Ribbon cut on Allegheny RiverTrail Park expansion in Aspinwall

O’Hara couple Dennis and Lynn Marsico find riding their bikes on various trails keeps them young.

Gearing up to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in August, they were among the first riders to use the Allegheny RiverTrail Park’s trail extension shortly after park and government officials cut the ribbon June 8 on a 6-acre park expansion and 1.5-mile trail extension.

“I think it’s fantastic, and, hopefully, it’s going to take you all the way into Pittsburgh at some time,” said Dennis, 76.

“We’ve ridden most of our lives. When we turned 70, we switched to these pedal-assist bikes. We ride everywhere. We rode from Buffalo to Albany. We road the Ohio-to-Erie trail, from Columbus to Cleveland. We ride often.”

Lynn Marsico, 74, said she frequently biked on the streets from Aspinwall to Sharpsburg’s community garden.

“That was a treacherous interchange,” she said. “For me to be able to ride on here is just fantastic. It’s a form of recreation and keeps us young.”

The trail extension is made with a very fine gravel with stones about the size of nickels and dimes.

“It’s my new walk. I love it,” said Rosemary Moore, 71, of O’Hara.

Dee Stathis, the park’s executive director, cut the ribbons with assistance from U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Aspinwall, and event sponsor John Ciccolella, president of Bank of America Pittsburgh.

“It’s a real privilege to be here and to be part of this group,” Stathis said. “We have a wonderful board of directors who are very generous with their time. The community is amazing. So many dedicated people. They really put their heart and soul into this place. I feel honored to just really be a part of this.”

Deluzio said he is an avid cyclist and enjoys his time on the Aspinwall trail.

“To have this park expand right along the Allegheny (River) connecting Aspinwall and Sharpsburg and I hope beyond, it’s a great thing for our region,” Deluzio said. “You’re right along the river. I think that’s rare to be able to be this close (and) to have the amenities here at the park and to take the views of the Allegheny right along with you. It’s really beautiful.”

Aspinwall Council President Jeff Harris called the park a gem. He hopes the trail brings more people to the borough.

“It’s an incredible reuse of what was once a scrapyard,” Harris said. “It’s an oasis. Once you get under the bridge here, you don’t have any idea you’re on the other side of Freeport Road. It’s a fantastic asset that I encourage the residents to come down and enjoy.

“I ride a bike. I’m not a hardcore guy. I’ve been on the trail.

“The challenge now is Etna to Millvale. It’s the missing link, so to speak. I think there’s a lot of other people working on that. Once that links up, then we’ve got Aspinwall to the Great Allegheny Passage.”

What is, was

Officials broke ground on the expansion about a year ago.

The $8.5 million project included land and trail acquisition, development of the Front Yard, which includes hillside slides, a recreational lawn, a riverside deck, a wildlife viewing platform, food truck parking and other improvements to the park and building facilities.

The slides and a playground are still in the design/development stages.

The park has an easement with Mosites Co. to go through its proposed Allegheny Shores development in Sharpsburg.

Even though the trail goes up to 13th Street, the best access to it in Sharpsburg is at 18th Street.

Buffalo Township-based Holbein Inc. was the contractor for the project’s first phase, which was largely land preparation. The second phase, which included paving and concrete work, also was awarded to Holbein. It has been completed. Holbein was selected out of at least eight bidders.

“They’ve been great to work with (and) very accommodating,” Stathis said. “I think people are really excited about really utilizing the space that we’ve built. Connecting communities is really what we’re trying to do.”

The Front Yard portion of the project was $3.5 million, not including land acquisition.

Worth the wait

Trail construction was completed in November, so riders have had the opportunity to use it.

However, park officials wanted to wait for better summer weather to host a celebratory opening.

Temperatures were in the mid-70s and a handful of clouds dotted the blue sky during the event.

“I grew up driving past this stretch of the river and thinking about what potential it had,” said state Rep. Mandy Steele, D-Fox Chapel. “It’s really become an extraordinary space for this community and region. My favorite part is the view from every corner of the park. … This project is the impetus of growth in the Valley.”

The park’s trail is part of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. The longer-term goal is to eventually connect its section to Etna.

“It’s always an exciting day to add mileage,” said Kelsey Ripper, Friends of the Riverfront executive director.

Ripper said her group designed and created the RiverTrail’s original trail section years ago and deeded it to Sathis’ organization. They were not involved in the expansion.

Ripper commended Sathis and her team on their successful project.

“They did a beautiful job,” Ripper said. “I’m so impressed by the design of the park — and that they were able to expand the park and add new spaces and a beautiful trail that’s well-designed.”