About Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Historically known for its steel industry, Pittsburgh has reinvented itself as a leader in healthcare, education, technology, and financial services. It is the second-most populous city in Pennsylvania, with over 302,000 residents and counting, and is celebrated for its 90 distinct neighborhoods, each contributing to the city’s vibrant and diverse culture.
The Goal
Community engagement in Pittsburgh has evolved significantly over the years.
Prior to 2020, the city depended on in-person public meetings to gather feedback, which often faced challenges such as low attendance and geographic limitations. Many residents could not participate due to work schedules, family commitments, or accessibility issues. This limited approach to engagement frequently reinforced feelings of distrust and apathy toward local government. Moreover, organizing and hosting these meetings proved to be both resource-intensive and costly, given the limited turnout.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted these challenges, demonstrating the need for a new approach. This led the city to explore online engagement tools with the aim of creating a digital hub where residents could easily connect and participate in community projects and follow projects from planning to implementation.
It was essential that this new platform not only addressed practical needs, such as ease of use and collaboration between departments, but also prioritized accessibility, aligning with the city’s recent guidelines on public engagement.
The Approach
Impressed with its user-friendly interface, extensive range of tools, customization options, and strong accessibility features, the city launched EngagePGH on Social Pinpoint in July 2020.
Initially used for a few neighborhood planning and park projects, EngagePGH quickly gained widespread adoption. Since implementation, the city has launched 227 projects (and counting!) on the platform, making it an essential tool for nearly every city department to inform and connect with the community.
“Today, the platform serves as the city’s primary online hub where residents can access information, share their opinions, and engage in various community initiatives.” – Martina Wolf Battistone
Combined with other online and in-person efforts, EngagePGH is a key component of the city’s robust hybrid engagement strategy. This approach integrates the strengths of digital tools with traditional methods, ensuring broad and effective resident participation through both virtual and face-to-face interactions.
“I use EngagePGH for every engagement, in-person or online. Residents see their voices reflected in the public record instantly, which greatly impacts my ability to build trust and influence outcomes for the public.”
– Martina Wolf Battistone, Environmental Planner
The Result
By offering real-time participation through EngagePGH, the city has significantly boosted engagement, reaching nearly 300,000 people and gathering over 37,000 contributions online.
Internally, the platform has streamlined staff workflows, saving time and money. Its centralized nature ensures that critical information is accessible across departments, allowing for seamless transitions from planning to implementation.
In recognition of its achievements, the City of Pittsburgh received the IAP2 USA Core Values Award for Organization of the Year and an Honorable Mention from IAP2 International in 2023. These accolades underscore the city’s dedication to innovative and effective community engagement.
“Pittsburgh’s shift to managing hundreds of projects online, while continuing in-person efforts and creatively engaging community members through efforts like social media, community events, and local partnerships, highlights its strong commitment to effective and widespread community involvement.”
– Martina Wolf Battistone
Looking Ahead
Pittsburgh is dedicated to fully leveraging EngagePGH to boost engagement and creativity in community outreach. By continually applying insights from the platform, the city aims to refine its strategies, build trust, and ensure decisions reflect residents’ needs and preferences.
To learn more about Pittsburgh’s approach to community engagement, check out our recent webinar: “An Award-Winning Strategy for Public Participation: How Pittsburgh Engaged 20,000!“
