Get those Frisbees, picnic baskets and blankets ready. The long-awaited reopening of Point State Park is right around the corner.

The park, which has been closed for more than a year and a half, will reopen on May 30, slightly ahead of schedule, after a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Gov. Ed Rendell and other dignitaries.

About 23 acres of the 36-acre park will be open to the public. Visitors will have access to the front portion of the park, where most of the renovation work has taken place, plus much of the great lawn near the fountain.

Another 13 acres known as the Woodlands on both sides of the park will be off limits to the public until this fall while trees and shrubs are planted, said Christina Novak, spokeswoman for the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

State officials initially had been shooting for an early June reopening, but moved up the date after seeing good results with the newly planted lawn in the front part of the park closest to Downtown.

"We wanted to make sure the sod had been established and the grass is growing. We feel pretty certain things are in good shape with respect to the lawn area," Ms. Novak said.

Despite the earlier opening, it won't come soon enough for the Three Rivers Arts Festival or the Three Rivers Regatta, both of which traditionally have held events in the park.

The arts festival will use Gateway Center and other Downtown locations for the second straight year.

"We were not sure whether [the park] would be ready or not so we decided on not," said Lauren Bracey, arts festival spokeswoman.

The regatta, meanwhile, will be based on the North Shore, between PNC Park and Heinz Field.

However, the Dollar Bank Jamboree will return to the park this year. The country music festival will be held on July 26.

The $7 million in initial renovations to the park included new terrazzo and blue stone pathways, lighting, benches and bike racks. The Fort Pitt music bastion also was filled in.

The first phase is part of $32 million in refurbishing work which will include changes to the park's river side, a restored promenade, a water landing and plaza for small boats, and upgrades to the fountain.

Much of the funding is coming from the state capital budget, although local foundations have contributed as well.