Allegheny's Riverfronts
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ALLEGHENY’S RIVERFRONTS A Progress Report on Municipal Riverfront Development in Allegheny County DECEMBER 2010 Allegheny County Allegheny’s Riverfronts Dear Friends: In Allegheny County, we are known for our rivers. In fact, our rivers have repeatedly been in the national spotlight – during the Forrest L. Wood Cup and Pittsburgh G-20 Summit in 2009, and during World Environment Day in 2010. We are fortunate to have more than 185 miles of riverfront property along the Allegheny, Monongahela, Ohio and Youghiogheny Rivers. Our riverfronts provide opportunities for recreation, conservation and economic development. Providing access to our waterways has always been a key priority and we have been very successful in connecting communities through our trail and greenway system. Through partnerships with businesses, foundations and trail groups, we are on target to complete the Great Allegheny Passage along the Monongahela River before the end of 2011. This trail has been improving the economy and quality of life in towns throughout the Laurel Highlands and Southwestern Pennsylvania, and now its benefits will spread north through the Mon Valley and into the City of Pittsburgh. Our riverfronts provide opportunities for greening our region through the use of new trees, rain gardens and riverside vegetation that aid in flood control, improved water quality and a more natural experience. Allegheny County riverfronts have also always been great places to live. More people will be able to experience riverfront living with the development of communities such as Edgewater at Oakmont, which promises to be one of the best new neighborhoods in the region. I am so proud of all that we have accomplished along our riverfronts and excited about all that is yet to come. Please join me in this tour of Allegheny County’s riverfronts. Sincerely, Dan Onorato Allegheny County Executive A Progress Report on Municipal Riverfront Development in Allegheny County 1 ALLEGHENY COUNTY RIVERFRONTS | ALIVE WITH ACTIVITY With each passing year, more and more people are finding new and fun ways to enjoy Allegheny County’s riverfronts. It seems like everyone wants to get in, on or near the water…and for good reason! The connection to our rivers is a big part of the history and present-day vitality of Allegheny County. Whether it is the story of early Native Americans living along our rivers or the first Europeans who fought for access to our valuable rivers, they are central to the story of this region and the nation. The Allegheny County Riverfronts Project, a partnership of Allegheny County, Friends of the Riverfront and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, celebrates this historical connection to our riverfronts. Together, we work with a variety of partners including local governments and non-profit organizations to implement projects along the riverfronts. In 2009, we published the first Allegheny’s Riverfronts Progress Report. This publication is the second in the series and a celebration of all things “riverfront” in Allegheny County. Much has been accomplished since the 2009 publication as communities continue to find new ways to connect to our rivers. There is also much more to be done to fulfill our vision. Allegheny County riverfronts are destinations for its citizens and visitors. These riverfronts provide recreation, conservation, and access opportunities while maintaining their place as important drivers in the region’s industrial, commercial and residential economies. In this report, we’ll be taking you to some new places to see new projects, and we’ll also revisit some of the places that we visited in our last report. So join us as we take a tour of Allegheny County’s riverfronts. 2 Allegheny’s Riverfronts LOOKING AHEAD | PROJECT UPDATES Important progress is being made at completing several projects that were highlighted in the 2009 Allegheny Riverfront’s report. These projects will make it easier for people to get to and use Allegheny County’s 80 miles of scenic riverfronts. Community Trails Initiative Sycamore Island – Conservation Plan O’Hara Township and Friends of the Riverfront were awarded The Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) acquired for permanent conservation funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation Sycamore Island, which is a 14-acre and growing island in the and Natural Resources to conduct a trail feasibility study for Allegheny River near Blawnox. In September 2010, the ALT 17 municipalities along the north shore of the Allegheny River completed a property management plan for Sycamore Island, which connecting the City of Pittsburgh to Armstrong County. The included an inventory and assessment of the island, public outreach feasibility study is well on its way with more than 20 public and recommendations for the island’s use and stewardship. More and stakeholder meetings held along the alignment. The report information is available at its website. is expected to be finalized early in 2011 with specific focus