Tribute to Children Site, Fred Rogers Statue, to Get Maintenance,
Infrastructure Updates Starting in June

The Tribute to Children monument will be temporarily closed beginning in June. The infrastructure update includes repairs to the concrete deck and steps, new waterproofing, replacement of railings, and improved lighting. The platform work will be followed by the annual cleaning of the bronze statue of Pittsburgh’s beloved Fred Rogers.

This is the first major update to the Tribute to Children site since its dedication in 2009. Maintenance of the site is coordinated between the Sports & Exhibition Authority and Colcom Foundation. Tribute to Children is a gift from Colcom Foundation, which has committed to pay for the maintenance costs for the site. The monument was donated by Colcom Foundation to Family Communications, Inc. (now known as The Fred Rogers Company), which then transferred it to the SEA.

Open year-round, the public art site was designed, developed and donated to the region as truly a “tribute to children” through the legacy of Fred Rogers by his dear friend Cordelia S. May, one of the region’s leading philanthropists of the 20th century. Mrs. May ensured that the site would not require any taxpayer dollars. Mrs. May’s legacy and affinity for enhancing western Pennsylvania remains alive through the work of Colcom Foundation and Laurel Foundation.

“Updating and maintaining the Tribute to Children monument and Fred Rogers statue is an important part of preserving one of the most visited sites on Pittsburgh’s North Shore,” said Taylor Blice, SEA’s Facilities Director. “The maintenance and upgrades will require a reinstallation of the bronze statue of Fred Rogers and will include a protective fence around the site during the project,” said Blice.

“After eight years of exposure to the outdoor elements, and an opportunity to improve the lighting and overall presentation of this visitor destination, we are pleased to support the maintenance and infrastructure updates for Tribute to Children,” said Timothy Inglis, President of Colcom Foundation. “This work will ensure the beauty and integrity of this important landmark. We appreciate the patience of all those planning to visit this site this summer,” added Inglis.

Tribute to Children was designed by Pittsburgh architect Louis D. Astorino. The  general contractor for this update is Carl Walker Construction, Inc., and the project is being managed by Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.  Check the SEA website (www.pgh-sea.com)  for updates when Tribute to Children will re-open, anticipated in late summer.