It's been nearly a decade since
Great Outdoors Week began in Pittsburgh. In that time, our city has gotten greener, our rivers have gotten cleaner and more Pittsburghers have begun embracing the region's outdoor offerings.
But there is still work to be done on all fronts, and the 9th annual Great Outdoors Week (beginning this Friday, May 14 and runnning through May 23) is designed to get people moving and thinking about what's outside their doors.
"We have about 50 events or more scheduled," says Ginette Vinski, communications manager at
Sustainable Pittsburgh, "each
hosted by one or more local outdoors groups." They "vary in skill
level and age appropriateness," she says, "with everything from geocaching to dragon boating to
paddling to fishing."
The four signature events that have drawn crowds in past years are on the schedule again. Those are:
May 14: Learn to Row and Paddle (hosted by
Three Rivers Rowing Association)
May 16: Pedal Pittsburgh (hosted by
Community Design Center of Pittsburgh)
May 21: National Bike to Work Day (coordinated by
Bike Pittsburgh)
May 22: Venture Outdoors Festival (hosted by
Venture Outdoors)
The Bike to Work Day events include "coordinated biker breakfasts" at several locations around the city, Vinski says, where cycling fans can share a meal, make connections and "maybe start a bike riding pool together."
"The purpose is to really introduce and engage residents of southwestern Pa. in what's available in terms of outdoor amenities here in the region," Vinski says. "There are great opportunities for people who may not be outdoor enthusiasts or hardcore outdoor folks to try things."
With such a huge array of parks, trails, rivers, and lakes, and opportunities for biking, hiking, running and boating in our region, she says, "we're trying to let people realize you don't have to travel far to get outdoors and enjoy."
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Writer: Melissa Rayworth
Source: Ginette Vinski, Sustainable Pittsburgh
Image courtesy of Sustainable Pittsburgh