Fall Run Park to close Monday for upgrades

Nature lovers have one more weekend to enjoy Fall Run Park in Shaler.

The park will be closed beginning Monday so that nearly $690,000 worth of work can be done there. From then until completion, the home of the largest waterfalls near Pittsburgh will be closed to the public.

Dependingon the weather, the work could be completed bythe end of this year.

The closing originally was tohave occurred last week but wasdelayed.

The project will include erosion control, bedrock stabilization and stream restoration as well as replacement of wooden pedestrian bridges,hiking trail improvements and expansion of the waterfall pool.

Trails will not be paved because it would detract from the natural aspects of the park and any gravel or asphalt could end up in the stream. The current pathway will be retained.

“We will be sending out emails to residents and placing the closing and basic information on our website,” said Sherry Martin, assistant toShaler administrators.

Signs will be posted, physical barriers will prohibit entry, and police will make periodic patrols of the park entrances, township engineer Matt Sebastian said at the Julycommissioners meeting.

“Due to the equipment that will be on site and the nature of the work, the entire trail and stream area will be closed,” Mr. Sebastian said. “The park will be an active construction site.”

Many people can access the park through their neighborhoods, he said. “We’re just going to hope people pay attention to the signs and respect the contractor.”

The commissioners in June accepted a $688,886 bid from Gregori Construction Inc. of Sarver as the lowest responsible bidder. The environmentalworkencompasses about$200,000 of the project.

The project is being supported by a $260,000 grant fromthe gaming economic development fund. Township manager Tim Rogers said Shaler is awaiting word on other grant proposals, too. Gateway Engineers initially estimated work would cost morethan $1 million, he said.

If Gregori cannot finish the work by March 2018, it will have to stop and will not be able to begin again until next July because the Fish and Game Commission will be stocking trout in the stream forthe 2018 season.

Workers will have to be careful that foreign vegetation is not introduced to the park, Mr. Rogers said.

The township will conduct regular inspections throughout the project.