Leetsdale officials hope to restore the borough’s boat launch in time for mariners and fishers this fall.
The public boat launch into the Ohio River in the Leetsdale Industrial Park has been closed since the original concrete slab broke off in the 1990s, causing a safety hazard.
Restoration efforts have picked up in the past year with new engineering designs and grant funding obtained through the Quaker Valley Council of Governments.
Leetsdale Council on Jan. 9 authorized borough engineer Dan Slagle to move some additional grant funding to the site for two new Americans with Disabilities Act parking spaces and create additional specifications for paving along Petrun Road at the launch site.
All three projects are slated to go out for bids separately in February. Bids would come in to the borough in March and contracts would be awarded in April to complete everything by the end of August.
“We’re very fortunate that we’re at a point in time where everything is ready to be bid out with the maximum available grants thanks to QVCOG and the county and the federal government,” Slagle said Jan. 10. “This is the most optimum time to bid projects out when contractors are lining up their work for this year.”
Launch restoration and paving
QVCOG helped Leetsdale secure $228,000 in Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund money for the project.
Grant documents were submitted through Allegheny County Economic Development in September.
The grant will be administered by the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County.
The launch will be made of 8-inch-thick reinforced concrete post-tension slabs about 20 feet wide and go into the river 40 feet with metal cables holding them all together.
Slagle said post-tension slabs have metal cables holding them together and are more durable and stable than traditional slabs.
The engineer recommended council also allocate about $50,000 of borough funds for additional paving leading up to the launch.
The proposed paved area is about 700 square yards, with the stretch being roughly 200 by 30 feet wide.
“It’s to provide a smooth, uniform surface for someone backing their boat up without sinking into a pothole,” Slagle said.
The boat launch’s adjacent fishing pier is still operational and does not need any work at this time, according to borough officials.
Parking spaces
The borough was awarded a $43,500 grant last year for ADA spaces at Henle Park and at the borough building along Beaver Street.
Council also sought a $20,000 grant for ADA spaces next to VFW Post 3372.
Slagle said that project changed after reexamination of plans for an ADA space in the borough building’s lower lot.
“Because of the slopes in the lower parking lot, we couldn’t put one there,” he said. “Now all of a sudden I had an extra ADA pad to deal with.”
That extra pad is now going to the VFW, and the recently acquired $20,000 will be used to install two ADA spaces by the boat launch.
The boat launch spaces will be the sixth ADA parking spaces created in the borough in the past five years.
One was installed at Kohlmeyer Community Park. Another was installed several months ago, along with a new sidewalk, by the Henle Park war memorial.
“As part of the borough’s comprehensive plan, (council) saw a need for ADA parking throughout the borough,” Slagle said.
The parking space grants were also through QVCOG.
Sooner than later
Council Vice President Osman Awad has been pushing for boat launch redevelopment for quite some time.
He hopes to work with local businesses to make the waterfront property a premier recreation site.
There is some green space, including three large trees and a picnic area nearby.
“The boat launch is going to bring a lot of tourism and attraction (to Leetsdale),” Awad said Jan. 10. “I’m looking to invite businesses to come to the area there. There is no restaurant in the industrial park right now. You got over 3,600 employees in there.”
August cannot come soon enough for Awad, who said he plans to lean on Slagle to find contractors that can work quickly and efficiently.
“We’re going to try to push him harder than that,” Awad said about having a speedy project timeline. “I’m hoping to get it done in July; hoping to get contractors that want to start early. If you got a good company, you get the stuff done. I’ve seen amazing stuff happen.”
Patrick Conners, QVCOG executive director, said his organization will be involved in the bidding process.
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“I hope to set up a call with Dan Slagle and the Leetsdale Borough team in the coming days to discuss this project and the game plan ahead for the procurement of bids,” Conners said Jan. 13. “There are multiple funding sources for this project. It will be crucial for our teams to work in concert with one another to ensure that all funding guidelines are followed throughout the process. I look forward to getting started on this endeavor. Once completed, the final product should be a great community and regional asset.”
The borough is expected to work with a consultant to craft a master site plan for the area this year.
It is unclear when council will start that process.