About this Location

Facility Overview

The Friendship-Cedarville Parking Plaza (officially known by the Public Parking Authority of Pittsburgh as the Friendship/Cedarville Lot) is a convenient municipal off-street surface parking facility situated at the junction of Cedarville Street and Friendship Avenue in Pittsburgh, PA 15224. Serving the boundary of Pittsburgh's lively Bloomfield and Friendship neighborhoods, this open-air surface lot provides an organized, ground-level parking option just steps from the bustling Liberty Avenue commercial corridor.

Because it is a single-level open-air lot, the facility features completely unobstructed overhead headroom with no vertical height restrictions. This layout makes it exceptionally well-suited for all types of passenger and utility vehicles, including standard sedans, compact crossovers, large pickup trucks (such as Ford F-Series and Chevrolet Silverados), full-size SUVs, conversion vans, and commercial service vans that often cannot enter height-restricted subterranean or multi-deck parking garages.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

The facility enjoys an enviable position near premier medical facilities, diverse dining, and cultural attractions throughout Pittsburgh's East End:

AHN West Penn Hospital: Located less than two blocks away (approximately a 2- to 4-minute walk), this lot serves as an economical, hassle-free alternative to hospital garage decks for patients, visitors, nurses, and clinic staff.
Bloomfield Commercial Corridor (Liberty Avenue): Merely two blocks away (a 4-minute walk), featuring Pittsburgh's celebrated Little Italy, packed with iconic eateries and pubs such as Tessaro's, The Pleasure Bar, Lot 17, and Ritter's Diner.
Bloomfield Saturday Market: Just 0.3 miles away on Liberty Avenue, drawing vibrant weekend crowds for local produce, artisan foods, and street vendors.
UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh: Located approximately 0.6 miles north along Penn Avenue, reachable in a 12-minute walk or a brief 3-minute drive.
Penn Avenue Arts & Commercial District: Roughly a 6- to 8-minute walk to independent art galleries, creative studios, and eclectic dining spots spanning Garfield and Bloomfield.
Friendship Park & Historic District: Just down Friendship Avenue, offering shaded green spaces, historic Victorian architecture, and pleasant walking routes.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Ingress and egress are straightforward, with curb-cut driveway access directly off Cedarville Street near Friendship Avenue. Unlike massive multi-story downtown parking structures that experience heavy departure gridlock, this surface lot allows motorists to pull directly out and disperse via Cedarville Street or Friendship Avenue to main traffic arteries.

Drivers can quickly connect east and west via Liberty Avenue, Penn Avenue, or Baum Boulevard, providing fast routes to Bigelow Boulevard into Downtown Pittsburgh or eastward toward East Liberty and Shadyside. For public transit users, major Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) bus routes—including the 54, 64, 86, 87, and 88—operate regular service along Liberty and Penn Avenues within 2 to 4 blocks. In addition, the Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway Negley Station is situated less than a mile away for rapid, dedicated busway transit across Allegheny County.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Open-air surface parking with clearly demarcated parking stalls and directional driving lanes.
Zero height limits, accommodating high-profile SUVs, work vans, and trucks with roof racks.
Pay-by-plate digital multi-space pay kiosk accepting major credit cards and debit cards.
Mobile payment integration through the ParkMobile app, allowing remote session starts and extensions.
Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) camera enforcement for efficient operations.
Designated ADA accessible parking stalls near sidewalk curb cuts for step-free mobility.
Perimeter lighting providing nighttime visibility across the tarmac.
On-site 24/7 Smart Boot return bin, an official drop-off point for Pittsburgh Parking Authority equipment.

Ideal For

Hospital Visitors & Outpatients: Individuals visiting Allegheny Health Network (AHN) West Penn Hospital seeking affordable, easily accessible parking close to medical pavilions.
Diners & Nightlife Enthusiasts: Evening patrons frequenting Liberty Avenue's renowned Italian restaurants, casual taverns, and neighborhood lounges.
Weekend Shoppers: Visitors browsing the Bloomfield Saturday Market, local bakeries, and specialty grocers.
Neighborhood Commuters & Employees: Local East End workforce and healthcare professionals needing predictable daily or permit-based neighborhood parking.

Visitor & Driver Tips

When using this lot, take note of the following practical recommendations:

Use ParkMobile: Download and set up the ParkMobile app before arriving. Always confirm that your vehicle's license plate number and state are entered correctly into the app, as parking validation is linked directly to automated camera plate scanning.
Time Your Arrival: Spaces turn over frequently throughout the day, but peak occupancy occurs during weekday morning hospital shift changes and on Friday and Saturday evenings during prime dining hours.
Sunday Parking: Pittsburgh Parking Authority neighborhood meter regulations typically do not enforce charges on Sundays, making this lot a popular free parking option for weekend visitors (always verify posted signage on-site).
Winter Weather: During heavy winter snowfalls, exercise caution as open-air surface lots may encounter temporary snow accumulation before municipal plowing and salting crews complete neighborhood routes.