2. Blog

Calling all boaters and paddlers!

2013-05-09T12:39:09+00:00

{summary} Text version: Attention all boaters, kayakers, canoers and river users! Welcome back the Point State Park fountain on June 7 by decorating your watercraft with lights and surrounding the Point! We'll be turning on the fountain and its new lights for the very first time starting at 5:00 pm on June 7, and the eyes of the world will be on the Pittsburgh skyline. It's a great opportunity to showcase Pittsburgh's huge outdoor recreation community. Let's make sure the world knows how much we love this river city! Use LEDs, glowsticks, and holiday lights to decorate your boat that night and hit the water around sundown. Make sure to take photos of your creativity and upload them to Twitter, Instagram and Facebook using hashtags #Riverlights and #Pittsburgh. As always, please use extreme caution when using the rivers in low light conditions, and follow all rules of the river and the U.S. Coast Guard. More information about Riverlights at The Point at PointStatePark.com!

Riverlights at The Point is June 7

2013-04-29T16:30:34+00:00

{summary} You're invited to celebrate the grand return of the Point State Park Fountain on Friday, June 7, 2013! Join us for a free evening of fun, entertainment and dazzling lights on the water. Be there when the 150-foot fountain is turned back on for the first time. Riverlights at The Point kicks off the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival, so you know it's going to be an evening the whole family can enjoy. Full details available at PointStatePark.com, but here's a peek at what you can expect: RIBBON CUTTING You won't want to miss this historic moment! The festivities kick off with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 5:00 pm, during which the fountain will be dedicated and switched on for the first time. Watch the 150-foot column of water rise in the middle of a completely restored basin and plaza. MUSIC "Riverlights at The Point" coincides with the opening night of the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival. After the 5:00 pm fountain ribbon cutting ceremony, enjoy a FREE concert from headlining performers Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, with opening act Donora. Musical performances take place on the Dollar Bank stage on the city-side lawn of Point State Park. LIGHT Not only can you check out the fountain's spectacular new LED lighting, but Point State Park will also be lit at sunset by several temporary lighting installations commissioned specifically for “Riverlights at The Point.” Pittsburgh-based Lightwave International will debut “Pittsburgh: Spectral Ascending,” a collaboration with Berlin-based artist Yvette Mattern. Celebrating the confluence of Pittsburgh’s three rivers and the geography of the Point, “Pittsburgh: Spectral Ascending” consists of six laser projectors positioned on top of PPG Place aimed down at the top of the 150 foot fountain center column of water. “Pittsburgh: Spectral Ascending” will be visible at sundown on June 7 and will run through June 9. Mattern and Lightwave International previously collaborated on “Global Rainbow,” different variations of which have been produced in New York, Germany, France, and the Cultural Olympiad in London preceding the 2012 Olympic Summer Games. Laser special effects by Lightwave International can be seen in the current Universal Pictures film “Oblivion” starring Tom Cruise. Additionally, Pittsburgh-based Clear Story Studio and Braddock-based Zero Fossil will present 20-foot solar illuminated flags positioned throughout the Park. Each flag features LED lighting powered by Zero Fossil’s “JuiceBox,” a locally produced individual power source with solar panels that charge during daylight while dispensing up to six hours of energy at night. SPECIAL INFO FOR BOATERS AND PADDLERS Hey river users: decorate your watercraft with lights and hit the rivers around Pittsburgh’s Point at sundown on June 7. The eyes of the world will be on our city as the fountain returns to the skyline during “Riverlights at The Point.” “Riverlights ” celebrates Point State Park and Pittsburgh’s huge outdoor recreation community. Let’s make sure the world knows how much we love this river city! Glowsticks, LEDs, battery packs…however you light up your boat, make sure to post photos of your creativity on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook using hashtags #Riverlights and #Pittsburgh. Those participating are reminded to use extreme caution when paddling or boating in low light conditions, and to follow all U.S. Coast Guard and Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission guidelines. "Riverlights at The Point" is generously made possible by Colcom Foundation. Upper image: Pittsburgh skyline by Annie O'Neill Lower image: "Global Rainbow: NYC," a collaboration between Yvette Mattern and Lightwave International, debuted in New York City in November 2012. Image courtesy of Lightwave International.

