Boaters and kayakers could launch into the Allegheny River from a new spot in Oakmont by this time next year.

The borough is in the process of applying for several permits to restore Chateau Beach, a popular spot during the 1920s and ’30s.

The proposed kayak park is on an estimated 1.6-acre borough-owned lot along the 1000 block of Allegheny Avenue, near the Brenntag Northeast Facility.

Approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection and Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, among other agencies, is required. The permitting process also would involve the Army Corps of Engineers.

Oakmont Manager Scot Fodi said Monday the permitting process is expected to take at least six months — maybe more because of the covid-19 pandemic — with the hope of breaking ground in the spring.

“I can envision us having a groundbreaking ceremony in April, barring any unforeseen circumstances,” he said. “DEP always reserves the right to comment and (request) any additional information from our borough engineer before they issue permits.”

Construction would take several weeks, weather permitting. Oakmont officials have been working on the project for about a year.

“The permitting process has been holding us back since we started,” Councilwoman Carrie DelRosso said. “I think we’re going to have to find more grant money to complete the project. We’ll have waterfront access for kayaks, and be able to have a bathroom and pavilion there so people can come and picnic. We’re hoping it will become a destination for people to use the river.”

DelRosso said adding recreational amenities is part of the borough’s comprehensive plan, which was crafted about 10 years ago.

Oakmont acquired a $200,000 grant in November through the state Department of Community and Economic Development Greenways Trails and Recreation program. It’s a matching grant, with the borough kicking in about $30,000 for the project.

The park would serve as a launching point for kayaks, canoes, paddleboats and other nonmotorized watercraft into the Allegheny River and as an access point to the Three Rivers Water Trail.

Senate Engineering developed preliminary site designs. Documents show about 15 parking spaces, a stormwater retention pond, a 10-foot wide berm and 6-foot tall chain-link fence for security and privacy.

Ingress and egress comes from Allegheny Avenue. There’s no side street access, which is meant to minimize impact on neighboring residents.

The project would have to go out for public contract bidding.

Track open

Meanwhile, another borough recreation site has reopened with improvements.

Repairs to the track in the lower section of Riverside Park were complete earlier this month. Line painting is planned.

The high school track team had to compete in all away meets the past few years because of the track’s condition. Some of the lanes were damaged by tree roots that pushed the track up and made it uneven. Meets were first rescheduled in March 2018, when it was determined the track does not meet competition standards.

The borough owns and maintains the park.

Council awarded the $61,000 repair contract to New York-based Nagle Athletic Surfaces in February 2019.

Construction was delayed a couple times as council sought grant funding to expand the scope of work and when construction projects were shuttered statewide because of the pandemic.

Funds were secured for the project through the state Department of Community and Economic Development’s Greenways, Trails and Recreation program.

It was a matching $140,000 grant with Oakmont covering about half. Council budgeted $70,000 for track repairs.

The lower section of the park was closed for a few weeks as Nagle resurfaced the track, which envelops tennis and basketball courts as well as a playground.

Track supervisor Steve Smith said crews worked 12-plus-hour shifts to get repairs done quickly and efficiently.

“It’s a pretty small track from what we’re used to,” he said. “Usually, we’re working on eight or 10 lanes. I’ve done a lot of these smaller ones, but I’ve never seen a layout with tennis courts and a playground. This is awesome. This is rare. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime type of track. Usually, it’s turf football fields, soccer fields — never tennis courts.”

The track is expected to be closed again for about two days for line painting. It’s unclear if that will take place this month or in July.

Smith said his boss and trainer, Tracy Williams, was in charge of the track’s installation about 20 years ago. The park track has four lanes.

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