Brighton Heights, Pittsburgh, PA – Allegheny Land Trust (ALT), Brighton Heights Citizens Federation (BHCF), and the St. John’s Nurses Alumni Association are hosting a grand opening of the newly transformed 3.71-acre St. John’s Green in Brighton Heights on May 28, 2026 from 5 – 7 pm. Formerly the site of the St. John’s Hospital and Nurses School, the land has been transformed from vacant land into a vibrant community green space.
“We are honored to serve as the permanent steward St. John’s Green and welcome it to our region’s growing network of protected lands,” said Allegheny Land Trust President & CEO Carrie Gilbert. “This green space preserves valuable urban habitat, supports natural stormwater absorption and – most importantly – fosters resilience and well-being in the heart of the neighborhood.”
The site’s history as a place of community care dates back more than a century. Originally developed as St. John’s Lutheran Home for the Aged in 1893, the campus grew over the following decades to include a hospital, maternity ward, emergency services, and a nursing school established in 1901. For nearly 100 years, the property served generations of residents through health care, education, and community connection before Pittsburgh Mercy Health Systems relocated services and closed the campus in the 1990s. Following a devastating fire in 1999, the remaining structures were ultimately demolished in the early 2000s.
Even after the buildings were gone, the importance of the site to the surrounding community remained. In 2016, Pittsburgh Water’s “Green First Plan” brought together the Urban Redevelopment Authority, Brighton Heights Citizens Federation, and Allegheny Land Trust to reimagine the property as a community green space that could also serve as critical green stormwater infrastructure. Today, the site continues its legacy of service in a new form: a permanently protected public green space that supports neighborhood connection, environmental resilience, recreation, and access to nature for the surrounding community.
“Collaboration was key in transforming this land into a space that both honors its deep community and serves the needs of future generations,” Gilbert said. “Today, St. John’s Green offers neighbors a place to gather, reflect, recreation, and reconnect with nature, while strengthening the environmental resilience of the community around it.”
The grand opening event will feature a ribbon cutting ceremony, programming along the newly installed trails, family-friendly activities and opportunities to connect with neighbors. Attendees will also have the chance to meet ALT staff, key leaders and volunteers who passionately contributed to the St. John’s Green project.
Speakers during the ribbon cutting ceremony will include Pennsylvania State Representative Emily Kinkead, Councilman Bobby Wilson, Brighton Heights Citizens Federation Board President Nicholas Petrillo, ALT President & CEO Carrie Gilbert, St. John’s Nurses Alumni Association President Diane Meister, and two students from the nearby Morrow School.
“Brighton Heights Citizens Federation is thrilled to see our community’s vision come to life,” said Nicholas Petrillo, President of the Brighton Heights Citizens Federation. “Many neighbors have a rich history with this space, and we’re excited to get to share it in a new way.”
Allegheny Land Trust invites the public to join the festivities and discover how urban green spaces like St. John’s Green contribute to a healthier, more vibrant Pittsburgh.
For event information and registration, visit: bit.ly/stjohnsopen