Ten toasts to 2012

2012-12-27T14:21:11+00:00

{summary} Happy holidays! There’s no doubt in my mind that 2012 was truly remarkable for Pittsburgh’s riverfronts. The year saw significant progress toward the completion of Three Rivers Park, downtown’s 13-mile interconnected riverfront park system, with the opening of the new South Side Works riverfront park, with construction full tilt in Point State Park, with a new riverfront stadium with soccer for all ages and with impassioned public dialogue about the future of the Allegheny Riverfront. More Pittsburghers than ever before are engaged in conversation and planning around the future of our region's riverfronts. Public dialogue about riverbank setbacks and access in the Strip District was spirited while remaining civil. A remarkable year, even one with as many challenges as successes, deserves a few toasts as we creep toward 2013. Please raise your glass with me to the highlights of the past twelve months, and as always, your financial support of Riverlife is much appreciated and keeps us going. Make a year-end tax deductible gift to Riverlife now in celebration of Pittsburgh's riverfronts. With much gratitude, Lisa Schroeder Riverlife President & CEO 1. Cheers to wrapping up renovations in Point State Park and to getting the fountain flowing in 2013. 2013 may just be the Year of the Fountain. You might have heard the exciting news last week: the Point State Park fountain will return to the Pittsburgh skyline during “Riverlights at The Point,” a grand reopening celebration on Friday, June 7, 2013. Coinciding with the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival, “Riverlights at The Point” is a free evening event open to the public. You’ll see the fountain switched on for the first time while enjoying a dazzling lighting display in the park and musical entertainment. Mark your calendars now – this is something a lot of people will be talking about next summer and a source of Pittsburgh pride. It also commemorates the conclusion of the top-to-bottom renovation of Point State Park, the largest park reconstruction project in Commonwealth history, overseen by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), the Allegheny Conference and Riverlife. Image by Annie O'Neill 2. Cheers to the Strip District development getting everyone to talk about riverfront setbacks, access and design. Proposed development by the Buncher Company along the Allegheny River in the Strip District saw Riverlife do what it does best: advocate for high-quality planning, design and public access along the riverfronts. Public dialogue about riverfront setbacks and access in the Strip District was impassioned while remaining civil. The conversation reached City Council, with former mayor and Riverlife founder Tom Murphy testifying to the importance of quality riverfront amenities. In 2013 we look forward to working with the Buncher Company and the City to maximize the Strip District opportunity and create a riverfront project that exceeds minimum requirements under city code and becomes the next great waterfront destination. While City Council did not pass amendments to the proposed plan requiring a 95 foot riverfront setback (as illustrated above), Riverlife sees great potential for the future of the Allegheny riverfront. The reality is that the Strip District riverfront remains steep and largely unusable, and we hope to continue working with the development partners to solve issues of public access, stabilization and high quality design. Image by Edward Dumont 3. Cheers to the opening of South Shore Riverfront Park and a marina in the near future. May 2012 saw the opening of a spectacular new 3.4 acre riverfront park at SouthSide Works, with hundreds of Pittsburghers attending a ribbon cutting and evening musical celebration that showed off the new park's attributes. South Shore Riverfront Park is the result of a collaboration between the Urban Redevelopment Authority, City of Pittsburgh, Soffer Organization and Riverlife. Special features include a 1,000 seat amphitheater, performance stage with tented roof, cooling "misters" for park users in the summertime, trail connections to the Hot Metal Bridge and South Side Riverfront Park, and artifacts from the days when the Jones & Laughlin steel mill sat at the site. The final phase of South Shore Riverfront Park will be completed next spring, extending the park to the water’s edge and adding a 300-slip marina and landing for water taxis. 4. Cheers to expanding the Headwaters circle of support with events hosted by Riverlife leaders, including Teresa Heinz, Paul O'Neill, Jim Rohr and Chuck Hammel. In order to look into Riverlife’s future, it was important to reconnect with our roots in 2012. This year saw the launch of the Headwaters Campaign to support Riverlife’s work, chaired by two of Pittsburgh’s best-known leaders and Riverlife founders Paul H. O’Neill and Jim Rohr. Both Mr. O’Neill and Mr. Rohr hosted events to broaden the circle of Riverlife, mostly recently joined by co-founder Teresa Heinz and Riverlife board member Chuck Hammel for a November evening at the Heinz Family Offices to give attendees a peek at the future of Pittsburgh’s riverfront transformation. Above: Jim Rohr and Teresa Heinz. Image by Larry Rippel. Watch a video featuring Headwaters Campaign chairs Paul