About this Location

Facility Overview

The Clark East Lot is an open-air surface parking facility situated at 501 Martindale Street in the vibrant North Shore district of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Positioned directly adjacent to the historic D.L. Clark Building—the famed birthplace of the iconic Clark Bar confection and current corporate headquarters of ALCO Parking Corporation—this lot provides seamless, ground-level parking right in the core of the city's premier sports and entertainment corridor. Because it is a spacious, paved open-air lot with no overhead barriers or parking decks, the Clark East Lot features virtually unlimited vertical clearance. This makes it an ideal parking solution not only for standard sedans and compact cars, but also for full-size pickup trucks, large SUVs, conversion vans, vehicles with roof racks or cargo carriers, and accessible wheelchair-conversion vans that frequently struggle with the restricted ceiling heights of indoor multi-level garages.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Strategically situated between the banks of the Allegheny River and the North Shore bypass, the Clark East Lot puts drivers within effortless reach of Pittsburgh’s biggest destinations. Baseball fans will appreciate that PNC Park, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, is merely a 3-to-5-minute walk (less than 0.2 miles) to the southwest, making this one of the most convenient lots for catching a summer game. Acrisure Stadium (home of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pitt Panthers football) and the premier live music venue Stage AE are both an easy 10-to-12-minute stroll along the scenic riverfront.

Cultural enthusiasts are just two blocks away from The Andy Warhol Museum, celebrating the pop art legend's life and works. Crossing the Roberto Clemente Bridge (6th Street Bridge) or Andy Warhol Bridge (7th Street Bridge) delivers visitors straight into the Downtown Cultural District, home to Heinz Hall, the Benedum Center, and the O'Reilly Theater. For pre-game and post-event dining, patrons are steps away from neighborhood favorites including the historic Clark Bar & Grill, Mike’s Beer Bar, North Shore Tavern, and Southern Tier Brewing Company.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

The facility features direct vehicular ingress and egress along Martindale Street, offering straightforward navigation that bypasses much of the gridlock that typically snarls the streets directly adjacent to stadium entry gates. It provides rapid connectivity to major vehicular arteries, including Interstate 279 (Fort Duquesne Bridge and North Shore Expressway), Pennsylvania Route 65 (Ohio River Boulevard), and Interstate 376 (Parkway East and West).

For parkers looking to use public transit, the lot sits within easy walking distance of the North Side Station on Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s light rail system (the "T"). Best of all, travel on the light rail system within the Free Fare Zone—which connects the North Shore stations across the river to Downtown stops like Gateway, Wood Street, and Steel Plaza—is completely free, allowing drivers to leave their car at Clark East Lot and access Downtown without paying an extra transit fare or moving their vehicle.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Expansive Open-Air Parking: Surface lot design with clear lane striping and unlimited overhead clearance suitable for oversized trucks, tall SUVs, and vans.
Event Day Management: Staffed by professional parking attendants implementing efficient directed parking procedures during major stadium events and sellouts.
Digital & Pre-Paid Reservations: Integrated with mobile reservation platforms (including ParkWhiz and ALCO Parking portals) for pre-sold game day and concert passes.
Safety & Visibility: Well-lit parking field equipped with overhead lighting fixtures for evening arrivals and post-game walkbacks.
Designated Accessible Spaces: Dedicated ADA-compliant parking stalls located near lot entryways for level, barrier-free access.

Ideal For

Pirates & Steelers Fans: Tailgaters and sports enthusiasts heading to PNC Park and Acrisure Stadium who want rapid highway access when the final whistle blows.
Concertgoers: Music lovers attending performances at Stage AE, Acrisure Stadium, or Downtown theaters.
Downtown Commuters: Daily office workers who prefer to park on the North Shore and take the free 'T' light rail across the river into the Golden Triangle.
Museum Visitors: Tourists exploring The Andy Warhol Museum, the National Aviary, and the North Shore Riverfront Trail.
Oversized Vehicle Drivers: Contractors, trade visitors, and owners of high-profile vehicles that cannot fit into standard North Shore garages.

Visitor & Driver Tips

During Pirates home games, Pitt Panthers matchups, and Steelers game days, all North Shore parking facilities enforce special event pricing and directed parking protocols, where attendants will guide your vehicle to a specific stall to maximize space and preserve smooth traffic flow. It is strongly advised to pre-book a parking pass via authorized event platforms such as ParkWhiz or the ALCO Parking pre-sold portal well ahead of high-demand events to guarantee your space. On major game days, plan to arrive at least 2 to 3 hours prior to kickoff or first pitch to avoid street closures along General Robinson and Federal Streets. When departing, using Martindale Street to reach the northern bypass or the I-279 on-ramps will save significant time compared to exiting south toward the crowded riverfront.