I was told by fellow yelpers that one of the must do places while in Pittsburgh was that of Point state park. What I didn't know is that it's more than just a park or a place to run and destress from life. What a nice place! Point State Park is a nice park within the downtown area of Pittsburgh, Pa. Whether you are here for play, relaxation, or just feeling the need for green space; I was here after cruising the streets of downtown Pittsburgh and found this park. Only thing I didn't like was the parking and obviously no free parking in downtown. I had to pay the fee just to enjoy the blissful serenity of Point State Park. It was about 3:30pm on a Tuesday afternoon in late September when I parked my rental car in a downtown parking garage and headed over to the park itself. There were a plethora of Pittsburgh citizens just hanging out, working out, or just enjoying what downtown life had to offer them at that point of time. It was very nice to be here, especially when rush hour traffic was already starting to ramp up. You could hear car horns pop from time to time and the hustle of mid town traffic can be felt and seen at any direction you turn. Point State Park is an ideal place to be when you need the time to just relax and gather yourself after a long challenging day at the office. Point State Park is located at 601 Commonwealth Place here in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh, PA. Like many Parks in metro areas, admission here to hang out is wonderfully and serendipitously free! It's a wonderful feeling to have stuff free, parks and beaches are a prime example of nature and government playing nicely for the betterment of its citizens. The park itself is maintained on a consistent basis and looks absolutely beautiful each time one wants to visit here. The iconic fountain here at Point State Park is one of the most beautiful I've seen in a while. The fountain is based at the western end of the Great Allegheny Passage, which is a 150 mile trail that connects to the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal (C&O Canal) to form a 350 mile recreational trail spanning from Pittsburgh to Washington DC. Talk about an amazing Trek for ultra marathon runners! Wonder if they already have a race for that?! The excitement in the air from citizens in Pittsburgh brings a smile to my face. It was then that I knew that I was in the right place at the right time, especially when it was during rush hour traffic in Pittsburgh. For me the time spent here at point State Park was very valuable to to the fact that it was my downtime from all the traveling and driving to Maryland. I would guess that this part is quite say to to the fact that there are a lot of people here and trying to park. Well you shouldn't be going out there late at night, it's good that the cops are out there patrolling the area when it's needed. I'm also glad that there are public restrooms for anyone Who wishes to use them Or needs them. There are many festivals and other public events that go on here at point state park throughout the year. You can see the views of Heinz football field and the Carnegie science Center, if you look for it. Four stars for being clean and magnificent. Five stars for being the respite of daily commuter life here in downtown Pittsburgh. Five stars for a just being scenic and beautiful all of the same time. Parks are definitely the place to be and point state park here in Pittsburgh is just a place that can be the one that sparks your imagination. Beautiful scenic views always is a welcome sight, especially after a long day at the office or on the road. Definitely recommend it, if you are in the area. Support local! A read more

I love this park! The Point is on 36 acres "acquired" through eminent domain from industrial companies back in the 1950's. This area is rich in history, forts once stood here, and it was a major battlefield. It's interesting to learn about their role in the French & Indian War and the American Revolution. During the early days of Pittsburgh, the Point was the hub for industry. By the 1930s it was occupied by warehouses and railroad yards. Search the web for pictures of the Point way back when. Not a pretty sight. In 1945, the area was even worse due to World War II and the Great Depression. The total assessed property value in the Golden Triangle was at a record low and falling. During World War II, federal and local authorities decided to create a park to commemorate the site's history. Pittsburgh department store owner, Edgar Kaufmann became chair person of a committee to look into the Point Park. Kaufmann wanted a plan for that was more urban and developed than others were imagining. He was a supporter of Pittsburgh CLO and wanted to provide it with a permanent building. He brought in Frank Lloyd Wright, who designed Fallingwater. Plans for Point Park Civic Center fell through and the site was turned into a park. Areas adjoining the park were condemned to permit commercial development, including Gateway Center. The Fort Pitt blockhouse remains intact, and three of the five bastions of the fort have been restored. The state acquired almost all property for the site by 1949, at a cost of $7,588,500 and the park and fountain was finally completed in August 1974. The blockhouse is the only intact remnant of Fort Pitt. It was built in 1764 and is believed to be the oldest building in Western Pennsylvania. It was used for many years as a house. It was purchased and has been preserved by the Daughters of the American Revolution, who open it to the public. The park also includes the outlines and remains of two of the oldest structures in Pittsburgh, Fort Pitt and Fort Duquesne. The Fort Pitt Museum commemorates the French and Indian War (1754-63). The park is a registered National Historic Landmark and is operated by the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks. Point State Park is so much more than just a place to watch the Regatta or walk your dog. When you are here, you are standing on history. read more

