Community comes together to create new Aspinwall Riverfront Park

On Sunday, September 20^th, a bagpipe parade will lead Aspinwall Riverfront Park’s very first official visitors to their destination, a beautiful 11-acre park that is both community-inspired and community-built.

Aspinwall Riverfront Park is a unique urban park divided into two distinct areas. The West Park is an open space designed for recreation and play of all kinds. And the East Park is a beautiful, landscaped area with native and wetland gardens. The park also contains a skating rink and an awe-inspiring 30-foot bronze playground structure on loan from the Grable Foundation.

“It’s definitely a unique space,” says Susan Crookston, who has led the grassroots effort to develop the park. With platforms, the playground structure, trees and gardens, “it’s designed for more interpretive play. In this space, we want people to think differently about nature and what is beautiful.”

Crookston envisions kids running up and rolling down the hill, climbing on the playground and exploring the gardens, teenagers playing flag football and parents teaching their children to ride a bike on the ¼-mile Highmark Trail. (Due to the young native plants, however, the park does not allow dogs.)

Just two years ago, this area was destined to become a parking lot. That is, until Crookston began talking to the community about her vision. “I was stunned by the potential of the space,” she remembers. “So I wrote a business plan and started making speeches. Then, hundreds of people came together to make it to real.” Through an incredible grassroots effort, Crookston and company raised $2.3 million in just six months.

And while foundation support was vital—particularly grant matching from the Colcom Foundation and the Hillman Foundation—Crookston emphasizes the incredible community members that not only raised money to make the park a reality, but got their hands dirty to actually build it.

Volunteers dug up concrete, constructed the boardwalk, laid pipe and much more. Kids were also a major part of the effort, doing everything from pulling weeds and raising money to volunteering at events and promoting the park on social media. To date, children have raised more than $20,000 for the park!

“I think that what makes this story unique is the way the community has adopted this park as their own,” says Crookston. “We had hundreds of volunteers from all walks of life who have made it happen.”

The design of Aspinwall Riverfront Park was also driven by the community. Almost 2,000 locals completed a survey and made their top three wishes clear. They wanted (1) trails, (2) nature and (3) a playground. Fourth on their wish list, river access, is the next step for the park.

The board of directors is currently working on plans to develop river access and connect the park to the Three Rivers Heritage Trail System and to the city. To meet this goal, 47 additional acres have been acquired, which opens up more than 1.5 miles of waterfront access. “We’re exploring lots of different ideas for river access,” says Crookston. “It’s a high priority, and it’s something we hope to accomplish as soon as we can.”

Aspinwall Riverfront Park’s grand opening is free and open to all. The event on September 20^th will begin with the bagpipe parade at 10:45 a.m.—starting at the Lower Aspinwall ball field and leading to the park—and will also feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony, food trucks, face painting and more from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The park continues efforts to raise funds for expansion, river and trail access, as well as regular maintenance and upkeep. To make a donation, visit aspinwallriverfrontpark.org. And to keep up with the latest on progress and events, like them on Facebook.

Featured Photo: Play sculpture at Aspinwall Riverfront Park, Photo by Nadine Champsi