Pittsburgh, suburbs receive state grants for park improvements

Pittsburgh and a half dozen of its suburbs will receive grant money to put toward park and green space projects, state Sen. Jay Costa Jr. announced Tuesday.

Among the largest grants are $200,000 each for parks in Verona and Oakmont, according to Costa, the Senate Democratic Leader.

In Oakmont, that money will go toward developing Chateau Beach Park, a lot along the Allegheny River that officials are now eyeing as a kayak park. A separate grant award of $139,000 will be used to rehab the track at Riverside Park.

In Verona, the grant will fund projects at Cribbs Field Pavilion, the borough’s main recreation area.

“Our region is a beautiful place to work and live, with many opportunities for outdoor recreation,” Costa, D-Forest Hills, said. “I was proud to fight for these projects at the state level because I know they will make the Mon Valley and the rest of our district even better.”

Pittsburgh will receive about $97,500 for improvements at South Side Park, the 65-acre woodsy green space that cuts across the city’s South Side Slopes neighborhood. Costa said the money will help with trail renovations.

The Carrie Furnace Access Trail in Swissvale will see improvements to the trailhead with $115,000 in grant money, and across the Monongahela River, West Homestead will receive $34,000 for work on its Riverfront Park plan, Costa said.

About $104,000 will go toward park improvements in Penn Hills, where strong summer storms damaged part of the Penn Hills Park property. In Wilkins, $30,000 will go toward rehabbing Eastmont Park.