesne Boulevard, and visitors can enter the garage via Tenth Street)
   
•       Ninth Street at Liberty Avenue to the Ninth and Penn Avenue garage (attendees can get into the garage via Fort Duquesne Boulevard)
   
•       Maddock Place, from Penn to Fort Duquesne Boulevard
   
•       Alleys leading into the heart of the action — connected to Penn Avenue, Liberty Avenue and Sixth through Tenth streets
   
•       Penn Avenue at Stanwix Street up to (but not including) Tenth Street

In addition, you should should steer clear of these streets and garages at the noted times:

•        Sixth Street — 8-8:45 p.m.
   
•        Sixth Street and Penn Avenue parking garage — 5 p.m.-12:30 a.m.
   
•        EQT Parking garage — 4 p.m.-1 a.m.
   
•        Seventh Street (or Andy Warhol) Bridge — until 10 p.m.
   
•        Tenth Street, from Fort Duquesne Boulevard to Penn Avenue — 7:30-8:45 p.m.
   
•        Stanwix Street, from Liberty Avenue to Fort Duquesne Boulevard — 9 p.m.-1 a.m. (you still can access the parking garage via Fort Duquesne Boulevard)
   

As for parking, reference the cultural trust’s ParkPGH website or free app to find which garages are open and have available space.