If you did not know any better, you would think that Point State Park (name notwithstanding) is a city park that is Pittsburgh's front yard. Well, it is a wonderful park. Besides, how many other cities have a state park right in the heart of Downtown? Point State Park has been closed for awhile now for re-construction. The good news is that the city side of the park is now open! This includes the city-side lawn, portal bridge, overlook area and access to the pedestrian walkway to the North Shore. They have done a lot of upgrades including a new lawn, new irrigation, drainage and electrical systems; pathways, landscaping, benches and lighting; vendor hookups; a new stage pad; and renovations to the reflecting pool. Located between the Three Rivers and the Fort Pitt and Fort Duquesne Bridges, Point State Park is an urban oasis. The actual point has a 150' fountain. Did you know that there is actually a 4th river at the Point? That's right! An underground river feeds the Fountain, which is actually an aerator. I love to come here on my lunch hour sometimes, even though it's a bit of a hike, and de-stress. It's wonderful to read a book here, or sit and watch the highway, river, and rail traffic go by. The only other city I know of with a "front yard" is Chicago with its Grant Park. read more

I was in Pittsburgh for the National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation Conference last July. On my free time, I visited Point State Park and saw beautiful glimpses of Allegheny, Monongahlea, and Ohio Rivers. The water fountain by the park is huge. It is a great place to go for people of all ages. read more

See all

A lovely place to view the rivers of Pittsburgh! It's a short walk from the main part of downtown and the cultural district. I try to come as much as I can during the summer when the weather is nice! The big fountain is usually up and running in the summer and is a cool site to see as you look out to the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers joining into the Ohio. It also offers a picturesque view of the downtown area buildings. Definitely worth an afternoon stroll! read more

[Vacationer from St. Pete, Fl reporting...] QUINTESSENTIAL 'I'M IN PITTSBURGH' PHOTO SPOT Click! Selfie. Oops I didn't capture the fountain, buildings, stadium and bridge too well. Do over. With the convergence of the three rivers and great views of the skyline and other sites, this is a great breather away from all the concrete. But you'll also find many locals hanging out here enjoying the fields (when the weather is nice) or the college-aged groups hanging out at the overlook near the Fountain. Fun, clean, area with little areas to explore. YOU HAVE TO MOSTLY MAKE YOUR OWN FUN There's no places to rent bikes or kayaks on the grounds yet you'll find plenty of people using them around here. The many visitors I saw brought picnics, sports balls. Regarding bikes, although you're just following the wide sidewalks, there is variance in the terrain slopes which can make it a fun ride. CHECK THESE OUT Near the park's entrance is a history museum as well as the 'oldest building in Pittsburgh' (Part of old Fort Pitt). There's your history right there! read more

I've been to Pittsburgh twice, once in 2007 and and another time last Summer. Unfortunately I haven't been able to get up close to both the point where the 3 rivers meet and the huge fountain in that area. If that was open and I was able to stand at the Point of Three Rivers I'm pretty sure it would be a 5 star experience. I saw the fountain in 2007 from across the river by the Steelers stadium as well as from atop Mt Washington and thought it looked magnificent. However just as I was going to head over there it was turned off for the night, the 2nd time I was here that area was closed off for restoration of the fountain. Hopefully by the time I'm in Pittsburgh again the fountain area will be open. However even without that this is a neat place, and on my last trip I wen't inside the Historic "Block House" in the park. and was blown away by the interior. How on Earth it's possible for such a small appearing building from the outside to look so spacious on the inside is fascinating. The space has inspired me, really cool and it's free. read more

