Pittsburgh Local Organizing Committee Unveils Comprehensive Environmental & Sustainability Legacy Plan for 2026 NFL Draft

As Pittsburgh prepares to welcome an estimated 500,000 to 700,000 visitors for the 2026 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Local Organizing Committee (POC) today announced a comprehensive environmental and sustainability legacy plan designed to ensure the event leaves a lasting, positive impact across the region.

As part of site preparations for the Draft campus on the North Shore, a limited number of trees are scheduled to be removed at the end of March to accommodate temporary event infrastructure and public safety requirements. The City of Pittsburgh's Forestry Division will oversee the removal and facilitate the swift inch-for-inch replanting of trees, with up to 300 new plantings anticipated this year.

Beyond event build preparations, the POC’s broader environmental strategy centers on long-term investment in tree canopy expansion, citywide beautification and food recovery – initiatives set to extend well beyond Draft week.

“The NFL Draft is more than a three-day event, it’s an opportunity to create lasting, positive impact,” said Jerad Bachar, President & CEO of VisitPITTSBURGH. “From expanding our urban tree canopy to reducing food waste and beautifying our region, we are committed to ensuring this global moment leaves our community stronger than before.”

Urban & Community Forestry Environmental Legacy

The POC has partnered with the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy (PPC) to plant an additional 500 trees across Pittsburgh and Allegheny County as a part of the Draft’s environmental legacy.

With support from The Heinz Endowments, WPC will plant 400 large-caliper trees between March 2026 and spring 2027, enhancing highly visible riverfront and downtown “viewshed” areas – including segments of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail and North Shore Riverfront Park – while prioritizing neighborhoods where canopy gaps are most pronounced.

Target communities include Homewood, Beltzhoover, Hazelwood, Garfield, McKeesport, Clairton, Penn Hills and other Allegheny County municipalities.

”WPC is heading into its eighteenth year of community-based tree plantings throughout the region, and we are thrilled to expand this important work through this partnership with VisitPITTSBURGH and the Pittsburgh Organizing Committee,” says Jeff Bergman, WPC’s Associate Vice President of Urban Forestry and Community Greening. “Trees bring so many benefits to communities—cleaner air and water, improved human health and wildlife habitat, cooler temperatures in summer, and higher property values in neighborhoods. They also offer volunteers and community members a straightforward and practical way to participate in improving the quality of life in their communities.”

The project leverages WPC’s proven TreeVitalize Pittsburgh framework, which has resulted in more than 42,000 trees planted across Western Pennsylvania with the support of more than 18,600 volunteers.

WPC plantings will begin as early as March 21 in the Strip District and March 28 in McKeesport, with additional locations continuing throughout 2026 and 2027.

In parallel, the PPC, which brings decades of experience planting and maintaining thousands of trees across Pittsburgh’s parks, will plant an additional 100 trees as part of a citywide effort focused on green spaces and project areas in neighborhoods that lack adequate tree coverage. Each tree will receive consistent maintenance, watering, and care for two full years to support healthy establishment and long-term growth.

“Major moments like the NFL Draft bring incredible energy to our city, and we’re proud to ensure that this one leaves a living legacy. By planting 100 trees in neighborhoods that need them most, we’re making an investment that will benefit Pittsburghers not just this season, but for generations to come,” said Catherine Qureshi, CEO of Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. “Trees improve our air quality, provide shade, manage stormwater, and create healthier, more resilient communities. We are grateful to partner with VisitPITTSBURGH to turn this exciting moment into something lasting that will continue to grow alongside our city.”

Together, these efforts will strengthen Pittsburgh’s urban canopy, improve air and water quality, and create volunteer opportunities — ensuring the 2026 NFL Draft delivers measurable, long-term environmental returns.

Beautification: A Greener, Cleaner Welcome

In advance of Draft week, local partners are leading a coordinated beautification effort – supported by the Eden Hall, Laurel and Colcom Foundations – to enhance key corridors, gateways and gathering spaces throughout the region.

WPC will spearhead downtown enhancements, including:

• Installation of 400 hanging flower baskets throughout Downtown and across the three Sister Bridges for the spring season
• Planting of black & yellow inspired pansies in 420 street planters across Downtown
• Tree and perennial plantings at the new General Robinson Community Flower Garden, a space being developed in advance of the Draft

Complementing these efforts, the POC is partnering with Allegheny CleanWays through its Immaculate Collection initiative to sponsor and steward a four-mile stretch of roadway from Pittsburgh International Airport into the city.

This corridor cleanup is part of a broader regional effort to remove litter, restore highly visible roadways and reinforce civic pride as the region prepares to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors.

Reducing Food Waste, Feeding the Community

In partnership with 412 Food Rescue – with program support underwritten by The Heinz Endowments – the POC is committed to ensuring the Draft has a robust food recovery strategy to mitigate surplus food generated during sanctioned Draft events.

Using its Food Rescue Hero technology platform, 412 Food Rescue will coordinate volunteers to safely and efficiently redirect surplus food from Draft-related events to local nonprofits serving neighbors facing food insecurity. Organizers estimate they will be able to redistribute the equivalent of approximately 50,000 meals to people in need.

“As a lifelong Pittsburgher, I’m proud to show the nation and the world how we do things here,” said Alyssa Cholodofsky, CEO of 412 Food Rescue. “This city is a hub for both technological innovation and community activation. When you put the right tools in the hands of committed volunteers, regular people can turn potential waste into abundance at an extraordinary scale. The model built in Pittsburgh is now fighting food insecurity and methane emissions across North America, and the NFL Draft is an incredible opportunity to demonstrate what it can accomplish.”

Founded in 2015, 412 Food Rescue has grown into the nation’s largest volunteer-powered food rescue organization, mobilizing more than 26,000 local volunteers. To date, the organization has diverted more than 39 million pounds of food from landfills in Western Pennsylvania — the equivalent of more than 33 million meals — while preventing over 83 million pounds of CO₂ emissions.

By redirecting food rather than sending it to landfills, the initiative will both reduce environmental impact and deliver direct community benefit – transforming potentially 60,000 pounds of food waste into meaningful access for neighbors in need.

To learn more about the 2026 NFL Draft, visit NFLDraftPittsburgh.com.