Details about new restrictions for teens at Pittsburgh's Market Square

• Pittsburgh has implemented a new rule restricting unaccompanied minors from Market Square during certain hours.
• This policy was created in response to business complaints and safety concerns regarding disruptive behavior.
• The restriction is described as a temporary, short-term measure, but its duration is not yet determined.

Under a new rule, teens can no longer visit Pittsburgh's Downtown Market Square without an adult present — at least not in large groups during certain times.

As of April 30, a rule created by Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and Pittsburgh Public Safety Department restricted unaccompanied minors' access to Market Square during busy hours. Young people can still visit the restaurants and shops in the heart of Downtown, but anyone under 18 will need to be with an adult if they stop by during the afternoon or evening in the latter half of the week.

What times are unaccompanied minors banned from Market Square in Pittsburgh?

Under a new rule, anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult 21 or older Thursday to Sunday between 3 p.m. and midnight when they visit Market Square in Pittsburgh's Downtown, WESA reported.

The rule took effect Thursday, April 30.

Why are unaccompanied kids, teens banned from Market Square during certain hours?

The move was a joint effort from Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and Pittsburgh Public Safety Department, WESA reported. It came in response to businesses complaining about disruptive behavior from teens, with Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership spokesperson Richard Hooper saying the policy was implemented after "a series of safety concerns."

"There will be a visible, coordinated presence of private security, Pittsburgh Police and youth outreach teams focused on engagement and de-escalation," he said in a statement.

The new rule was part of "ongoing Downtown safety efforts," said Pittsburgh Public Safety spokesperson Cara Cruz.

The restrictions were added to an ongoing special event permit Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership obtained to promote the square, according to WESA.

Some unaccompanied teens allowed to visit Pittsburgh's Market Square, large groups told to leave

The rule did not appear to be enforced for small groups of teens passing through or getting food on May 9, though a larger group of about 15 to 20 kids was asked to leave, CBS News reported.

Von Madden, founder of the youth outreach group AIM, told CBS News that whether or not kids would be allowed while unaccompanied depended on the size of their group and the nature of their activities.

"I don't think they are going to be kicked out of the space for buying food or walking by," Madden said. "The policy was so they're allowed to hang out, but if they're causing disruption, they were asked to move."

How long will unaccompanied minors face restrictions at Market Square?

It's not clear how long teens will be restricted from accessing Market Square alone during certain hours.

Hooper called the policy a "short-term step aimed at managing activity during peak hours."

Cruz described the policy as temporary, though she added that "the duration of this effort is yet to be determined."

Have Pittsburgh teens been disruptive, violent in Market Square?

There have been a handful of disruptive and violent incidents, some involving teens, over the years at Market Square, the Tribune-Review reported.

The most recent incident took place the evening of May 11, when a man was shot twice in the chest and taken to a hospital in critical condition, according to police. Witnesses said he had been in an altercation with another man in Market Square prior to the shooting. No arrests had been made by May 12 morning.

A larger disturbance took place at the end of March, when about 40 people threw trash at storefronts, swung shops' outdoor equipment, blocked sidewalks and sprayed one another with pepper spray, according to police. Seven teens were charged with disorderly conduct.

In December 2025, a man was shot in the leg during a fight, with the shooter fleeing the scene. The month prior, an adult man was charged after allegedly punching a police officer at the city's annual Light Up Night, and police issued a dispersal order when teens began to get rowdy.

In February 2024, a group of six men sent an unhoused man to the hospital after they surrounded him and beat him. One Pittsburgh man, 18-year-old David Rivera, was charged with aggravated assault.

A Pittsburgh police officer suffered a hand injury during an incident involving juveniles fightingat Market Square's Five Guys fast food restaurant in November 2024. One juvenile was arrested in connection to the injury.

Teens facing restrictions from Market Square call for more 'third spaces'

In the wake of the new rule, teens are calling for more third spaces, or social spaces, outside of the home and the workplace or school, WESA reported.

"It's really not fair, to be honest," said Ousmane Conde-Cyrus, a senior at City Charter High School, which is located near Market Square. "You have to be 18 to go to a public space? That doesn't really make any sense."

City High senior Jay Siwa told WESA that she and her friends have discussed the need for third spaces for a long time.

"We need third spaces where we can study, where we can talk to each other, relax, also have some physical release — maybe some activities like the gym,” Siwa said.

Christopher Watts, Boys and Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania's CEO, said the city's youth must be centered as Pittsburgh seeks long-term solutions.

"The time is now to invest in these types of opportunities alongside a comprehensive strategy that includes collaboration with outreach workers, public safety, and the Downtown community," Watts said. "When young people are engaged, supported, and given spaces to belong, Downtown — and our entire region — becomes stronger."

Pittsburgh city council looking for more data on Market Square crimes

During a May 6 Pittsburgh city council meeting, council members voted to move forward with legislation to regularly receive details on violent crime data at least once per quarter with the goal of better understanding if teens are causing disruptions, InformUp reported.

"We’re talking a lot about violent crime. We’re talking a lot about kids," said Council Member Barb Warwick of Greenfield, who sponsored the bill. "Let’s put some numbers behind the feelings, then we can really understand the situation that we’re dealing with."

The council is set to hold a post-agenda meeting on the topic on May 20.