www.alleghenylandtrust.org on pilot projects to keep the momentum and interest in a trail connection moving. The report will be available at Friends of the Riverfront’s website. www.friendsoftheriverfront.org Three Rivers Water Trail In October 2010, the Three Rivers Water Trail celebrated the Verona Boat House opening of a new water trail access point on the Ohio River at In 2009 we celebrated the ribbon cutting for the Steel City Rowing Westhall Street. This is directly in front of the State Correctional Club’s new boathouse in Verona. That project is close to completion Institution and near the ALCOSAN plant on Pittsburgh’s Northside. as construction on the $2.5 million, energy efficient facility comes Friends of the Riverfront is working diligently with other to a close. This site already provides public access to the Allegheny municipalities to introduce more access points. The water trail River with a Three Rivers Water Trail public access point. Plans are was also designated by the National Park Service as a National also underway for a future trail connection through Verona. Recreation Trail in 2010. This national designation brings increased attention to Allegheny’s Riverfronts. www.steelcityrowing.org www.friendsoftheriverfront.org A Progress Report on Municipal Riverfront Development in Allegheny County 3 NATIONAL RECOGNITION During 2009-10, Allegheny County’s rivers played host to several nationally recognized events. These events raised awareness of our region in some new and exciting ways. People who still hold outdated perceptions of our riverfronts have now gained a new understanding of what our region looks like today. In September 2009, our region played host to leaders from all over the world at the G-20 Summit. While meeting at the David Lawrence Convention Center overlooking the Allegheny River, President Obama commented on the transformation of this region, much of which can be seen along Allegheny County Riverfronts… “Last night during the dinner that I had with world leaders, so many of them commented on the fact that sometime in the past they had been to Pittsburgh – in some cases it was 20 or 25 or 30 years ago – and coming back they were so impressed with the revitalization of the city. A number of them remarked on the fact that it pointed to lessons that they could take away in revitalizing manufacturing towns in their home countries.” –President Barack Obama Closing Press Conference, Pittsburgh G-20 Summit 2009 4 Allegheny’s Riverfronts Forrest L. Wood Cup World Environment Day 2010 July 29–August 2, 2009 June 5, 2010 The Forrest Wood Cup is the world’s richest bass-fishing Heralded as the biggest, most widely celebrated global day for championship. Widely considered the crown jewel of bass fishing, positive, environmental action, World Environment Day was brought the Forrest Wood Cup was a three-day event held on the Allegheny, to Pittsburgh by Bayer Corporation, sponsored by the United Nations Monongahela and Ohio Rivers, and put the sport’s biggest names and spearheaded by Sustainable Pittsburgh to stimulate worldwide in competition with one another for a $1 million top award. awareness of the environment and encourage political attention and action. Recently recognized as the largest convention in this region in 2009 by the Pittsburgh Business Times, the Forrest Wood Cup generated World Environment Day was the culmination of several weeks more than $37 million in travel and tourism revenue for the region. of events taking place between Earth Day in April and early June. The eyes of the sport fishing world were squarely on Pittsburgh for The theme for this celebration was “Biodiversity – Ecosystems this event, which followed up on the successful CITGO Bassmaster Management and the Green Economy.” World Environment Day Classic that took place in 2005. was designed to: • Give a human face to environmental issues The success and demonstrated popularity of bass fishing • Empower people to become active agents of sustainable tournaments bodes well for Allegheny County and our three rivers and equitable development as a proven venue and destination for future outdoor sporting events. • Promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues; and • Advocate partnership to ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future. The capstone event was the Water Matters! Global Water Conference that took place overlooking the Allegheny River. During this conference, our region was at the center of a national debate about clean water and the importance of clean water for the future. The setting and context for this debate here in Allegheny County made a profound statement on dramatic environmental improvements and impact on the quality of life throughout the region. A Progress Report on Municipal Riverfront Development in Allegheny County 5 ALIVE WITH ACTIVITY | REGIONAL EVENTS Several regional events took place in 2010 that provided an opportunity for Allegheny County residents to have a river experience. Some of these are annual events and some were one-time events, but they all brought attention to our rivers.