During my time in Pittsburgh, I couldn't help but be impressed at how pretty the city actually was. In fact, it reminded me a lot of my hometown of Cincinnati with all the bridges and water. Hearing good things about Point State Park, we decided to check it out, hoping to get some good views of the landscape. From what we saw, the park seemed like a pretty nice green space, with areas for hanging out and paths for bike riding, running, or walking. Unfortunately, the actual point of the park with the fountain was closed for what looked like some sort of construction. It may have also been because of the season, considering we visited in January. Although the park is not big by any means big, it is still worth checking out if you are staying in the downtown area, or just have some time to kill. Hopefully on my next visit the point will actually be open to the public. It would be pretty cool to stand on the very point where the two different rivers connect to form the Ohio! read more

I'm so thankful that the fountain is back! Sometimes i'll pack my lunch for work & head down there to enjoy it. It's also a great place to hang out on a hot day, because when the wind blows a certain direction, the fountain mists you! read more

Point State Park - standing directly at the fountain looking towards to city. I love this picture and how the lights look! - Parks Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

There really wasn't much going on with this park aside from the fountain. It's a much better option to take a river cruise or incline trip and view the fountain and park from there. read more

Only for the duck. It really would be a nice place to spend an afternoon. The views of the rest of the city, stadiums, and the inclines are spectacular. The fountain is charming, and the places to hang out are great. Best of all, it's clean. A real gem of the city. read more

A great spot at the historic point of Pittsburgh. You can see the outline of the historic french fort that was here, watch an absolutely massive water mountain and refresh yourself in surprisingly nice public washrooms. Great place on a summer afternoon. read more

This place is such a Pittsburgh landmark.. (wow, doing all of these pittsburgh reviews kind of makes me homesick...) It has a huge, wonderful fountain and it is right at the point where the 2 rivers turn into one. You can bike around near the water, watch the boats go by, have picnics, family get togethers, impromptu games of soccer and frisbee... The pittsburgh arts fest is there every year, soooo many festivals are centered around The Point... There is even a Fort Pitt museum at the point. :) This reminds me, I think its time for a trip home to visit!! read more

This park is a must visit when visiting Pittsburgh. It has a lot of green space, surrounded by rivers, and bridges. The biggest attraction is the big fountain in the back. I came during the day and night. By night time the fountain lights up and it's very pretty, which is great for pictures. The bathrooms are pretty clean here. read more

Point State Park - water fountain at night - Parks Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Almost metaphorically, this is the tip of the iceberg in Pittsburgh. It's very nice night or day, I recommend it for a jog or for a photography session. read more

See all

Probably one of the smallest state parks you will see but it is a cool place to hang out. The park is usually pretty uncrowded even on nice days which is great if you just want to go and read a book, take a walk on your lunch break, of even run around and play some sports. Where there are events, expect the park to be packed. I highly recommend watching the 4th of July fireworks from there. The park is home to Pittsburgh's famous fountain (that just got turned back on) that erupts up at the point where the three rivers meet. A view of downtown just is not complete unless it is on. read more

This is an excellent park. Here's what I like: - Location, right in the heart of the city, where lots of people can use it. - It's a beautiful green space. - It's got a great fountain feature that provides a cool mist on a hot day. - You'll see people from all walks of life co-existing at this place. - It's clean and well maintained. - It's attached to the city's trail system, so you can bike here. - It's got a historic fort! - It's free, of course. read more

The fountain is back and the water fountain by the big fountain works too. There are public bathrooms right near the fountains too and pretty damn clean. Yay! read more

Love coming here whether I'm fighting the good fight (exercising) or simply letting my stomach settle while I people watch after lunch or dinner. I love coming here and this is a very large greenspace with plenty of room for picnics, lazy blanket days, catch, dog walking...etc, et al. I come here every chance I get. read more

The thirty six acre park, generally regarded as the front yard of Pittsburgh, is home to the Point Park Fountain. Formerly a railroad yard, and site of both Fort Duquesne and Fort Pitt, this is also where the Fort Pitt Blockhouse and Fort Pitt Museum are located. The Three Rivers Arts Festival and Three Rivers Regatta are held here as well. read more

Point State Park - Parks Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

Beautiful view of the sunset at three rivers. I take my daughter for a walk daily at the park, too bad there are no children activities here but we still love the view. read more

