Hundreds of thousands of dollars are coming to Pittsburgh’s parks and trails in 2022, Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration announced this week.
Portions of the $70 million granted by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources include thousands of dollars toward recreation and outdoor spaces in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.
A $100,600 grant will go to Riverlife, a nonprofit focused on redeveloping the city’s riverfronts, to prepare a study for the extension of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail along the West End Bridge. As it exists now, there is no way to easily access or cross the bridge from the river trails, the organization noted because it is only accessible from steep staircases.
Last year, Riverlife identified the West End Bridge as one of the most complicated and potentially expensive connection sites.
Other grants include $112,900 for rehabilitation of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail along Pittsburgh’s North Side, plus a $100,000 grant to improve West Penn Park in Polish Hill with new play equipment, improved ADA access and landscaping.
“This is a great way to close out the year,” said Mayor Bill Peduto in a statement on the city’s grants.
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens received $250,000 to improve the garden center at Mellon Park. Work on the area will include restoring the glass roof of the greenhouse, plus installing solar panels and shade structures.
The grants come from the DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program, and the money will help 152 projects to rehabilitate or develop parks and facilities, plus the protection of approximately 4,400 total acres of open space.
“Our outdoor places are among the things that tie us all together — a place to meet for our health, for enjoyment, for recreation and a draw for tourists,” Mr. Wolf wrote in a statement.
“Many of the projects being funded — improvements to local parks, trails and river access — bring these amenities closer to home, requiring less driving and expense to experience at a time during the pandemic when these opportunities are recognized as critical to our well-being.”
The biggest grant in the county went to South Fayette: $1 million to rehabilitate and develop Fairview Park through the construction of a baseball field with bleachers, a scoreboard, lighting and utilities. Additional money will go to accessibility and landscaping.
Elsewhere in Allegheny County, $250,000 will go to Boyce Park for construction of tennis and pickleball courts, pavilions, walkways and rain gardens, plus installation of utilities, improved ADA access and landscaping.
The Allegheny Land Trust will receive four grants, including a combined total of $822,000 to acquire land in Sewickley Hills, Ohio Township, Hampton and Franklin Park for open space and recreation.
Riverfront Park in Coraopolis will get $306,500 for the construction of an amphitheater, a gazebo, a comfort facility and an internal loop trail. The money will also go to install play equipment.
“This important $70 million investment in outdoor recreation, infrastructure and conservation will leverage approximately $196 million in local, county and private investments, giving every state dollar more power for the public good,” Mr. Wolf said.
Mick Stinelli: mstinelli@post-gazette.com; 412-263-1869; and on Twitter: @MickStinelli
First Published: December 31, 2021, 8:52 p.m.
