A new Pittsburgh Walk of Fame is coming to the Strip District. Here's what to know.
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Southwestern Pennsylvania has birthed and become home to countless men and women who have made an imprint on American culture. Now, they'll forever be physically embedded in Pittsburgh's history in the Strip District.
Fred Rogers, Andy Warhol, Wiz Khalifa, Gene Kelly, Franco Harris, Christina Aguilera, Jonas Salk, Billy Porter, George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. The list goes on and on. These are just some of the notable people who have deep ties to Southwestern Pennsylvania.
They and countless others could soon be recognized with permanent bronze stars on the future Pittsburgh Walk of Fame.
Nancy Polinsky Johnson is the executive director of the nonprofit behind the project and she says she's excited about the people who will soon be able to be honored with a bronze star.
"Everybody I talked to said, 'What a great idea,'" Johnson said.
The concept came to her after a visit to a Walk of Fame in St. Louis, similar to that in Hollywood.
"I thought, 'Oh my gosh,' we have so many people from the Pittsburgh area that could qualify for something like this, we've got to do something like this in Pittsburgh," Johnson said.
It took years to put the pieces together, but she's founded a nonprofit and partnered with McCaffrey to develop a special attraction along the five-block stretch on Smallman Street at The Terminal.
"People who are walking along this sidewalk will be able to read it as they walk. People walking along the upper level, the dock here will be able to look down and read the plaques and see the stars as they walk," Johnson said.
In the center part of the lower sidewalk, there will be bronze stars reading the names, accompanied by plaques describing their stories. Ultimately, Johnson hopes to have an app made that people can use to look up more information on the honorees.
"Honorees have to have either been born in the Pittsburgh region, spent their formative years here, their creative years here, or done their formidable work here," Johnson said.
They also must have left a mark on our country, whether in the arts, sports world, philanthropy, medical discovery, or scientific invention.
Johnson looks forward to teaching folks about everything that's come out of the Pittsburgh area.
"This has been 12 years in the making, a vision of mine, and to know that it's actually now going to happen leaves me excited beyond words," Johnson said.
Johnson said they're going to start asking for nominations from the public early next year, with hopes to induct the first 10 people by the fall. They'll add more honorees every year.
The nominations will go before a large selection committee of about 200 people from the 10-county region. They will include leaders from various institutions who are invested in and have an understanding of the area.
More information about the plans for the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame can be found online.
