PITTSBURGH -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District, in partnership with the Pittsburgh Pirates, will host Water Safety Night at PNC Park, June 2. The corps and its partners are joining together to promote safe practices on our waterways as the summer recreation season begins.
At the baseball game, the Pirates will hand out free ‘80s-themed water safety T-shirts courtesy of the Pittsburgh District. Mark Jones, Chief of Engineering and Construction, Pittsburgh District will throw the first pitch to Col. Adam Czekanski, commander, Pittsburgh District.
Prior to the Pirates versus St. Louis Cardinals baseball game, the corps and its partners will line Federal Street from 4:30 – 7 p.m., with displays that include a corps patrol boat, the district’s diving program ROV, and a fully-functional lock and dam model. The corps’ mascot, Bobber the Water Safety Dog, will greet fans. Activities will be available for children and adults alike.
Water Safety Night follows National Safe Boating Week, which is May 20 – 26, 2023.
Other groups participating in the event include the Carnegie Science Center, Herptile Emergency Response Program, the Lower Kiski Swift Water Rescue/Flood Response/Public Safety Dive teams, and the Campbell Transportation Company Inc.
Accidents can happen quickly while on the waterways. Statistics show 90 percent of people who drowned may have been saved if they had worn a life jacket.
For everyone out on the waterways, the Corps of Engineers wants to remind you to KNOW. TAKE. WEAR. Know the waterways. Take a water-safety course. Wear your life jacket.
Pittsburgh District’s 26,000 square miles include portions of western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, eastern Ohio, western Maryland, and southwestern New York. It has more than 328 miles of navigable waterways, 23 navigation locks and dams, 16 multi-purpose flood-control reservoirs, 42 local flood-protection projects, and other projects to protect and enhance the nation’s water resources infrastructure and environment.
Media can contact the Public Affairs office at CELRP-PA@usace.army.mil or 412-395-7500.