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This year has been an exciting time for Riverlife and its many partners working to complete the community-created vision of Pittsburgh’s downtown riverfront park system.\u00a0 To date, more than 80% of Three Rivers Park<\/a><\/strong> has been been built, with over 13 miles and 850 acres of publicly accessible riverfront parks and trails. \u00a0The future promises some key new public open spaces along all three rivers and the completion of a much-anticipated Downtown bike and pedestrian connection.\u00a0 Here’s how we’re doing it, and here’s what’s in store for all to enjoy as we work together to complete Three Rivers Park. The past year has seen a surge of proposed development plans throughout the Three Rivers Park area. Riverlife’s professional staff and dedicated volunteer Design Review Committee<\/strong> are working with property owners and city officials to further enhance projects, including:<\/p>\n Recently awarded a 2015 Pittsburgh Urban Land Institute Award for Excellence, Riverlife\u2019s \u201ctbd\u201d project<\/a><\/strong> was meant to inspire conversations about an underused stretch of riverfront under the Fort Duquesne Bridge near Point State Park. That project saw the creation of a 750-foot-long mural by artist Kim Beck painted by over 150 volunteers paired with a project gallery of young architects\u2019 visions for filling urban riverfront voids.<\/p>\n We also produced the Lunchtime Loop,<\/a><\/strong> designed to encourage Pittsburghers to take a 1.5-mile walk or jog along the Allegheny for fitness and fun. The result? Thousands of trail users saw the Fort Duquesne Bridge riverfront in a new way and began thinking of future long-term improvements. In the midst of so much riverfront activity in Pittsburgh, Riverlife provides leadership and a voice for public access, high-quality design and environmental restoration.\u00a0We continue to work to achieve:<\/p>\n In 2013, Riverlife and community partners began a process to restore and enhance Allegheny Landing,<\/a><\/strong> one of Pittsburgh\u2019s first outdoor sculpture parks when it opened in 1982.\u00a0 Working with the City of Pittsburgh, local businesses and philanthropic groups, Riverlife has proposed updates that will make the park more flood and weather resistant and incorporate state-of-the-art landscape improvements to help manage stormwater.<\/p>\n A renovated boat and fishing dock was completed in 2013, restoration of the public artwork was finished earlier this year, and a rebuilt trail is slated for completion in 2016. Having long advocated and helped to shepherd the Mon Wharf Switchback<\/a><\/strong>through an extensive permitting process, Riverlife is proud to be the leader in the partnership working to complete the Switchback in 2016.\u00a0 The switchback ramp will, for the first time ever, connect pedestrians and cyclists from the Smithfield Street Bridge to the Monongahela Wharf Landing, completing a significant missing link in Pittsburgh’s downtown riverfront trail system.\u00a0 A difficult project in a challenging location, the project design is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and will accommodate all users and cyclists.<\/p>\n Who says Riverlife doesn’t know how to have a good time? 2015 ushered in our most successful fundraiser celebration yet on August 28 on the North Shore. But don’t take our word for it – watch the short video recap<\/a><\/strong> to relive all the riverfront fun that happened on that beautiful night. On October 1st, Riverlife welcomed Vivien Li<\/strong> as our new president and CEO. Vivien moved to Pittsburgh from Boston, where she served as executive director and president of The Boston Harbor Association for over 24 years. During her time at TBHA, Vivien oversaw the cleanup of the harbor waters and was\u00a0a major force behind the completion of Boston’s 41-mile HarborWalk public access system.\u00a0Welcome to the team, Vivien!<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.riverlifepgh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/old_images\/Build_South-Shore-Riverfront-Park.jpg\")
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