O’Neill and Jim Rohr. 5. Cheers to all the neighbors, families, and fans of Pittsburgh who participated in creating the Allegheny Riverfront Green Boulevard plan. Hundreds of residents in neighborhoods along the Allegheny River weighed in during the planning process for the Allegheny Riverfront Green Boulevard. The riverfront visioning process spearheaded by the City of Pittsburgh, the Urban Redevelopment Authority, Allegheny Valley Railroad and Riverlife invited Pittsburghers to public meetings throughout the communities of Lawrenceville, Highland Park and the Strip District to talk about their hopes and aspirations for their riverfront neighborhoods. The final recommendations for transportation, open space and riverfront amenities throughout the Green Boulevard was prepared by planning consultants Sasaki Associates and will be available at greenboulevardpgh.com. Image courtesy Allegheny Riverfront Green Boulevard 6. Cheers to a good time on the riverfronts at Riverlife's Party at the Pier. While Riverlife remains seriously committed to the future of Pittsburgh’s riverfronts, we like to show our lighter side from time to time. That’s why we welcomed a sold-out crowd of nearly 700 supporters to Riverlife’s Party at the Pier: Neon & Nature, presented by PNC at the stunning outdoor amphitheater at Rivers Casino on the North Shore on September 7th. Neon cocktails, boat rides on the Gateway Clipper, fantastic people watching and a beautiful riverfront setting created a magical evening showing off Pittsburgh’s best waterfront assets. The icing on the cake? The Post-Gazette named Riverlife's Party at the Pier #3 on its year-end list of the top social events in the city. We're humbled by the honor and already looking forward to next year! Image by Ray Miles. 7. Cheers as Highmark Stadium serves up pro soccer with skyline views For some who weren’t paying attention, it was a pleasant surprise to see the new Highmark Stadium for soccer seemingly appear overnight along the Monongahela, its field of bright green turf visible from the Fort Pitt Bridge. But we at Riverlife knew better – years of planning and support building by the Pittsburgh RIverhounds made the $10.2 million privately financed stadium a sweet reality, capitalizing on a prime location next to Station Square on the South Side directly across from jaw-dropping views of the downtown skyline. Riverlife was honored to work with the Riverhounds on issues of stadium-side trail improvements, public access and management of stormwater runoff from the parking lots. Congratulations to the Riverhounds for this newest sporting addition to the Steel City’s riverbanks, and we look forward to the “opening kick” in 2013. Image courtesy Pittsburgh Riverhounds/TDA Architecture 8. Cheers to bringing Harrisburg to Pittsburgh to check out the progess in Point State Park In May, Governor Tom Corbett and First Lady Susan Corbett ended a weeklong kayak trip down the Allegheny River in Point State Park, where they were greeted by the staff of Riverlife and DCNR. Riverlife’s Lisa Schroeder and park manager Mathew Greene led the Corbetts on a tour of the Point State Park renovations, including improvements to the woodlands, riverfront promenades and lawn areas. During comments to the media, the Governor recalled childhood visits with his family to Point State Park and praised the renovation of an important public space. Image by Stephan Bontrager 9. Cheers to the Mon Wharf Switchback Ramp on the horizon as the GAP closes in on Pittsburgh Our friends at Allegheny Trail Alliance have literally paved the way to complete the remaining links in the Great Allegheny Passage, the 141-mile trail linking Cumberland, MD to Homestead, PA. Next year will see the final link in Homestead near Sandcastle Water Park connect the trail to Pittsburgh, bringing thousands of cyclists annually to the city. Riverlife continues to work on connections that will bring the GAP all the way to the fountain at Point State Park via the Mon Wharf. Design and engineering are complete for a switchback ramp that will connect the Smithfield Street Bridge down to Monongahela riverfront, offering trail users a thrilling vehicle-free home stretch (or starting point!) Stay tuned for updates on the Mon Wharf switchback and how you can help. Image by Edward Dumont. 10. Finally, cheers to a vibrant Pittsburgh making waves around the world this year. 2012 was a year of accolades for Pittsburgh heard (or read) 'round the world. And deservedly so, given the beauty and transformation that's occurred here. Whether it was The New York Times offering a peek at the city's latest riverfront stadium, or Architectural Record highlighting the Allegheny riverfront, or National Geographic listing Pittsburgh among its "Best Trips 2012", the Steel City was in the spotlight. Many articles mentioned the city's remarkable reclaimation of its riverfronts, with perhaps the Washington Post summarizing Pittsburgh's resurgence with an appropriate toast: "Long live Pittsburgh." From the staff of Riverlife, Cheers to Pittsburgh's riverfronts, happy holidays and see you in 2013! Above: Riverlife staff takes a bike tour of Three Rivers Park. L-R: Edward Patton, Chuck Alcorn, Rhonda Madden, Lisa Schroeder, Stephan Bontrager, Jay Sukernek, Corey Layman. Not shown: Debby Cerminara. Image by Stephan Bontrager.

