From a marina to floating patios, plan for reimagining Hazelwood riverfront set to be unveiled

A 1.3-mile stretch along the Monongahela River in Hazelwood could become a destination for people to enjoy activities with a riverfront plaza, floating pool, boat docks, trails, play areas and more.

“I’m excited. I’m hoping the community will be receptive to it as well,” said Terri Shields, 59.

Shields leads the Greater Hazelwood Community Collaborative and Advisory Committee. It is one of several groups that are working on a plan to improve the riverfront adjacent to the burgeoning Hazelwood Green development.

The property once housed a coke works and rolling mill first operated by Jones & Laughlin and later LTV steel. The mills closed in 1998. In 2002, four local foundations — Richard King Mellon, Benedum, McCune and the Heinz Endowments — joined forces to buy the property as Almono LP (an acronym for Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers). In 2016, McCune sold its stake to R.K. Mellon.

Almono has worked with Regional Industrial Development Corp. to secure new tenants on part of property, dubbed Mill 19. They include Carnegie Mellon University’s Manufacturing Futures Initiative and Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing.

About $10 million in street and infrastructure improvements were completed, and the area hosted a visit from Joe Biden during last year’s presidential campaign.

A 133-year-old railroad roundhouse is being renovated into a technology innovation center that will be leased to Silicon Valley-based OneValley, a company that offers a platform to help startup companies.

As work to reimagine the area and secure future tenants continues, officials are also working to figure out how to best use the riverfront area.

Several meetings were held last year to get initial input from people in the Hazelwood area about what can be done. A summary report has been compiled that will be presented during a virtual meeting at 7 p.m. April 7.

“I would love the people to be engaged,” she said.

The plans, which can be viewed here, include a boat marina, canoe/kayak launch, floating patios and walkways, a possible floating pool, along with a variety of other recreational options.

After the meeting, officials will to finalize the plans, which will be completed as funding becomes available.