A series of meetings this week will address riverfront trails linking 17 communities along the north shore of the Allegheny River.
Residents in the communities along the proposed 32-mile trail may learn more about the trail study conducted in 2009 at three public meetings: one last night in Millvale; one Wed., March 3, 6-8 p.m. at the Alle-Kiski Museum, 224 E. 7th Ave. in Tarentum; and one Sat., March 6, 1-3 p.m., at the Boyd Community Center, 1220 Powers Run Rd in O'Hara Township.
"The discussions hope to engage each individual community to understand what the trail can offer them, where it will be, and how we plan to move forward," says Tom Baxter with Friends of the Riverfront. "As with any development project, we need ideas on which projects are ready to go and ideas on funding, and once trail segments are built, we need volunteers to help maintain them."
Once completed, the Allegheny Valley Trail will tie into the Erie-to-Pittsburgh Greenway and the Pittsburgh-to-Harrisburg Mainline Canal Greenway, which follows the 320-mile path of the historic Pennsylvania Mainline Canal.
Some communities, such as O'Hara, Sharpsburg and Millvale, have already started work on their trail sections, says Baxter.
McTish, Kunkel & Associates has been selected to assist with the planning of this multi-municipal trail and greenway. The project is funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, Allegheny County, Allegheny Rivertown Enterprize Zone, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Friends of the Riverfront, and the 17 riverfront municipalities. O'Hara Township and the Fox Chapel District Association are also assisting with community outreach and fiscal responsibilities.
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Writer: Caralyn Green
Source: Tom Baxter, executive director, Friends of the Riverfront
Image courtesy of Friends of the Riverfront