Riverlife video: Headwaters Campaign

2012-12-07T17:56:52+00:00

{summary} Watch "Riverlife: Headwaters Campaign" now

A summer on Pittsburgh’s riverfronts

2012-09-20T15:35:08+00:00

{summary} Above: South Shore Riverfront Park was officially opened to the public during a ribbon cutting with Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Congressman Mike Doyle, Riverlife President Lisa Schroeder, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Deputy Secretary for Conservation & Technical Services Cindy Dunn, and other key partners on May 2nd. Photo by Chuck Alcorn, Riverlife. Above: Park visitors enjoy Rhythm 'n Flow, the kick-off celebration for the newly opened South Shore Riverfront Park, on a beautiful early summer evening May 3rd. Photo by Stephan Bontrager, Riverlife Top: The Convention Center Riverfront Plaza and trail connection provides a great link in Three Rivers Park for a quick lunchtime walk in early June. Photo by Stephan Bontrager, Riverlife. Bottom: Dawn breaks over the Pittsburgh peninsula. Photo courtesy Jenn Grover. Top: The July 4th Kenny Chesney concert at Heinz Field drew throngs of boaters and music fans to the North Shore for a jam-packed weekend of "boatgating" and good times. Image courtesy Boat Pittsburgh. Bottom: A paddleboarder makes his way up the Allegheny during a sunny day in July. Photo courtesy of Nanci Goldberg. Above: Boaters and trail users converge on the North Shore riverfront to enjoy a sunny 4th of July. Image courtesy Boat Pittsburgh. Above: Joggers enjoy a morning run along the newly refurbished riverfront promenade in Point State Park. Photo courtesy Alan Whittington. Above: Members of the construction team hand-lay stone block for the refurbished Point State Park fountain plaza. Construction of the fountain moved quickly throughout the mild summer and is on schedule to wrap up by summer 2013. Photo by Stephan Bontrager, Riverlife. Above: Riverlife board chair Grant Oliphant, Riverlife President & CEO Lisa Schroeder, and James E. Rohr, Chairman & CEO of PNC Financial Services Group pose inside the empty (for now) basin of the Point State Park fountain. The trio toured the progress of the construction site in August. Photo by Rhonda Madden, Riverlife. Above: Point Park University students teamed up with Riverlife staff for a day of volunteer weeding and trash removal at Point State Park and the Mon Wharf Landing. Photo by Stephan Bontrager, Riverlife. Above: Volunteers show off new Riverlife t-shirts at the Bakery Beach benefit at Bakery Square in August. The bash supported Riverlife and served as a kick-off for Riverlife's Party at the Pier. Photo courtesy of Alan Whittington. Top: The sun begins to set behind the West End bridge as Riverlife's Party at the Pier: Neon & Nature kicks into gear at the riverfront amphitheater at Rivers Casino. Photo by Ray Miles, Ray Miles Creative. Bottom: The Gateway Clipper prepares to take guests on a short river cruise as part of Riverlife's Party at the Pier 2012: Neon & Nature, presented by PNC. Riverlife's eye-popping annual celebration of Pittsburgh's riverfronts took place on September 7th at Rivers Casino. Photo by Ray Miles, Ray Mile Creative. Above: Venture Outdoors leads a WOW (Women on the Water) kayak paddle up the Allegheny River. Photo by Nanci Goldberg. Above: Runners near the finish line at the 2012 Pittsburgh Triathlon & Adventure Race on the North Shore. Photo courtesy of Friends of the Riverfront. All photos copyright 2012. Used with permission.

