The expansion of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail throughout the Pittsburgh region is a top priority for Friends of the Riverfront and our partners including Allegheny County and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. Our vision includes having trail connectivity on all sides of all three rivers within Allegheny County. The Trail now encompasses over 33+ miles along both banks of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio rivers and continues to grow.
Allegheny Valley North Shore
In 2011, the Community Trails Initiative was completed to analyze the feasibility of connecting 16 communities along the northern shore within the Allegheny Valley with trail. These communities include: City of Pittsburgh, Millvale Borough, Shaler Township, Etna Borough, Sharpsburg Borough, Aspinwall Borough, O’Hara Township, Blawnox Borough, Harmar Township, Cheswick Borough, Springdale Borough, Springdale Township, East Deer Township, Tarentum Borough, Brackenridge Borough and Harrison Township. The goal of this connection is to extend the Three Rivers Heritage Trail roughly 26 miles to connect to Freeport, PA. In this location the Three Rivers Heritage Trail will connect with the Treadway Trail and Armstrong Trail as a part of 270 miles trail corridor, known as the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail. This trail will also be will connect in Freeport with the Pittsburgh to Harrisburg Main Line Canal Greenway, the Butler Freeport Community Trail, the Rachel Carson Trail, and the Baker Trail. Friends continues to work with the 16 communities in this corridor to provide assistance with among other things, trail planning, community engagement, fundraising, design, and construction for each community’s section of the Trail.
Monongahela Valley - Baldwin Riverfront Park
Friends of the Riverfront and Baldwin Borough partnered with Pashek+MTR to develop a site plan for the riverfront park in Baldwin Borough along the Monongahela River. The process includes opportunities for the community to provide input and feedback on the plan. The next opportunity to present feedback is at an Open House on August 14, 2021 at the park.
Click here for more information about the Open House.
Frequently Asked Questions about the park, site plan, and ongoing work to repair the trail ponding issue dubbed “Eagle Lake”
Ohio Riverfront Montour Connection
The trail system currently ends on the banks of the Ohio River adjacent to Station Square. Expansion of the Three Rivers Heritage trail will provide a connection from the City of Pittsburgh to Allegheny County’s Sports Legacy Project in Coraopolis. The continuation of the trail system will also connect to the Montour Trail and provides a dedicated non-motorized connection through the South Hills and access to the Pittsburgh International Airport. Development of a trail along the Ohio River will also create numerous community connections and offer opportunities for alternative transportation to and from work, school and other destinations. This multi-municipal effort encompasses the City of Pittsburgh, McKees Rocks, Stowe, Kennedy, Neville, Robinson and Coraopolis including several local community groups. Friends of the Riverfront is working with Allegheny County and other partners to update recent studies and identify a preferred route in this corridor.
Allegheny Valley Southern Shore
At the time the trail currently ends in the Strip district at 16th. The are many plans that have addressed connecting the trail through the Strip District and going north. Friends of the Riverfront is currently providing assistance to the City of Pittsburgh to acquire nearly 1 mile of riverfront property in the Strip District through a process called railbanking.
Download the Green Blvd Strategic Plan
Trail Development prospects have also been analyzed north of the city. Below is a link to a study that was completed by Township of Penn Hills to have trail connectivity along the riverfront
Download the Allegheny River Blvd to Rail Trail Feasibility Study
Ohio Valley – Route 65 Study
Starting this year, the Quaker Valley Council of Governments and Carnegie Mellon will be engaging in a study that will look at mobility of the Route 65 corridor. This study will also be looking at potential trail connectivity through on the North Shore of the Ohio Valley as well. Friends of the Riverfront will be participating through this process.
