Public Safety Efforts in South Side Nightlife District
Published on August 29, 2025
The City of Pittsburgh Enhances Coverage and Public Safety Efforts in South Side Nightlife District
The City of Pittsburgh has continued to implement and expand a comprehensive public safety strategy to address concerns in the South Side business district, with emphasis on increased police presence, focused enforcement to decrease the presence of minors, proactive community engagement, and the planning of alternative youth focused activities.
Through the collaborative efforts of the Mayor’s Office, City Council, the Department of Public Safety, the Office of Nighttime Economy, the South Side Hospitality Partnership and community stakeholders, we’ve seen encouraging improvements in the South Side business district through several coordinated initiatives. These collaborations have helped to improve coordination, align resources and encourage accountability across agencies and stakeholders.
A key component has been the increased police presence on weekends, with each police zone contributing additional resources – when available - to assist on the South Side during peak hours. In addition to this, we’ve collaborated with the Pennsylvania State Police troopers to receive support on weekends.
So far this year, Pittsburgh Police officers have seized 68 firearms on the South Side, compared with 60 firearms recovered in all of 2024. Proactively removing illegal guns from our streets is a crucial element in reducing gun violence in the E. Carson St. corridor. Since the start of 2024, there have been two shootings in the South Side and all forcible felonies, with the exception of robberies, have decreased in the first seven months of 2025, compared with the previous year, reflecting a downward trend in violent incidents.
This sustained commitment—now in its third year—has contributed to notable progress in crime prevention, though we remain cautious and realistic. Since the start of 2024, there have been two shootings in the South Side, reflecting a downward trend in violent incidents. We know one violent weekend can quickly erase months of good work and remain committed to proactively working to prevent these incidents before they occur.
Another important step has been our collaboration with the Allegheny County Juvenile Probation Department. Access to the South Side has been restricted for youth currently on electronic monitoring. Their devices are now programmed to trigger alerts if they enter the area, allowing probation officers to take immediate action. This measure has added an important layer of accountability for at-risk youth and has decreased the presence of minors in spaces reserved for adults, reducing potential risks like exposure to alcohol, weapons, or unsafe situations.
We’ve also engaged local community leaders and stakeholders to help reinforce safety messaging, with an emphasis on discouraging unsupervised youth from congregating on the South Side. In addition, CitiParks has expanded alternative programming and recreational activities to provide youth with safe, constructive options during peak nightlife hours.
On Friday, September 5, 2025, CitiParks will begin hosting Late Night Basketball at the newly renovated West Penn Recreation Center (9pm-12am). Late Night Basketball is intended to provide a fun, safe space for youth to come together in the city, and will consist of open gym basketball, a live DJ, food trucks, and more!
While challenges remain, the combined impact of these efforts demonstrates our commitment to creating a safer, more welcoming environment for residents, visitors, and businesses on the South Side.
Olga George
Press Secretary
Office of the Mayor
olga.george@pittsburghpa.gov
412-627-0679