Point State Park - Parks Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

During the summer a great walking site, and wonderful views. Fountain is the backdrop for many photos. See the other reviews. I agree with them. But really, the duck? read more

Beautiful fountain, Amazing view of Pittsburg. Fun to sit by the river and watch the city. Best view of the sunset. You can even rent a cycle and ride around the fountain. read more

Point State Park - Parks Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

The fountain by the park is very nice to sit around and catch some mist when the wind picks up on a hot day. I even saw some people sticking their feet in front the edge cool off a bit. The park had what seemed like an outline of the fort in the one section and there were tons of benches to sit on spread out throughout the area. The park itself was very clean and they had some flushable port-o-potties with hand washing stations setup since the art festival is this week. Everything was foot operated which I thought was smart. The views from the park over the river to the Heinz stadium and towards the houses on the cliff in the other direction were beautiful. Nice quiet place to hang out. read more

Point State Park - Parks Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Point State Park, home to the Point State Park Fountain, provides ample green space for many outdoor activities and beautiful views of the city skyline and surrounding areas. While the city is home to many beautiful parks, Point State Park probably provides the most tourist friendly and unique experience to take in a good portion of Pittsburgh's aesthetic beauty in a short amount of time. A visit to the point would probably be second only to a trip to Mount Washington on a to-do list of things for those visiting Pittsburgh. read more

I have been here more times in my life than I can count since, besides short pit stops in Columbia and Boston, grew up in the Burgh. There's lots of things you can do here: pack a picnic and eat it in the park, dip your feet (regardless of the signage) in the fountain to cool off, tour the Fort Pitt remnants and museum, ride your bike (or now one of those Highmark bike share ones) on the trails that run near here, and take advantage of all of the summer activities that go on here. A few years ago, maybe 2013ish, the rubber duck was anchored there and that brought a huge crowd out! There's, annually, the 3 Rivers Arts Festival (notorious for raining every year.....and the tradition continued according to my parents), free concerts in the green park before the fountain, and the 3 rivers regatta (which I'm not sure when it is now but from childhood memories it was around July 4). If you own (or have friends that have) a boat, you can anchor near here and have spectacular views of the city, the fountain, and PNC Park. Fun fact: If you take the Gateway Clipper sightseeing cruise, you actually learn there is a wind-censor in the fountain that regulates how far it shoots in the air! If you are visiting the Burgh, you will surely wind up here at some point. Hopefully it's during the summer to take advantage of the natural beauty that is Point State Park! read more

Recently reopened, its a beautiful place to have a bag lunch with friends. The Three rivers meet, a lot of Pennsylvania family history is here. My Grand Father is from western Pa. A place to reconnect with old ties. read more

I love coming here during each trip to the Burgh. It has such a wonderful view at the confluence of the 2 rivers. The fountain is spectacular. If you can get the right angle with the sun the spray creates a wonderful rainbow. Obviously the best time is when it's sunny. If your riding around town on a bike for fun, this is a must place to stop and smell the roses. The surrounding gardens are just as nice. read more

Love going for walks here, its close to my place and it's always clean. In the summer the arts festivals and all the concerts make this one of my favorite places. If visiting, stop especially in the summer. read more

Situated in downtown Pittsburgh right at the very tip of the "Pittsburgh Peninsula" sits this state park which boasts the former site of Fort Duquesne along with a museum and a really impressive fountain and stunning panoramic views of the inner city areas of Pittsburgh. In one direction you get a great view of the downtown Pittsburgh skyscrapers amid the mist given off by the fountain. On another side you can see Heinz Field (Steelers), PNC Park (Pirates), and the Carnegie Science Center. Look yet another direction and you'll get a good look at the famous Duquesne Incline climbing up and down Mount Washington. And no matter which way you look you'll see tons and tons of bridges everywhere. The Point State Park fountain is a really cool place to hang out both literally and figuratively. It was really hot and humid the day I visited and hanging out near the fountain helped cool me off. The fountain itself is really impressive and holds its own against other famous fountains like Buckingham Fountain in Chicago. The vertical water spray of the fountain reaches well over 100 feet high. Like all fountains in public parks of big cities there are signs saying that you are not allowed to wade in the fountain and as usual nobody listens. So feel free to stick your feet in and enjoy. I really enjoyed just laying down on the side of the fountain in the sun with my legs hanging in the water while getting hit by the mist. Definitely a good place to urban people watch too. read more

