Grant for wharf trail presented

Tuesday, June 08, 2004

State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Michael DiBerardinis yesterday handed a $300,000 grant to the Riverlife Task Force to create a Mon Wharf link between the Eliza Furnace Trail and Point State Park.

Together with an earlier $365,000 grant from the state Department of Transportation, the money will be used for construction of a retaining wall and a gently sloping, flood-proof berm containing trees, grass and shrubs.

The berm will run the length of the wharf between the Smithfield Street Bridge and the Fort Pitt Bridge, separating the wharf parking area from the bicycling and walking trail that will run along the riverbank.

The Mon Wharf Landing project, part of the Riverlife Task Force's plans for a Three Rivers Park, will reduce the number of parking spaces on the wharf from 600 to 400. Construction is expected to begin Oct. 1.