Get Involved in Oakland’s New Neighborhood Plan

Photo taken from project website

Help shape the future of Pittsburgh’s iconic neighborhood

Oakland is home to some of Pittsburgh’s most iconic buildings, tourist destinations, job centers, and innovation. It is the heart of major educational institutions and inspiration and holds some of the world’s oldest and rarest artifacts in its museums. The neighborhood also holds some of the oldest homes, encourages new development and houses students from around the county and the world. In short, Oakland is a neighborhood of many treasures and resources.

Over the years Oakland has gone through many phases, changes, upgrades, downgrades, and everything in between, always with an eye towards the future. This year, the future of Oakland is about to look ahead again with the start of a 10-year Oakland Plan.

Title page of the Oakland 2025 Master Plan

Background

Until recently, it was difficult for neighborhoods with fewer resources and connections to invest in putting a neighborhood plan together, resulting in some neighborhoods lacking a plan altogether. This is starting to change now that the City is taking the lead to create and adopt neighborhood plans.

Over the years, Oakland has had a few neighborhood plans, most recently in 2012. That year, the Oakland Planning and Development Corporation (OPDC) published The Oakland 2025 Master Plan. This plan, initiated by OPDC and involving the feedback and input from the community, called for, among many things, more bike lanes, pedestrian improvement, and overall better and safer streets for the neighborhood.

Since the plan was published it has helped shape major infrastructure projects and safety improvement in the area. Bike lanes have been woven into the fabric of the streets, and pedestrian improvements have altered several streets and intersections.

The Oakland Plan Today

Fast forward seven years and the plan published in 2012 is due to expire in 2025, spurring the need to start the community planning process again and to again look ahead for the future of the Oakland neighborhood.

The new neighborhood plan, titled the Oakland Plan, will be spearheaded by the City of Pittsburgh and will begin with a series of educational meetings in July to set the stage for terminology, planning language, and other tools that will help residents understand the planning process that is to begin this fall. The plan will incorporate past plans from OPDC and other Institutional Master Plans.

It is important that Oakland residents, people who work in the area, and those who shop, commute, or pass through the area contribute to the plan. All Pittsburgh residents can take part to make sure that it is a vision that fits the needs of everyone, and to ensure that bicyclists and walkers alike have the space and consideration that is needed to make Oakland a more walkable and bikeable community.

Help Shape the Current Plan: Get Involved

According to the project’s website, the first step of getting involved, “is the formation of a 30-member Steering Committee that spends its first few meetings developing a Public Engagement Plan for how representatives will share information with their stakeholders as well as how the rest of the community will be involved in the planning process.”

In addition to the steering committee, there are plans for neighborhood input through the following avenues:

  • Steering Committee: A group of 20-30 representatives of a broad range of interests in the community. This group guides the planning process, with members also expected to join Action Teams.
  • Action Teams: Topic-focused groups that spend a year developing projects and programs. These groups are open to all interested community members and stakeholders.
  • Community Events: Through the planning process there will be multiple general and topic-based public events such as block parties, workshops, and open houses that will allow more casual involvement.
  • Online Opportunities: For those unable to make in-person events, the same materials will be posted online with ways to provide input.

Project Contacts: email them to learn more or to join the Steering Committee or Action Teams

Upcoming Educational Events

Join the Oakland community for the first series of engagement events.

TitleTopicsLogisticsPresenters/Partners
Mobilize Oakland
RSVP Here		Mobility, Transit, ParkingThursday, July 25, 6-8 p.m.
Location: Residence Inn (3341 Forbes Ave)		Department of Mobility and Infrastructure, Port Authority of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh Parking Authority, BikePGH
Restore
RSVP Here		Parks, Environment, Rainwater
Tuesday, August 6, 6-8 p.m.
Location: Schenley Plaza Tent (4100 Forbes Ave)		Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Department of City Planning – Environmental Planning
Energize
RSVP Here		Energy Efficiency, Generation, Reducing Energy Costs
Wednesday, August 14, 6-8 p.m.
Location: Oakland Career Center (294 Semple St)		Green Building Alliance, Department of City Planning – Sustainability and Resilience
Thrive
RSVP Here		Planning, Regulations, Buildings
Wednesday, August 21, 6-8 p.m.
Location: 218 Oakland Ave (2nd Floor)
Urban Redevelopment Authority, City Planning – Divisions of Strategic Planning, Zoning and Development Review

Join the Oakland Bike/Ped Advocacy Committee

You can join the resident based, grassroots Oakland Bike/Ped Advocacy Committee if you want to connect with other residents in the neighborhood who are also avid bicyclists and walkers that are working to improve the biking and walking conditions in the area. Email anna@bikepgh.org to be put in touch with the group.

Don’t live in Oakland but want to become an bike/ped advocate? There are over 20 neighborhood bike/ped committees across the City and surrounding municipalities.

You can find a complete list of them here. You can always start your own committee too! Email anna@bikepgh.org for more information.

Sign the petition and support our efforts to #SaveFifthForbesNOW and make traveling through Oakland safe, connected, and accessible for everyone!

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