GRAND VIEW SCENIC BYWAY PARK (GVSBP)WINS Federal Highway Authority Grant!

MWCDC has been awarded $154,000 from the Federal Highway Authority (through the National Scenic Byways program) to implement the Master Landscape Plan for the Point of View area.

The Federal Highway Administration has announced awards under the National Scenic Byways Program for fiscal year 2007 as authorized in Section 1101(a)(12) of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users (SAFETEA-LU).

The 276 projects in 41 States that have been selected and the amounts funded for each project can be found at: http://www.bywaysonline.org/news/2007/549.

Click on the link for information about this FHA award.

GRAND VIEW SCENIC BYWAY PARK (GVSBP)...

Mount Washington Park Survey

To assist MWCDC in planning, students from Duquesne University are conducting a survey of Mount Washington Park users. Click on the links for information about Mount Washington Park and for a copy of the Mount Washington Park survey. Your opinion will help shape the future of GVSB Park. Please fill out and mail in your survey today.

Information about Mount Washington Park and Park Maps(PDF)

Mount Washington Park Survey

National Scenic Byways

Past Application for National Scenic Byway 2005 (PDF)

Corridor Management Plan

Corridor Management Plan (word)

Point of View Plans

CEC has presented preliminary plans for the Point of View area located on the western end of Grandview Avenue. Plans include landscaping and view enhancements for the area surrounding the statue across from Sweetbriar Street and the grassy area west of the statue.

Click here to view the preliminary concepts A, B and C.

Click here to view artistic renderings of proposed plantings.

View an Illustration of GVSBP and read the
Master Implementation Plan (MIP) and Corridor Management Plan.

Work begins on hillside below Grandview Avenue!

On Tuesday, November 14, 2006 a pilot project funded by the Richard King Mellon Foundation began along Grandview Avenue. MWCDC has contracted Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. for invasive plant management, revegetation, and landscape design services which will enhance the scenic view of Pittsburgh and her three rivers.

Read more details about CEC's process here.

Freely available Acrobat Reader Required.

Point of View Park goes Bronze.

Point of View Park, part of GVSBP, now houses a bronze statue commemorating the meeting between George Washington and Seneca leader, Guyasuta. The statue was created by local artist Jim West and tells the historic story of the meeting between these two leaders.

Jim West’s sculpture, Point Of View, captures a pivotal moment in October 1770. George Washington and Guyasuta, old acquaintances and veterans of the bitter French and Indian War, met along the Ohio River (near Marietta, Ohio) for a nine-day council to revisit their past and debate the future of the highly-coveted region at the forks of three rivers, already named Pittsburgh. Few details survive of their conversation, but there was no doubt tension as well as mutual respect between the two great men. They held very different points of view about how this area should be settled; Washington surveying the land for future white European expansion, Guyasuta remembering the British treaty of 1763 prohibiting such expansion. The men parted on amiable terms. The artist hopes these famous figures might inspire modern-day folks to visit the statue site when they need to work out their differences, (as well as to watch fireworks or simply admire the city and river vistas!)

For more on local artist Jim West and the statue, click here.

New statue and 1770 Gala make headlines!
Read more from the Post Gazette.

Pittsburgh ’s Fifth Great Regional Park Gets More Acreage

Reported on March 14, 2006 by Ethan Raup MWCDC Executive Director.

The Pittsburgh City Council voted unanimously today, March 14, 2006, to incorporate an additional 16 critical acres of open space into the Grandview Scenic Byway Park. With this action, the Grandview Scenic Byway Park now comprises nearly 264 acres and joins the ranks of Frick Park and Schenley Park as Pittsburgh’s fifth great regional park.

Today’s vote adds to the acreage of open space encircling Mt. Washington that had already been declared a new City Park on December 13, 2005, by unanimous vote of Council. These 16 acres were critical parcels of steep, landslide-prone wooded slopes once considered for housing development.

The Grand View Scenic Byway Park completely encircles Mount Washington and Duquesne Heights from Grandview Park on the east, across the face of the Mount, to the Duquesne Heights Greenway, Olympia Park and Mt. Washington Park on the back side of the mountain. Until consolidated into a park, this land had been a loose assortment of greenways, forested hillsides, neglected parcels, existing smaller parks and playing fields.

The 16 acres added today, along with the previous acreage, will be the focus of dramatic improvements that will enhance the beauty of these natural settings as well as offer unique recreational opportunities.

Councilman Dan Deasy expressed confidence that this park will have a significant impact on Pittsburgh residents now and in the future, “All of our beautiful City parks were created because of people with vision who understood how important parks are for the present and future generations of Pittsburgh. With the creation of the Grandview Scenic Byway Park, we are showing a similar vision and dedication for future generations,” said Deasy.

The Mt. Washington Community Development Corporation (MWCDC) has an agreement with the City of Pittsburgh to provide co-stewardship and planning for the new park. The MWCDC is currently working with area foundations, corporate and government sources for funding to restore and improve the natural habitat, create recreational opportunities and improve the visitor experience.

“This has been the culmination of seven years of effort by residents, foundations, environmental experts and the city to create a vision for this park. And we’re thrilled to see it taking shape,” said Lynne Squilla, President of the Board for the MWCDC. “We thank City Council, particularly Councilman Deasy, and both Mayor Murphy and Mayor O’Connor for supporting this park. Now begins the real work of making this a beautiful, attractive and beneficial asset to our entire community, city and region now and for years to come.”

MWCDC is a non-profit organization of the Mt. Washington/Duquesne Heights community created to balance area development, highlight natural and historic features and enhance the well-being of the people who work, reside and visit here.

Link to Post Gazette story on Grand View Scenic Byway Park by Diana Nelson Jones on March 21, 2006

GVSBP Partners