Strip District beautification projects to get federal funding: "In addition to improving underpasses, she said, the money could help pay for a tiny park along the Allegheny River."Take that tiny park along the river and put it where the sun doesn't shine.
Lay the shovel down, already.
I'm a park's person. I'm a big-time park's person. But this sucking sound we hear isn't from the real parks and real people that use them. That tiny park downtown is a wrong investment. Rather, fund 20 swimming pools in neighborhoods. Hire conditioning coaches and face the childhood obesity problems in the eye. Rather, make bike lanes that allow for cyclist to use the busways. Rather, re-start the marathon.
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Strip District beautification projects to get federal funding
Friday, March 10, 2006
By Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle is expected today to announce the release of $345,000 in federal funding for improvements to the Strip District.
The federal transportation funding will go toward beautification of the area between the 10th Street Bypass and Penn Avenue, said Becky Rodgers, executive director of Neighbors in the Strip.
She wants to clean, repaint and light the underpasses where Smallman Street and Penn Avenue go under the railroad tracks.
"It's not the best presentation to people visiting the city of Pittsburgh," she said of the graffiti-marred, poorly lighted portals that divide the Strip from the David L. Lawrence Convention Center and the Cultural District, Downtown.
Mr. Doyle's office said it would provide more details at a news conference set for 10:15 a.m. at Eleven restaurant on Smallman Street. Mayor Bob O'Connor and Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato are expected to attend.
"Our region has a great deal to offer residents, businesses and tourists, and the unique character of the Strip District is part of that appeal," Mr. Doyle, D-Forest Hills, said in a statement. "I am confident that this initiative will significantly advance our shared goal of promoting economic growth in the Strip while retaining the neighborhood's special charm."
Ms. Rodgers said her organization needs to raise matching funds and get the project on the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission's regional transportation improvement plan before hiring an architect to plan the improvements.
In addition to improving underpasses, she said, the money could help pay for a tiny park along the Allegheny River.
She said a more attractive passageway between Downtown and the Strip District would contribute to a development spurt in the heavily commercial neighborhood.
Development of a 143-room Hampton Inn, a market place and a new parking garage and transformation of the Armstrong Cork factory into condominiums all are under way or are in the planning phases.
(Rich Lord can be reached at rlord@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1542.)
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