In 1937, Pittsburgh built a 102-foot water tank that also served as the park’s overlook; Closed for decades, it will receive a $3 million restoration to reopen its 154-step climb and skyline view.

A 102-foot water tank in Pittsburgh that once also served as an observation post is ready to welcome visitors again after being closed for decades, following a major restoration project. According to reports from WESA and TribLive, the North Park Observation Tower, built in 1937, is undergoing a multimillion-pound restoration led by the Allegheny County Parks Foundation and local county officials. The project has a budget of about $3.2 million and will repair the tower, improve safety railings and reopen its 154-step spiral staircase to the public.

New Deal-era high-altitude architecture

The tower was built during the Great Depression with financial assistance from the Works Progress Administration, a major New Deal agency created to generate employment through public works projects. It was built primarily as a 300,000-gallon water storage source. At the same time, it served as an elevated viewpoint for visitors to the regional park. Located at an elevation of more than 1,300 feet above sea level, the tower’s open-air observation deck offers a 360-degree view of the surrounding northern hills. On clear days, visitors can see all the way to downtown Pittsburgh. The platform at the top has antique terrazzo floors decorated with astrological and directional designs, along with a vaulted steel ceiling. However, the tower’s condition worsened over the years and changing safety regulations led authorities to close it to the public at the end of the 20th century. It has remained sealed for more than 30 years.

Financing commitments and structural repairs

A mix of public and private funding from regional charities and local governments has helped drive the long-delayed restoration. Plans to restore the site were first mentioned in the 2002 Allegheny County Parks Comprehensive Master Plan. The project later gained momentum after the Babcock Charitable Trust provided a $400,000 grant. Other funding comes from the Allegheny Foundation, the Richard King Mellon Foundation, Allegheny County government and community donations raised by the Allegheny County Parks Foundation. Jaime Filipek of the Allegheny County Parks Foundation confirmed the scope of the project, stating, “The project will restore one of North Park’s most iconic landmarks while transforming the surrounding site to improve accessibility, enhance the visitor experience, and expand opportunities for public use and community gathering.” Engineering checks carried out before construction determined that the main structure and iron core of the tower remain in good condition. Workers are carrying out targeted metal repairs, updating the 154-step staircase and top railings to meet current safety codes, and sandblasting the inside and outside of the tower. Historic photographs are also used to help choose paint colors that match the original appearance of the 1937 tower.

Revitalize surrounding park grounds

The project will also bring major changes to the area around the tower. The landscape is being redesigned in the Prairie School style that was originally introduced to North Park by its founding landscape architect, Paul Riis. Plans include a concrete plaza with stone seating walls, new shade trees, improved drainage, an expanded parking lot with accessible spaces and a pedestrian path around the site. A one-acre native wildflower meadow will also be planted along the main driveway leading to the tower. Joey-Linn Ulrich, executive director of the parks foundation, highlighted the importance of reopening the observation tower: “The North Park Observation Tower has been a silent witness to cherished memories for generations. Restoring this treasured landmark is about reconnecting our community with those moments and opening the door for new ones to be created.” County Executive Sara Innamorato also described the tower as a “treasured piece of our history,” and said the completed project will bring back an experience once enjoyed by generations of local residents.

Operations and expected completion schedule

Work on the tower began in 2026, while landscaping and access improvements around the site are expected to continue through 2027. If work remains on schedule, the tower is expected to reopen to the public in 2027. After reopening, visitors will be able to access the tower during scheduled public hours and participate in guided educational activities led by Allegheny County park rangers. The Allegheny County Parks and Facilities Management Departments will oversee the long-term maintenance and daily operations of the site.