Rain Reclaim: Turning Vacant Lots into Green Solutions for Pittsburgh

January 14, 2026

Pittsburgh is turning rain into a resource. Pittsburgh Water, Mayor Corey O'Connor, City of Pittsburgh Department of City Planning, and WaterNow Alliance launch Rain Reclaim, a bold new effort to transform vacant lots into vibrant green stormwater infrastructure. This innovative project will help curb urban flooding in vulnerable neighborhoods, enhance local water quality, and breathe new life into underutilized spaces.

Rain Reclaim: Vacant Lots to Green Stormwater Infrastructure is a new pilot program that supports equitable, community-driven investment in low-income neighborhoods affected by flooding and combined sewer overflows. By putting vacant, underutilized spaces to work with green stormwater infrastructure, the program helps to reduce urban flooding, improve water quality, and provide multiple community and environmental benefits in areas that have historically experienced limited investment.

To further support the launch, a $100,000 grant from the Climate Smart Communities Initiative infuses the program with seed funding to support the selection and initial design of one or two vacant lot sites in the Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar neighborhood. More information about the award is available in the Climate Smart Community Awards announcement.

"Partnering with the City of Pittsburgh and the WaterNow Alliance on the Rain Reclaim Program is an effective way to transform underutilized, city-owned vacant lots into vibrant community assets and critical stormwater infrastructure," said Pittsburgh Water CEO Will Pickering. "This is more than just land reuse; it's a reinvestment in our neighborhoods, our environment, and our future," Pickering said. "Together, we're turning challenges into opportunities and creating a more resilient, sustainable Pittsburgh."

"Our neighborhoods deserve solutions like the Rain Reclaim Program that creates opportunities out of challenges," said Mayor Corey O'Connor. "This program will bring new purpose and life to vacant lots while creating innovative solutions to address serious flooding concerns for our neighbors. I'd like to thank Pittsburgh Water, WaterNow Alliance and our Sustainability and Resilience team for their work and this important investment in the Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar community."

Investing in Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar

Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar, situated at the top of the Negley Run Watershed, is well-suited for investment and improved stormwater management. A series of community meetings across the Negley Run Watershed, supported by UpstreamPgh, the Lincoln-Lemington Collaborative, the Lincoln-Lemington Community Consensus Group, and other local organizations also helped identify this neighborhood for the first Rain Reclaim projects.

An initial analysis of the City's vacant lots and their suitability for managing stormwater and delivering co-benefits such as urban cooling and neighborhood beautification, conducted by the City and Ethos Collaborative, helped identify a series of 12 potential project sites that were presented to the neighborhood community groups in early October. They are currently selecting one or two sites most suited for reinvestment and stormwater management.

Shaping a Resilient Future

Recently, the Rain Reclaim project team, in collaboration with the Lincoln-Lemington Consensus Group and Collaborative, hosted a community meeting to help shape the future of the neighborhood's stormwater management initiatives. Attendees engaged in a lively presentation and discussion while exploring initial design considerations and selecting their top site locations. Community members unable to attend can still participate in the selection process. Visit the Rain Reclaim Engage page to review the twelve proposed sites, share input, and cast your vote.

The project team will review the preferred sites selected by participating community members and depending upon funding availability will prepare design concepts for the top selected sites.

"The Lincoln Lemington Community Consensus Group is excited to be partnering with Water Now Alliance, The City of Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh Water in establishing the Rain Reclaim Green partnership in Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar," said Jo Anne Tippett, President of the Consensus Group's Green and Beautification Team. "This project is important to the community because the neighborhood floods during high rain events, and this management practice may result in decreased flooding."

"The Lincoln Lemington Collaborative is happy to partner with the City of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Water, and WaterNow Alliance to reduce flooding in the community and beautify vacant lots," said Sandra Glass, President. "The Rain Reclaim project is in alignment with the Lincoln Lemington Belmar vision plan, and we are excited to see it happen."

Pittsburgh Water's Commitment to Stormwater

In recent years, Pittsburgh Water has applied a wide-ranging approach to stormwater management that prioritizes sustainability, resilience, and community benefit. Through a combination of green infrastructure, gray infrastructure improvements, and public engagement, Pittsburgh Water strategically focuses efforts on projects designed to reduce runoff, minimize flooding, and protect water quality across Pittsburgh's neighborhoods.

These efforts include using tools like rain gardens, rain-capturing landscapes, and permeable surfaces, alongside ongoing investments in system-wide upgrades to improve capacity and performance. This integrated strategy not only helps manage the increasing challenges of climate change and aging infrastructure but also supports healthier, greener communities. The Rain Reclaim program represents an important opportunity to expand on these efforts while positively impacting historically disadvantaged neighborhoods. For more information about our stormwater program, please visit pgh2o.com/stormwater.

About Project Partners

Pittsburgh Water

Pittsburgh Water is the largest publicly owned and operated water, sewer, and stormwater authority in Pennsylvania. Serving around 500,000 customers, our organization treats and distributes drinking water, conveys sewage, and manages stormwater systems. Pittsburgh Water is committed to protecting public health and the environment through the advancement of key infrastructure projects that will transform our vital water systems now and for future generations.

City of Pittsburgh Department of City Planning Division of Sustainability and Resilience

The Sustainability and Resilience division coordinates the City's Climate Action Plan across departments and ensures compliance with environmental regulations and performance standards. It works with public partners to integrate high-performance practices into City operations and engages residents on climate investments in energy, waste, stormwater, and green spaces as part of neighborhood and comprehensive plans. The division also supports community-based organizations in environmental justice areas to advance climate goals and ensure equitable investment in vulnerable communities.

WaterNow Alliance

As a non-profit consultancy and member network, WaterNow partners with local water leaders across the US to champion environmentally sustainable water strategies so that people and the environment can thrive. WaterNow empowers its partners with the technical assistance, resources, and tools they need to implement innovative One Water drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater solutions in their communities.

Lincoln-Lemington Collaborative

The Lincoln-Lemington Collaborative, comprised of residents and community leaders, serves as Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar's Registered Community Organization. The Collaborative is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for all residents, businesses, and institutions in the neighborhood through land use planning, community safety, education, and health by harnessing local talents, skills, and resources.

Lincoln-Lemington Community Consensus Group

The Lincoln Lemington Community Consensus Group is comprised of community members from the Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar neighborhood, including residents and Aborigine American Indians. The Group's focus is on supporting and enhancing the wellbeing of the community through activities involving maintenance of green space and its beautification, health and wellness, culture and education, and public safety.