Dear Editor,

We, the members of the Trestle-to-Trestle Task force, write in response to the “Drop anchor on launch” letter published in the Jan. 8 Readers Speak section of the Times Observer. The purpose of this response is to correct the apparent project misunderstandings presented therein.

The Riverfront Redevelopment Project, which includes the boat launch at Liberty Street, is an initiative that is being developed and administered collaboratively by the City of Warren, Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry and the Trestle-to-Trestle Taskforce, a volunteer community development committee.

In addition to the boat launch the project includes significant improvements to the parking areas located to the south of the City parking garage extending from Liberty Street east to Langdon Drive, realignment of Clark Street to improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety throughout the area, improvements to the river bank extending upstream from the boat launch location to the confluence of the Conewango Creek, a bicycle pump track/skills park area and numerous additional elements focused on enhancing the area for residents and visitors alike.

The motivation behind this project is simple and direct: Warren must become more attractive and viable to attract business, residential, retail and tourism activities. Doing so will be a good way to bring economic growth and increased tourism to the area. The business activities on Clark Street are bustling in spite of the current marginal parking facilities, poor traffic flow and cluttered view of the Allegheny River.

A recent economic impact study which considered the canoe/kayak traffic on the Allegheny River administered by Allegheny Outfitters and traffic confirmed to have accessed the boat launch at Big Bend Overlook below the Kinzua Dam reveals a direct economic contribution to the local economy of $1,616,892 with an extended impact of $4,850,676 to our community at large.

This level of activity has been developed despite marginal launch and out-take facilities being available. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is rectifying the access/congestion issues of the launch at Big Bend and it is essential that the proposed riverfront redevelopment project be completed to provide an equally viable and attractive ending place for those enjoying the Allegheny River.

The aforementioned improvements will be included in the PA Wilds Building Back Better Regional Challenge application which will be submitted by March 15 for consideration by the Economic Development Agency along with 5 other regional community / tourism development projects.

Allegheny Outfitters did not request the canoe dock project at Hickory Street nor the current boat launch project. The canoe dock initiative mentioned by the author of the Jan. 8 letter, was a project developed and pursued by a class of the Leadership Warren County initiative. This group determined, through a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) assessment that a weakness that should be addressed is the lack of access to the business section of the City for individuals enjoying the Allegheny River. As the details of the project were developed it was determined that the accessibility from the proposed location adjacent to the Hickory Street bridge was not viable. There were funds raised which were intended to be utilized for formal design and permitting work for the dock system. These funds remain in tact and restricted for use in furthering a river-access project such as the current boat launch project which is expected to also include docking facilities to facilitate usage.

The city of Warren did make application to the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission seeking $1 Million in funding for the construction of a boat launch at Liberty Street. This application was denied by the Commission and the existence of two launches within the city was cited as a justification for this denial. Subsequently a representative of the Commission was invited to visit the proposed launch site as well as the existing launches at Warren General Hospital and Betts Park with City officials. During this site visit the limitations of the two existing launches were discussed. These limitations were identified as:

Hospital launch:

¯ Use conflict with the primary use of the facility as the landing pad for the Medivac helicopters serving Warren General Hospital. This conflict has been identified as a significant issue by WGH for years.

¯ Steep entry grade is challenging during lower water conditions in the river

¯ Lack of parking availability in the area, particularly for vehicle and boat trailer.

Betts Park launch:

¯ Low water levels at the launch make power boat launching difficult

¯ Access to the launch is often blocked during events held at the park

¯ Low water areas up and downstream of the launch limit river usage essentially to the river only adjacent to Betts Park.

It is anticipated that the Launch at Liberty Street will replace the hospital site when completed.

At the conclusion of this site visit the city was encouraged to reapply for assistance for the Liberty Street launch project.

The Riverfront Redevelopment Project will have significant and positive impact on the business community of Warren. It will provide attractive and appropriate access to and from the Allegheny River to our community. The benefits of this enhanced connectivity will be available to those who embrace those looking to the Allegheny River and Conewango Creek to recreate and the business community of Warren to support these recreational endeavors with goods and services needed and desired.

This is a community-based initiative which will be open and available to all to use free of charge.

We are hopeful that the correction of misinformation previously published will reassure readers that nothing sinister or inappropriate is involved in this project and that the focus of the project is simple: making Warren the best it can be.

Andy Georgakis , Don Nelson, Bob Dilks, Jr., Ruzhdi Bakalli, David Becker, John Wortman, Kate Reed, Dan Glotz, William Bussoletti , Jeff Eggleston, Gary Lester, Holly LeMeur, Annamarie Miller, John Hanna, Wendy McCain, Phil Gilbert and Randy Rossey.

Submitted by Jim Decker