Thank you for making Party at the Pier 2012 an electrifying success!

2012-09-13T18:03:09+00:00

{summary} Thanks to a sold-out crowd of 675 guests and the support of many partners, Riverlife's Party at the Pier 2012: Neon & Nature was a smashing success! Riverlife's annual celebration of Pittsburgh's downtown riverfronts took place Friday, September 7th at the stunning outdoor riverfront amphitheater at Rivers Casino. The setting showcased what Riverlife is all about: beautiful riverside parks with public access and recreational activity, riverfront economic development, cutting edge design, and ecological restoration and stormwater management. Over $120,000 was raised to support Riverlife's mission to reclaim, restore and promote Pittsburgh's riverfronts. We especially want to thank our title sponsor for the past three years, PNC Financial Services, and our dynamic co-chairs Renee and Lucas Piatt (shown above with Riverlife President Lisa Schroeder) for being enthusiastic supporters of Party at the Pier. A big round of applause also for the incredible team at Rivers Casino, our gracious and generous hosts for the evening. Finally, we could not have pulled off the event without our 2012 sponsors, host committee members, volunteers, and the Riverlife staff. Please take a look at the beautiful photos from the party that captured all the eye-popping color, thanks to Ray Miles of Ray Miles Creative and Victoria Bradley at TABLE Magazine: View the photos on Facebook View the photos at the Riverlife Flickr gallery Coverage of Party at the Pier in the Post-Gazette's SEEN Column Coverage of Party at the Pier in the Tribune Review's Fanfare Column Video recap on YouTube Thanks again for supporting Riverlife and the remarkable transformation of Pittsburgh's riverfronts. We can't wait for next year's Party at the Pier! -The Riverlife Team Photos by Ray Miles, Ray Miles Creative. Copyright 2012 Riverlife.

The case for a 95-foot riverbank setback in the Strip District

2012-07-06T12:00:16+00:00

{summary} Last month Riverlife President and CEO Lisa Schroeder testified before the City of Pittsburgh planning commission to recommend a 95-foot setback for riverfront development in the Strip District between the Veteran’s Bridge and 21st Street. The specially planned district proposed by the Buncher Company to be called Riverfront Landing was approved by the planning commission without allowances for Riverlife’s recommended setback. As the project moves forward, it’s not too late to create the space that will make Riverfront Landing as exceptional as the rest of the Strip District. Why the push for 95 feet of space between the water line and the proposed building line? It’s simple. A great public riverfront development needs space—space to ensure that the riverbank will remain safe and stable, and space to create a riverfront park that will feature the public attractions that make Pittsburgh’s riverfronts so enjoyable. While it’s true that the existing Allegheny riverfront trail in the Strip District is currently well-used and loved, it’s also situated on a rapidly failing riverbank. The trail is fairly narrow, less than 10 feet in some areas. Engineering and ecological studies show that portions of the existing riverfront could erode in as little as 10 years, posing a substantial safety issue, not to mention significant loss of public open space. The current Riverfront Landing plan shows a 50-to-70 foot setback between the water and the building line, with little definition of how the riverfront will look or how it will be improved. By comparison, Pittsburgh's other recently-created riverfront parks have a much wider setback, establishing the current standard for development along the rivers. The popular North Shore, for instance, features an average 175-foot setback between the buildings and water, with a 350-foot setback at the widest point. South Shore Riverfront Park at South Side Works has an average setback of 150 feet, and the privately-financed riverfront park at Rivers Casino averages around 115 feet. This necessary space along our river edges provides triple benefits to Pittsburgh: 1) improving our economy (by adding value to adjacent property); 2) enhancing our ecology (by stabilizing banks and creating riparian habitat) 3) creating popular destinations for recreation with amenities like the “water steps” fountain, new boat landings, generous promenades for walking and biking, plenty of room for seating, and inviting landscapes with lawns, trees and flowers. We believe that 95 feet in the Strip is the minimum space required to allow these amenities to flourish. Most importantly, the people who live in the neighborhoods along the Allegheny riverfront have requested these special features. Dozens of public meetings have taken place as part of the Allegheny Riverfront Green Boulevard planning process, an initiative of Mayor Ravenstahl and the recipient of $1.5 million of federal Sustainable Communities funding to examine how to make the most out of this important real estate. The current Riverfront Landing plan does not yet address the community feedback and goals established during this process; more detail is needed to show that the planners heard the community’s calls for features like a pedestrian/bike corridor, fishing pier, splash pool and other public amenities. We have worked hard as a community to reconnect the city to our riverfronts and we have the opportunity to make Riverfront Landing the next great addition to Three Rivers Park. But it’s critical to address these issues of space and planning from the very beginning of the project; as we’ve seen with the North Shore, a great riverfront park sets the stage to attract high-quality investment nearby. As Riverfront Landing moves forward, we encourage the Buncher Company to integrate the 95-foot setback, as recommended by the community-derived Allegheny Green Boulevard feedback, into their planning. Riverfront development in the Strip District will set the tone for development along the rest of the Allegheny riverfront, and has the opportunity to be a real game-changer for Pittsburgh. As we develop our riverfronts in Pittsburgh, we have a once-in-a-century opportunity, but if we give up this space we will lose our chance. With the right collaboration—and 95 feet of breathing room—together we can create a riverfront park that honors the character of the Strip District and further defines Pittsburgh as a world-class river city.

