As the mid-Mon Valley continues efforts to transform itself from a center of heavy industry to a more diversified economic base, a number of communities are discovering possibilities in their own backyards. These groups are noticing resources that have been there all along -- such as the Monongahela River -- as they attempt to promote the quality of life in the region that stretches from Brownsville, Fayette County; north to Forward Township, Allegheny County, and Bentleyville, Washington County; and east to West Newton, Westmoreland County. According to 2000 census figures, this area includes 96,194 people, said Joe Kirk, executive director of the Mon Valley Progress Council, an organization dedicated to enhancing the economic, social and employment climate of the mid-Mon Valley. Kirk said the area is still "slightly losing" population, but nothing like the decade between 1980 and 1990 when the Valley lost as many as 10,000 residents. In an effort to retain those who live here now and attract new residents, the Mon Valley Progress Council has spent a lot of energy advocating improvements to the area. Last year, it began taking a new look at the Monongahela River. "I do not believe that we've done everything we can to promote that access as an attribute of this area," Kirk said. "If you live in Monessen, Donora, Charleroi, California, Belle Vernon, you could be home (from work) at 5:15 and by 5:30 you could be on the water fishing, Jet Skiing, just boating up and down the river, and that's not an asset that a lot of areas have." The Mon Valley Progress Council has been working with California University of Pennsylvania to study the body of water, assessing the count, condition and location of river-access points for recreation. "We're looking at ramps where boats can be put in, where you can have some picnics and those sorts of things in that area, and the idea is that the mid-Mon Valley is literally a region where a river runs through it," said Kirk. Kirk believes the river has been overlooked. "I often think if this was a lake, how would we respond to it• And then I remind myself that in many ways it is a lake. When you have these locks and dams they really create almost a lake-like atmosphere. We're not talking about a raging water." Kirk said his office has been selected to receive a $15,000 grant from the state Department of Corporation and Natural Resources, which is under the Pennsylvania Heritage Park Program. "Our ultimate goal with that project is to develop a common signage system for all of our access points," Kirk said. Kirk said the information would be put into a brochure with an Internet site address that can be put in the hands of real estate agents and given to prospective homeowners, "all intending to tout the fact that we do have a remarkable recreation resource in this community." The city of Monessen has been working with Carnegie Mellon University on a study of its own. Last semester students from Carnegie Mellon, under the direction of David Lewis, professor of urban studies, came to the river community to examine it and come up with plans for revitalizing Monessen. The students -- diversified in their professional studies -- offer their services to communities with problems. Students formed groups and developed projections of what the community could look like in 15 years if their strategies were adopted. One of the suggestions was developing a riverfront like the one in Homestead. "Fifteen years ago in Homestead the mills were coming down. They were asking then what could that waterfront be in 15 years," Lewis said. The study confirmed what Cassandra Vivian of the Greater Monessen Historical Society knew all along -- that the riverfront could be a key in drawing people in. "There's no reason why Monessen cannot be a small Homestead," Vivian said. "Homestead was big steel, we were little steel. Homestead has a big waterfront, we can have a little one." The historical society is taking the lead on developing the riverfront by refurbishing the Cooper's Building of the former Pittsburgh Steel Co. It acquired the building along Route 906 in Monessen in 1998 when it was donated by Westmoreland County. Once a workshop where wooden kegs were made to hold 100 pounds of wire nails, the building is in need of refurbishment. Vivian said the historical society is awaiting confirmation on a grant from Rivers of Steel to put a roof on the building. Vivian said the building, which dates to the turn of the century, will become a museum. She envisions a multiplex movie theater, shops, restaurants and other recreational attractions going up around it. "This is all possible if we can work together," Vivian said. "And if people see the wisdom of it." That's the same idea behind a restoration project under way in Charleroi. "Bring Back the Glow, Restore The Coyle" is the mantra of the Mid Mon Valley Cultural Trust, a group working to preserve the theater and promote it as a community cultural center. "It's more for the Mon Valley than it is for Charleroi," said Armand Ferrara, the chairman of the trust. Standing in the lobby of the 112-year-old theater, Ferrara pointed out that since The Coyle closed in 1999 anyone from the Charleroi area has to drive at least 25 miles to see a film. The closest theaters are in Washington, Greensburg, Uniontown and West Mifflin. Located at 331 McKean Ave., the run-down theater has seen better days. According to Ferrara, its restoration will require at least $2 million. First, the trust must raise enough money to pay off the $65,000 mortgage. Ferrara said state Rep. Pete Daley, a California Democrat, has been working with them to get a grant for the mortgage, which is expected within a few months. Owning the building, Ferrara said, is key to opening the door for future funding. "You can't get a government grant unless you own the building." The trust has met with architects and has looked at a number of plans for renovation. The nonprofit group of 14 hasn't decided on any one plan, but board members agree the theater should have a multipurpose use. Ferrara expects the theater will showcase live performing arts as well as films. One set of designs shows how the theater could be divided into three areas so that two different movies could be shown upstairs while a live performance is staged downstairs. Built in a Renaissance Revival style in 1891, one year after Charleroi was founded, the 600-seat theater was first known as the Opera House. Said Ferrara, "It's going to be a lot of work, but there's really nothing around here."

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