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Public Invited To Help Shape Hazelwood Green Riverfront Master Plan Oct. 15-17 In Allegheny County

The public is invited to provide input and ideas that will help shape the design plan for the 1.3-mile stretch of riverfront at Hazelwood Green at a series of community events October 15-17.

Information gathered at these events will inform the Riverfront Master Plan at Hazelwood Green, a project being led by the PA Environmental Council.

When completed, the master plan will guide the development of land along the Monongahela River at Hazelwood Green for recreational use, as well as helping to inform decisions around the use and preservation of industrial heritage structures that remain at the river’s edge.

The community engagement sessions will build upon feedback recently gathered through ongoing neighborhood and city-wide surveys that are soliciting input for the space. Participants will meet and share ideas and input with the team at Environmental Planning & Design (EPD), the firm selected to lead the design process.

Participants can also opt to have their own oral histories of Hazelwood and the riverfront recorded as part of efforts to reflect and build upon the heritage of the community. Additional events seeking public feedback will be scheduled through the duration of the project.

The final master plan will be submitted to PA DCNR for review by summer 2021.

“The goal for the riverfront at Hazelwood Green is to reconnect this space to the community and to create an inclusive place that welcomes and accommodates users of all abilities and interests,” says Todd Stern, Managing Director of U3 Advisors, development advisors for Hazelwood Green. “To accomplish this, we need to hear from the community, and we urge residents to voice their vision, priorities and hopes for the space by joining us at our community engagement events, by completing the survey, and by staying informed. We are collaborating with a number of neighborhood groups to get the word out and will continue to offer multiple opportunities for feedback in person and online as we work through the planning process in the coming months.”

Event Schedule

The events will be held--

-- October 15 - Neighborhood Pop-Up -5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Hazelwood Initiative Parking Lot, 4901 Second Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15207. The community is invited to stop by the Neighborhood Pop-Up to share personal Mon River stories and memories of Hazelwood Works.

-- October 15 - Community Social - 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. South Porch of Mill 19, 451 Lytle Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15207. The community is invited to share ideas for what the riverfront could become. Children’s activities will be provided as part of the evening.

-- October 16 - Public Preview - 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. South Porch of Mill 19, 451 Lytle Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15207. The EPD design team will present two illustrations that are a synthesis of ideas gathered from the community to date and will gather further input from community members in attendance. Children’s activities will be provided as part of the evening.

-- October 17 - Three presentations: 11:00 a.m., Noon and 1:00 p.m., South Porch of Mill 19, 451 Lytle Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15207. The EPD design team will present preliminary concepts for further review and discussion.

All community collaboration events are free and will be held outdoors unless inclement weather requires them to be moved indoors.

Participants are asked to register in advance as space is limited. All attendees will be required to wear masks and social distancing measures will be in place.

Online Survey

The public is also encouraged to complete the online Hazelwood Green Riverfront Master Plan survey, which will remain open until October 24. Details on the events, registration, and access to the survey can be found at the Hazelwood Green Riverfront webpage. Registration can also be made by phone at 412-918-6563.

The Hazelwood Green Riverfront

The riverfront at Hazelwood Green comprises approximately 21 acres and extends 1.3 miles, with a varied width ranging from 55 to 200 feet.

It includes the largest collection of industrial structures remaining in the City, including a Pump House, mooring cells, platforms, coal loaders and catwalks, all of which lend unique character to the space and offer opportunities to interpret and reflect on the rich history of the Hazelwood riverfront and the city of Pittsburgh.

The Hazelwood Green Riverfront Master Plan will seek to transform and restore the environment of the riverfront and its ecosystem by addressing the environmental impacts of past industrialization.

Additional challenges include steep gradients along much of the riverfront, existing active railroad tracks and fencing, and stormwater retention facilities.

An advisory committee comprising neighborhood, city, regional and site representatives is lending guidance to the design process and supporting the design team in its work to reconnect the river to the Greater Hazelwood neighborhood.

This project is made possible by a grant to PEC from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Recreation and Conservation's Environmental Stewardship Fund and the Community Conservation Partnerships Program, as well as matching funds from Almono LP.

For more information on this initiative, visit the Hazelwood Green Riverfront webpage.

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