The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has awarded three grants totaling $1 million to Pittsburgh-area trail improvement, tree planting and park enhancement projects.

DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis announced the grants in Mellon Square, Downtown, yesterday, saying that the projects will enhance the region's environmental and economic future.

The Regional Trail Corp. was awarded $500,000 to help construct 3.1 miles of the Great Allegheny Passage between McKeesport and Duquesne, including a new bridge over the Norfolk Southern Railroad line in Duquesne.

Jack Paulik, project manager of the Steel Valley Trail project for the Regional Trail Corp., said the $2 million Riverton Bridge project between Duquesne and McKeesport should be finished early next month and the organization is making good progress in acquiring or securing easements that could result in finishing the last nine-mile section of the trail by next summer.

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy received $250,000 to reduce soil erosion and help restore historic trails and bridges in Frick, Highland, Schenley and Riverview parks, and to erect new signs to increase accessibility by identifying the parks and their key features.

The TreeVitalize program in Pittsburgh was awarded $250,000 for its partnership with the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Allegheny County and others to plant 20,000 new trees over the next five years and continue efforts to increase the region's tree canopy. The first dozen of those will go into the ground along the Great Allegheny Passage trail on the South Side next month.

"Our local partners are critical to our successful efforts to protect our natural areas," Mr. DiBerardinis said.

Funding for the grants comes from the Growing Greener II bond issue and Keystone '93, a DCNR fund generated from a portion of the state's realty transfer tax.