The floating platforms must be brought through the lock by volunteer boaters to get to Kittanning Riverfront Park. (KP 2017 File Photo)
Docks that are generally positioned in front of the amphitheater of Kittanning Riverfront Park each summer won’t be available any time soon for the 2019 boating season.
The floating platforms are normally installed around Memorial Day, but storms and high water levels prevented volunteers from making the trek from “the Cove” near Tarrtown back down through Lock 7.
The Allegheny River Development Corporation (ARDC), that funds the operation of the locks on the Allegheny River, has scheduled for locks to be open this weekend during the “Waves of Thunder” in anticipation of boaters coming to the event. However, there will be no place at the event for them to tie off.
The expense to the ARDC is huge, considering each lock costs nearly $100 per hour to staff. ARDC is planning to have the six locks open from 1-11PM on Saturday, and Noon till 8PM on Sunday - at a total cost exceeding $10,000.
“The river hasn’t been cooperative,” said Jim Mechling, supervisor of Public Works in Kittanning. “At this point, I can’t see how it will work (getting docks installed) for bike weekend.”
For volunteer boaters, it means a time commitment of most of the afternoon to bring down the docks. Once aligned to the amphitheater, Kittanning Borough workers connect them to special beams to hold them in place.
A video (below) from 2017 shows the docks being transported.