Three Rivers Heritage Trail has been designated as a National Recreation Trail. The announcement was made jointly on May 3, 2010 by Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior Ken Salazor and Director of the National Park Service Jonathan Jarvis.
Authorized by the National Trails System Act of 1968, the Three Rivers Heritage Trail joins an elite few trail systems that exemplify regional significance that connect people to local resources and improve quality of life for citizens. The Three Rivers Heritage Trail is a spectacular bicycle and pedestrian pathway that runs for 22 miles along both banks of the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio rivers. It connects dozens of neighborhoods and communities along the river fronts and offers immense opportunity for recreation and alternative transportation throughout our region.
"We as a region are fortunate to have such and expansive trail system liking our riverfront communities within the Pittsburgh region," said Executive Director of Friends of the Riverfront Thomas Baxter. "Together, with community leaders and our partners Allegheny County and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, we are working on planning and building new segments of trails along the river fronts of Allegheny County."
"We have hundreds of miles of trails in Allegheny County, and we are fortunate that many of them run along our beautifully reclaimed river fronts," said Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato. "This designation for the Three Rivers Heritage Trail is proof of our successful partnerships with businesses, foundations and trail groups to continue connecting communities with our waterways. We have established a coalition that is building a continuous riverfront trail that will expand recreational opportunities and economic development throughout the Allegheny Valley. Through these partnerships, we are linking communities and further improving the quality of life in Southwestern Pennsylvania."
People interested in learning more or becoming more invovled in their community's trail development efforts are encouaged to visit the "Trail Status" page at www.freidndsoftheriverfront.org where they will find information on current and future development projects and can request a free Three Rivers Heritage Trail Map and Guide. The map may also be viewed online at www.friendsoftheriverfront.org/map
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Hopefully the link under the Glenwood Bridge to Homestead in Hays can be opened soon.
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