Proposed kayak park in Oakmont not likely until next year, other projects on hold

Kayak and boating enthusiasts may have to wait until next year to launch from an Oakmont recreation site.

Borough officials have been working on restoring Chateau Beach, a popular spot along the Allegheny River in the borough during the 1920s and ’30s, for close to a year.

It acquired a $200,000 grant in November through the state’s Department of Community and Economic Development Greenways Trails and Recreation program for the proposed kayak park.

It’s a matching grant, with the borough kicking in about $30,000.

Oakmont leaders at the time said they’d hoped to have rowers in the water by this summer.

However, paperwork has postponed the project.

“We unfortunately do not have permits yet, and before we can apply for permits we need to work out some property ownership details,” council Vice President Leah Powers said via email Tuesday. “I don’t imagine that this project will begin until next year.”

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

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

The permitting process would involve the Army Corps of Engineers. The project would need approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission among other agencies. It would also go out for public contract bidding.

Councilwoman Carrie DelRosso said construction would take place in two phases once permits are received.

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. There also are many trees.

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

Original designs included a 700-foot serpentine walkway from a proposed parking lot to the launch site. That plan was scrapped in favor of a new asphalt road to a turnaround near a retaining wall.

Other projects postponed

Two other Oakmont projects are also on hold as a result of the weather and Gov. Tom Wolf’s closure of nonlife-sustaining businesses.

The projects are restoration of a retaining wall along Allegheny River Boulevard near the viaduct in Verona and Oakmont, and the track in the lower section of Riverside Park near the high school.

Council awarded the estimated $121,000 wall repair job to Apollo-based Santamaria Landscaping last July.

The work will be paid for through a $138,000 state Department of Community and Economic Development grant even though the wall, which is on the southern entrance of the borough across from Rite Aid, is owned by Allegheny Valley Railroad. The remaining $17,000 may be used for landscaping.

DelRosso said the wall project may begin next month because temperatures need to remain above 45 degrees for awhile before using necessary materials.

Riverview High School’s track team had all away meets the past two seasons because the track was deemed unsafe for competition.

Tree roots pushed it up and made it uneven a few years ago. There are several bumps in lane one and another in lane two.

The troublesome trees have since been removed, but the track repair remains incomplete.

Oakmont was awarded a $140,000 grant through the state Department of Community and Economic Development’s Greenways, Trails and Recreation program.

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

Council awarded the repair project to New York-based Nagle Athletic Surfaces in February 2019.

“The track repair is scheduled to be completed as soon as the company is permitted to begin work,” Powers said. “That is all dependent on the global pandemic, but hopefully this spring/summer.”

Oakmont closed its parks indefinitely mid-March to help combat coronavirus.

State House Speaker Mike Turzai, R-Bradford Woods, plans to introduce legislation this month that would allow all construction projects in the state to proceed.

The legislation calls for the continuation of construction projects as long as contractors follow the guidelines to prevent the spread of coronavirus through the regulations issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.