Planners approve Strip District riverfront project

2012-06-13T11:41:51+00:00

{summary} JUNE 12, 2012--Riverlife President and CEO Lisa Schroeder testified before the City of Pittsburgh planning commission to recommend a 95-foot setback for riverfront development in the Strip District between the Veteran's Bridge and 21st Street. The commission was reviewing the Buncher Company's proposal to create a special planning district for Riverfront Landing, a 37-acre residential and office development along the Allegheny River. From the Pittsburgh Business Times: "A key issue of contention over Buncher’s plan is the amount of riverfront space the company’s design keeps between its development plan and the river’s edge. While Buncher proposes a 50-to-75-foot set back, a set back of at least 95 feet is recommended by Riverlife, a nonprofit organization that seeks to promote quality riverfront development. It was Riverlife that played a major role in establishing the Allegheny River visioning plan undertaken by the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority a few years ago, which helped to inspire the Buncher plan. In its prepared statement for the hearing, Riverlife described a much larger setback from the river as a crucial need for both ecological reasons as well as to preserve public space on the riverfront: 'A minimum 95-foot buffer zone is critical to reverse deteriorating river banks between the Veterans Bridge and 21st Street, which pose a severe hazard to the existing trail and future development,' said Elisabeth Schroeder, president and CEO of Riverlife. A larger setback will also better preserve natural habitat, manage storm water run off and allow for more public amenities, she added." Read more at the Pittsburgh Business Times website Riverlife presented the planning commission with designs created during the planning process for the Allegheny Riverfront Green Boulevard by Sasaki Associates, Inc. The riverfront designs propose solutions for the 95 foot setback, riverbank stabilization and address the need for publicly requested fishing piers, children's splash pools, a pedestrian/bike corridor and other public amenities. These plans complement the Buncher Company's development parcel plan with minimal modifications and are available for use by the Buncher Company immediately. Additonal coverage: "Planners approve Strip District project", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Visit the Allegheny Riverfront Green Boulevard website to learn more about the planning process for riverfront open space, transportation, housing and more.

So when will the Fountain be back on?

