Wednesday, October 01, 2003

By Alisha Hipwell

In the heyday of Sewickley's riverfront, people swam at Walnut Beach, took holidays at the Park Place Hotel and picnicked at riverfront cottage camps.

That all ended in 1927 when the railroad moved closer to the river and Walnut Beach was ruined.

But this Saturday, Sewickley will reclaim part of its recreational roots with the grand opening of Riverfront Park on Chadwick Street.

It took the civic group Riverfront Park Inc. seven years and $750,000 to transform the two-acre section of weeds and concrete into a nature park, complete with a gazebo and railroad caboose car.

The Car Barn Shops in Sewickley owned the property previously and used it as parking space. The park was funded through grants, private contributions and foundation money.

"When I drive by, I've seen art classes. Someone called to tell me there is going to be a birthday party in the caboose. There are groups in the gazebo. It's an urban park and it is frequently visited," said Peggy Standish, a member of Riverfront Park Inc.

Grand opening festivities are scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Saturday, and will include the dedication of an 8-ton anchor to serve as a memorial to the American Merchant Marines, the United States Navy Armed Guard and the United States Navy Seabees. There also will be reggae music, a barbershop quintet, food vendors, pony rides and a petting zoo.

There will be fireworks at dusk to celebrate Sewickley's 150th anniversary. Families are encouraged to bring chairs and picnic blankets to enjoy the festivities.

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