Hello everyone,

Heth’s Runs separates Morningside from Highland Park. It once ran into the Allegheny. It is now a dump and a parking lot ending in a decrepit, almost invisible bridge.  I heard rumors about parking lots, soccer fields, easements and new roads so I downloaded copies of “Pittsburgh’s Regional Parks Master Plan” (see: http://www.pittsburghparks.org/_7.php; it’s 12.6 MB) and the “Allegheny County Butler Street Project” (see: http://65.207.30.22/css/www/c_feature_projects.php?&fp_id=53; it’s 2 MB).

On Monday, March 19, I contacted Dan Sentz, our Neighborhood Planner. He says the plan being pursued is the Allegheny Country Butler Street Project, not the Parks Master Plan, “(one soccer field at what is now the northern end of the zoo parking lot). It cannot be built until PaDOT replaces the Heth’s Run Bridge (2009-2011). In addition to the field a trail connection would be made under the bridge to the river. Very shortly the City will have Mackin [http://www.mackinengineering.com] under contract to design/engineer the project. The Zoo will be expanding parking into the area at the south of the parking lot that was formerly used by Public Works for storage. The Zoo has used this area in the past for overflow parking; they will now clean it up and use it more regularly. There should be little or no impact on [Cordova, King, Elgin and Bryant]; there are no new vehicular roads proposed. Once Mackin makes progress there will be public meetings on the project. You can contact me to get updates on the project. (412 255-2233 or email, [Dan.Sentz@city.pittsburgh.pa.us]; phone is currently not working but should be fixed sometime this week). You are welcome to share this response. Dan”

I’ve attached a photo of what the finished soccer field and path should look like.

Thanks,

Louis Brown

Cordova Rd