About this Location

Facility Overview

The Trees Field Parking Lot is a paved open-air surface parking facility situated along Robinson Street Extension on the upper campus of the University of Pittsburgh in the historic Oakland/Terrace Village neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA (15219). Positioned adjacent to Pitt\'s prominent athletic corridor and Trees Hall, this facility offers essential parking capacity on the hillside overlooking the campus. Because it is a surface lot without overhead barriers, low ceilings, or garage entry gates, it features unrestricted vertical clearance. This makes it an accommodating choice not only for standard sedans, compact cars, and crossovers, but also for full-sized pickup trucks, tall SUVs, and vans with roof racks or sports cargo carriers.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Trees Field Parking Lot serves as a strategic gateway to the University of Pittsburgh’s premier athletic and recreational complex. Situated on the upper campus rim, visitors have immediate access to several major university hubs and medical centers:

Petersen Events Center (\'The Pete\'): Home to Pitt Panthers NCAA basketball, major arena concerts, and commencement ceremonies, located within a 5- to 8-minute walk (approx. 0.3 miles).
Fitzgerald Field House & Trees Hall: Historic facilities hosting Pitt volleyball, wrestling, gymnastics, and the Trees Hall Olympic pool, directly adjacent or a 2- to 4-minute walk away.
Pitt Sports Dome & Petersen Sports Complex: Baseball, softball, and soccer facilities (Charles L. Cost Field, Vartabedian Field, Ambrose Urbanic Field) are less than a 5-minute walk down Robinson Street Extension.
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (University Drive Campus): Located just up the hill, within a 7- to 10-minute walk (0.4 miles).
Pitt Lower Campus & Cathedral of Learning: Reachable in 12 to 15 minutes on foot, or via complimentary campus shuttle services descending the hillside.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Access to the lot is primarily via Robinson Street Extension, branching off Allequippa Street or Terrace Street. Navigating up the Oakland hillside involves steady inclines, so drivers should exercise caution during winter freeze-thaw cycles common to western Pennsylvania. Ingress and egress are streamlined via wide drive lanes, although traffic along Allequippa Street and Robinson Street can bottleneck following major events at Petersen Events Center. The area is exceptionally well served by Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) bus routes running along Allequippa Street (such as route 83) and Fifth/Forbes Avenues below. In addition, University of Pittsburgh campus shuttles make routine stops along the upper campus corridor, providing effortless connection down to central Oakland and university dormitories. Drivers arriving via Interstate 376 (Parkway East) can take the Boulevard of the Allies or Forbes Avenue exits to navigate directly up to the facility.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Unrestricted Headroom: Open-sky surface parking suitable for oversized SUVs, tall utility trucks, and roof-racked vehicles.
Lighting & Campus Security: Regularly patrolled by University of Pittsburgh Campus Police and equipped with high-illumination area lighting.
Accessible Parking: Designated ADA accessible parking spaces positioned near paved entry/exit pathways.
Digital Payment Convenience: Managed under university parking regulations, supporting mobile transactions through ParkMobile or automated on-site pay kiosks during designated visitor hours.
Campus Shuttle Proximity: Walking access to Pitt shuttle transit stops for easy campus-wide connectivity.

Ideal For

Panther Game-Day Fans: Spectators attending basketball at Petersen Events Center, volleyball at Fitzgerald Field House, or baseball at the Petersen Sports Complex.
University Visitors & Commuters: Students, faculty, and visiting scholars needing parking near upper-campus dormitories (such as Sutherland Hall) and recreational facilities.
VA Hospital Visitors: Individuals visiting patients or attending outpatient appointments at the University Drive VA Medical Center.
Concert & Arena Attendees: Visitors attending major live entertainment, shows, or university lectures at \'The Pete.\'

Visitor & Driver Tips

During sold-out Pitt basketball games or major arena events at Petersen Events Center, upper-campus roads experience heavy congestion; arriving 45 to 60 minutes early is strongly recommended. Review posted signs upon arrival, as lot permissions and rates frequently alternate between student/faculty permit parking during weekday business hours and paid public/visitor or special-event flat rates on evenings and weekends. If you plan to head to the central or lower campus, consider taking advantage of Pitt’s upper campus shuttle network to save yourself the steep walk back up the hillside.