2012-05-23T12:17:01+00:00

{summary} MAY 17, 2012---With the sun shining against a bright blue sky and Point State Park brimming with sunbathers, cyclists and dog walkers, Riverlife teamed up with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to announce some big news: the Point State Park fountain reconstruction is headed into the home stretch. That's exciting news: by spring of 2013, the iconic fountain at the tip of the Pittsburgh pennisula will be up and running, featuring an impressive facelift as the final phase in the top-to-bottom reconstruction of Point State Park. We invited the news media to don hardhats for a behind-the-scenes tour of the fountain construction site, offering a glimpse at the massive historic renovation underway. And what a sight it is: the enormous granite basin of the fountain--200 feet in diameter--has been cleaned, the black grime scrubbed away to reveal the beautiful sparkling stone underneath. Construction workers and masons were busy hand-laying stone block around the outer fountain plaza while new electrical conduit was buried to provide the power that will keep the upgraded electrical systems flowing. Restoration and improvements to the pump house and bath house buildings that flank the fountain were in full swing, and the outline of a circular disappearing waterfall edge in the center of the basin gave a hint at one of the beautiful new features in store for the fountain site. Thanks to a mild winter, the construction is slightly ahead of schedule--and we know that's good news to the thousands of Pittsburghers who eagerly await the fountain's return. You can be certain that the dedication ceremony for the new fountain will make quite a splash in 2013. To tide you over in the interim, here are some fun facts about the Point State Park fountain: The central water column of the new Fountain will continue to operate at around 150-200 feet. The renovated Fountain will feature a raised fountain base, more accessible seating, a cascade waterfall, all new stone paving surfaces, new plumbing and new lighting. The majestic fountain at the headwaters of the Ohio River was dedicated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on August 30, 1974, marking the completion of the 36-acre Point State Park which was 29 years in planning and construction. The fountain is operated daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. weather permitting, during the spring, summer and fall seasons. When the fountain is in operation, there are over 800,000 gallons of water in the system. Three 250 hp pumps operate the main column of the fountain which reaches to 100 feet high. Three 75 hp pumps operate the three fan design water features known as peacock tails which symbolize the three rivers. Lighting around the fountain enhances the grandeur of this best known feature of the park. The circular basin of the fountain is 200 feet in diameter and the water within the fountain is re-circulated. Water to replace the amount lost during fountain operations is obtained from a 54-foot deep well that penetrates sands and gravels under the park. These sands and gravels are below the groundwater table and are saturated with water that infiltrates from the adjoining rivers. Check out some of the media coverage of the fountain press conference: "Hope springs for the Point State Park fountain," Pittsburgh Post Gazette "Point State Park fountain's return in sight," Tribune Review "Point State Park fountain getting closer to return," WTAE / Sally Wiggin (video) Photos, top to bottom: (1) Workers lay each individual stone by hand along the Allegheny River side of the fountain plaza. (2) Riverlife president Lisa Schroeder announces the home stretch of fountain construction during a press conference at the Fort Pitt Museum overlooking Point State Park. (3) Engineers and park rangers from DCNR lead the media into the hardhat zone of the construction area overlooking the fountain basin.

Punk rock planning along the Allegheny Riverfront?

2012-04-20T11:54:43+00:00

{summary} Should I stay or should I go now? Those are famous lyrics from seminal punk band The Clash from their 1981 song of the same name. Though I doubt band members Joe Strummer and Mick Jones were talking about urban design when they wrote the tune (though you never know), the question is a good one. Ask it when you think about how it applies to Pittsburgh’s riverfronts. Should I stay or should I go now? Basically, should urban riverfronts be corridors for “going”, for transportation, for biking, walking, and skating, for moving from point A to point B? Or should they be destinations where people stay and relax, literally stopping to smell the roses in a landscaped park by the water’s edge, in no hurry to move along? At Riverlife we feel that the answer is a little bit of the former and a little bit of the latter, with healthy doses of top-notch planning and design thrown in to meet both objectives. Since 1999 we’ve been working to build Three Rivers Park, downtown Pittsburgh’s interconnected riverfront park system. Three Rivers Park is 80% complete and over 13 miles long. With so many miles of riverfront there are ample opportunities for trails and greenways that move users from one place to another. Just as importantly, there are numerous lovely, interesting spots to stop at along the way. We think that a successful urban riverfront draws people to the river and makes them want to stay near the water as long as possible. Whether that’s on a bicycle, sitting on a picnic blanket or holding a fishing pole, people should want to go to the rivers and have easy and enjoyable time getting there. Continue reading on the Allegheny RIverfront Green Boulevard blog