Point State Park - Point State Park Fountain with downtown Pittsburgh in the background. - Parks Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I just moved downtown a little over a month ago and this has become my goto spit to take my dog for a walk. It's peaceful(when the art fest isn't here) and offers some great scenery. It's a nice place to just come and chill at. Plenty of grass to take a blanket and relax and also plenty of benches on the trails to take a rest when you realized you've walked your dog to far. read more

Perfect place for jogging, biking or out door activities. I got a chance took a trolley from Station Square to Gateway plaza for $2.50 and then walk to the park. For visitors from out of town like me, this is one of a perfect place to visit. There are walk paths on the bridges that people can walk across between downtown from/to the Square Station. read more

Point State Park is a lovely little patch of green to hang out in and I would recommend it to anyone in the downtown area. However, it is small and there is not a lot to actually see or do in the park. The views of the rivers, bridges, and nearby hills are very nice, and the fountain is worth a look too. However, that is all there is to the park at the moment. As a previous reviewer mentioned, a nice café would add something. read more

We were down in the area for the arts festival and the park toward the point was all torn up and under construction. Not sure what's going on there but hopefully it will be an improvement. read more

What a beautiful park right in the downtown area! This is another must-visit location in Pittsburgh. There's a little food stand that sells water ice and some other refreshments. The fountain is magnificent, and the park is well-designed well-maintained. There are plenty of trees to provide shade. And the rivers are right there, easily accessible. However, my favorite part of the park is walking under the bridge to the point area. There's shallow water under the bridge, and when the sun strikes it, it sends beautiful reflections up on the underside of the bridge. Basically, the park has a lot of beautiful green space and is a great place to relax. The fountain and the shallow water do not run in the winter (understandably). read more

I walked over here from the Hyatt - across the bridge. It is a very nice peaceful place in the evening. You can sit on the steps leading down to the water or in various green areas. There is a big field area to play sport in and a little cafe nearby all just in front of the Wyndham hotel in downtown. You can walk all around right by the water except currently you cannot go on the point or see the fountain as there is construction here. It still makes for a good view of North Shore and the stadiums and the incline. I recommend walking over the bridge and checking out the view from the other side as well - the view of downtown is really nice especially when all lit at night. The walk is not far even if it may look it from your map app. If I lived here this is an area I would love to frequent. Being your bike if you have one. read more

A great place to escape the office during the workday. It's conveniently placed at the confluence (yes, that's what it's called) of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh. Point State Park gives you the chance to recharge your battery as you walk along its sidewalks and paths all while taking in the city sights. Go out and see for yourself! read more

Point State Park is a pretty enough space, however I feel like its best attribute is the view of everything outside the park itself. I've been through the monuments and plaques once, but they're not worth coming back for on multiple occasions. A nice restaurant with a deck overlooking a water fixture that could serve as an ice rink in the winter (similar to Millennium Park in Chicago) would add some appeal and life to the otherwise dead space in the center of the park. At this point it hasn't been made a destination for anything other than a quick pass through via bicycle and perhaps a pause at the fountain for the obligatory Instagram photo. I always feel the need to get on with my life almost as soon as I get here. Hopefully the city eventually decides to make something of Point Park. As of right now it feels a lot like the rest of downtown Pittsburgh...a little underdeveloped. read more

What a cool park. Located right downtown, this greenspace gives you great views of the city, as well as all of the bridges over the Allegheny and Monogahela. I came on a beautiful early summer day and tons of people were out by the fountain, and tons more on their boats moored up alongside the walkway that goes all along the river. It is a very peaceful place, and a great way to see some of the architecture of the city. A definite must-stop if you are going to Pittsburgh for the first time. read more

This is a really nice spacious park you'd never think was in the heart of the city. I'd like to come here when there's fewer people around. It's probably more peaceful. They have also renovated it a bit. I'd never been here before until July 4th. read more