Residents of the Hill District would have a much easier time walking or biking to downtown Pittsburgh after the construction of a proposed three-acre park with pathways on a platform raised overtop of I-579 in the Lower Hill.
The project, which has already undergone a year-long planning and design process, will be ready for construction after the federal government releases $19 million in grant funding for the effort this October, officials announced Tuesday.
“This grant is going to help us correct an injustice that was done back in the '50s when urban redevelopment literally sliced away the Hill District from the city of Pittsburgh when the highway was built,” said Democratic state Rep. Mike Doyle.
The compact, 3-acre park would act as a green roof to I-579 with trees, lawns, pathways and a pond interspersed throughout the site.
"This award will help heal one of Pittsburgh’s worst efforts at urban renewal when decades ago city planners ... cut the lifeblood from one our most historic communities," Mayor Bill Peduto said in a statement.
Doyle said he hopes the park will spur action from the Pittsburgh Penguins on the redevelopment of the 28-acre site of the former Civic Arena across the street.
“The Pens are in negotiation with three anchor tenants," Doyle said. "They’ve not said who they’re speaking with, but we know that’s going on. This announcement’s certainly going to help their efforts and complement that development.”
City leaders acknowledged Wednesday they jumped the gun.
The $19 million TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grant is expected to be formally announced by the U.S. Department of Transportation this week. Federal funding makes up about 60 percent of the total project cost of $32 million, according to the grant application.
The city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority would accept the TIGER grant this fall.
