Group says it has enough pledges to buy Aspinwall Marina
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With a $200,000 donation, Highmark has put the Aspinwall Riverfront Park project over the top with what it needs to buy the $2.3 million Aspinwall Marina for a park and trail project.
The marina owner, David Kushon, extended the Sept. 1 deadline another month because the total includes $350,000 in state money that is not yet in hand.
"We're very certain it will come through," said Tom Baxter, executive director of Friends of the Riverfront. "But in the unlikely event it doesn't," he said a foundation and nonprofit have offered their support.
"We expect to close before Sept. 30."
Friends of the Riverfront is the buyer, and its plan is to retain the marina while creating a 10-acre community park to include a one-mile trail through it. Highmark's donation assures it the right to name the trail.
"Nonprofit organizations often approach us for projects asking for funding," said Adrienne Londino, spokeswoman for Highmark. "This seemed to be a very important project to the area and we felt this development and new trail would promote health and wellness."
First Published September 2, 2011 9:23 am
