Visitors who traverse the fancy water feature at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center now run into a dead end when they reach a large concrete pad at the edge of the Allegheny River.

But a plan to transform that bleak patch of concrete into a riverfront oasis finally may be ready to move forward.

City-Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority officials are hoping to start construction this summer of an $8.5 million riverfront park at the convention center, the last piece needed to provide a continuous trail along the Allegheny from the Strip District to Point State Park, Downtown.

"It is the missing tooth between the full renovation of Point State Park and the Allegheny Riverfront Park in the Strip," said Lisa Schroeder, executive director of the Riverlife Task Force.

The new park would feature a platform that would extend about 25 feet into the water and provide docking for the Gateway Clipper Fleet, water taxis and other boats.

To the east, a suspended sidewalk would gently rise about 15 feet from the platform to Fort Duquesne Boulevard and connect with the Strip trail. To the west, the park would link up with a existing riverfront trail that runs to Point State Park.

There also will be steps to take visitors from 10th Street near the convention center's east lobby to the platform. The only way visitors can get from the center to the river now is to use the water feature, which runs downhill along 10th from the Penn Avenue area.

Architect LaQuatra Bonci Associates also plans to build hillsides with lots of greenery and replace the concrete that now slopes down to the river with trees. The park itself would stretch from the Rachel Carson Bridge to the Fort Wayne railroad bridge.

The area at water's edge is "pretty dead right now," said Joe Hackett, principal at LaQuatra Bonci Associates. "There's no reason to be there. There's no way to get to it."

A series of pipes will provide the support for the platform. Mr. Hackett said the design not only is very cost-effective but allows water to run underneath the platform and protects the river habitat.

Authority Executive Director Mary Conturo said the goal in designing the park was to create a green area, offer docking and walking space, and provide a gathering point.

"We're pleased with the design. We think it accomplished all of those things in a very nice way," she said.

The authority is hoping to bid the project this spring in preparation for the summer construction. The park should be completed in a year.

Before the agency can begin, however, it still must secure about $2.3 million in funding to supplement the $6.2 million it currently has available.

With the project so close to starting, Ms. Conturo is optimistic about getting the additional money.

"As you get closer to having a real project, sometimes it's easier to get the funding," she said.

Ms. Schroeder said completion of the park is "absolutely critical." It is one of several projects close to starting that will greatly enhance the city's existing trail network, she said. The others are at the Mon Wharf and the SouthSide Works complex.

When they and the Point State Park renovations have been completed, the proposed 3 Rivers Park, stretching a little more than 12 miles from the West End Bridge on the Ohio River to the Hot Metal Bridge on the Monongahela to the 31st Street Bridge on the Allegheny, will be about 80 percent complete, Ms. Schroeder said.