Local mariners may rejoice as a dilapidated public boat launch into the Ohio River from the Leetsdale Industrial Park will soon reopen.

The original concrete slab broke off in the 1990s, causing a safety hazard.

Borough engineer Dan Slagle said boaters could easily lose an axle or a whole trailer if they were to use it.

“The boat launch itself was very deteriorated, and it was basically, ‘launch your boat at your own risk,’ although there were no signs that said that,” Slagle said following a visit to the site on Nov. 18.

Crews from Verardi Landscape LLC of Pittsburgh have been at work since Oct. 2 restoring the recreation site along Petrun Road near the Hussey Copper property.

They installed a 40-footwide-by-32-footlong concrete launch. Paving and other finishing touches are expected to be complete by the end of the month.

The borough plans to have a grand reopening on Dec. 11.

“The boat launch is definitely in,” Slagle said of its progress. “As far as the ‘using’ part, it’s not officially the borough’s yet until we close out the project. It is safe to launch. The contractor did an amazing job during adverse conditions with the river going up and down.

“It’s a huge asset to the borough to draw people not only from the borough (to the launch), but (from) adjoining municipalities to provide them with safe access to the Ohio River. There’s very few public access points along the river right now.”

Council Vice President Osman Awad was on hand Nov. 18. He has pushed for the restoration for years and was excited to see it near completion.

“I feel very good,” Awad said. “It’s something that’s going to bring in more people. We have to pave it and do what we have to do.

“I’ve been receiving texts from people. They want to have a fishing tournament in there. We’ll get one when we’re up and running.”

The hope is to eventually make it a tourism spot.

“You can go in the summertime or spring or anytime,” Awad said. “Grab a sandwich, something to eat and go enjoy the water. I go fishing, too. I know a lot of people enjoy it.”

Awad recalled being at the dock with friends years ago at about 3 a.m. catching huge catfish.

“It was like carrying a baby from the water,” he said. “It took me an hour-and-a-half to land it.”

Project development

Leetsdale officials have been planning the boat launch’s restoration for years.

The borough obtained state Department of Environmental Protection permits in February 2019 and from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that June.

The original concept was to create a 20-footwide-by-32-footlong concrete launch.

Borough officials ultimately went with a larger launch to make it easier for anglers to move boats in and out of the river simultaneously, if necessary, as well as provide other benefits.

The project was made possible through a $228,000 state Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund grant the borough received through the efforts of Allegheny County and the Quaker Valley Council of Governments.

Slagle said the borough began applying for grants in 2022 and was successful last year. No borough match was required.

After redesigning the scope of the work and rebidding it this year to fall withing grant parameters, council voted May 8 to award the $173,205 project to Verardi Landscapes.

Council plans to work with Allegheny County Department of Economic Development officials to see what can be done with the estimated $55,000 remaining grant funds.

Slagle had proposed restrooms and benches be installed. Portable toilets are currently at the launch site.

The restroom project was estimated at about $70,000.

The borough has partnered with the consulting firm Pashek+MTR to create a master site plan for the riverfront. Data collection began in September.

Council President Maria Napolitano said there will be steering committee and community meetings to gather public input as the plan moves forward.

“The goal of the site plan is to create a vision for the land around the boat dock,” she said. “To make it accessible for visitors who come here both (for) walking and to launch their boats. Maybe (we) create a trail system.

“This site plan will serve as a basis for future grant applications to beautify that area.”

Estimated cost for the site plan is $30,000. It is being partially funded by a $15,000 state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant.

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