Friends of the Riverfront

Gift Wrapping!

2009-12-03T12:06:00.000-08:00

Friends of the Riverfront will be gift wrapping this year on two dates:

December 21st, LL Bean - Ross Park Mall - 9am-9pm

December 22nd, REI - Settler's Ridge - 10am-4pm

We hope to see you there!

"Right Beside the River" DVD on sale now

2009-12-01T12:24:00.000-08:00

Rick Sebak’s “Right Beside the River” featuring Friends of the Riverfront and the Three Rivers Heritage Trail is now on sale at Border's, the 9th floor of Macy's downtown and at www.shopwqed.org

You know Rick Sebak as the iconic documentarian behind such well-known Pittsburgh films as "Kennywood Memories" and "Things That Aren't There Anymore".

Here's some more details:

"The Pittsburgh area is blessed with many rivers, and because each river has two banks, you could say we’re doubly blessed with interesting, historic and surprising things right beside our rivers. In this lively and amusing documentary, producer Rick Sebak and his team travel from Moundsville, West Virginia (home of the Grave Creek Mound and the Official Marx Toy Museum) to Vandergrift, Pennsylvania (with its curved streets and great used bookstore) to Fredericktown (where the old ferry boat still crosses the Monongahela.) We learn about archeologists in Verona, an old family farmhouse beside the Ohio, a hundred-year-old hot dog place in Brownsville, and several spots in between. In Springdale, we visit the Rachel Carson Homestead and then go back for the annual Sustainable Feast there. We pay attention to pylons along the Allegheny and Ohio River Boulevards. And in Ambridge, we marvel at the perfectly preserved historic village of Old Economy. We find out about LSTs, the huge warships that were built along the Ohio during World War II. We check out changes along the Mon Wharf, and all the wonderful joys of the biking and hiking paths that have been established along the riverbanks around Downtown Pittsburgh. We end up in a cemetery right beside the Youghiogheny in West Newton. Come on along. It’s an unpredictable and fun journey."

Support Friends of the Riverfront on October 28

2009-10-21T12:43:00.000-07:00

PITTSBURGH, PA – (October 21, 2009) Friends of the Riverfront is excited to announce a partnership with The Pittsburgh Foundation for the 2009 Pittsburgh’s Day of Giving, which will take place on Wednesday, October 28 beginning at 10 a.m. On this day, individuals will be able to visit www.pittsburghgives.org to view the Friends of the Riverfront profile, make a donation, and have their donations matched at 50 cents to the dollar (minimum donation of 50 dollars, maximum of 2,500 per person). Day of Giving and Friends of the Riverfront representatives will also be present at the PPG Wintergarden in Downtown Pittsburgh at 10 a.m. for a special presentation and to collect donations in person.

The Pittsburgh Foundation is the 14th largest community foundation in the country. Since 1945, it has worked to improve the quality of life in the Pittsburgh region by evaluating and addressing community issues, promoting charitable giving, and connecting donors to the critical needs of the community.

For over a decade, Friends of the Riverfront has been on the ground and in the water, working to protect and restore the Pittsburgh region’s priceless rivers and riverfronts. It is a pioneering organization that has been involved in creating nearly all of the trails you see as you bike, hike, rollerblade or paddle along our beautiful shores. Through intense collaboration with community partners, government officials, and diverse volunteer base, our rivers and riverfronts have been transformed from industrial wastelands to international examples of environmental renewal. Funds raised through the Day of Giving will support the continued development and stewardship of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail.

For more information about Friends of the Riverfront, visit www.friendsoftheriverfront.org or call 412.488.0212.

Remember, matching funds are limited for this one day event. Please plan to register early by visiting www.pittsburghgives.org.

The Duquesne Tunnel and Trail Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

2009-09-30T10:57:00.000-07:00

Destination: DUQUESNE, along the Great Allegheny Passage 135 miles have been finished. One more gap to go!

You are cordially invited to join the Allegheny County Executive, the Mayor of the City of Duquesne, the Steel Valley Trail Council, and the Allegheny Trail Alliance to celebrate the ribbon cutting for the Duquesne Tunnel & Trail

October 2, 2009 ~ 10:30 a.m. at the RIDC Industrial Park in Duquesne

Arriving by car: Enter Grant Ave. from Rt. 837

Arriving by bicycle: Park in the McKeesport RIDC and come over the Riverton Bridge

For more information call: 724-527-6905
RSVP: admin@atatrail.org

The Unkillable Human has returned

2009-09-28T11:30:00.000-07:00

Friends of the Riverfront is pleased to announce that the "Unkillable Human" sculpture is back where it belongs on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, after it was stolen and damaged a few weeks ago. The statue has been completely restored and reinstalled.

The seven foot tall iron sculpture, create by artist Frederick Franck, represents a significant installation on this segment of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. Beside the sculpture, a granite tablet reveals the sculptor's inspiration for the piece, "came about on my return from Hiroshima, where burned into a concrete wall I saw the shadow of the fellow human evaporated the moment the Bomb struck. Through the empty negative - mere flames of steel - one sees the Human rising like a Phoenix from its ashes.

You can find our original post about the theft here: http://friendsoftheriverfront.blogspot.com/2009/08/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html

PNC Pittsburgh Triathlon & Adventure Race Success

2009-08-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

The 2009 PNC Pittsburgh Triathlon & Adventure Race was a huge success! Thanks to all the athletes, sponsors, and volunteers who helped make the weekend possible. Dates for the 2010 event will be announced shortly. Results are in, and finish line photos for each athlete are online visit http://www.piranha-sports.com/Race45.aspx

"Right Beside the River," a documentary about Pittsburgh and the other cities in Western Pennsylvania

2009-08-27T06:58:00.000-07:00

Rick Sebak just finished his latest masterpiece entitled on "Right Beside the River," a documentary about Pittsburgh and the other cities in Western Pennsylvania that are located along rivers for the Pittsburgh History Series. This PBS documentary will air on WQED starting this Thursday, August 20th at 8:00pm. Friends of the Riverfront is well represented in several of the stories including the Three Rivers Heritage Trail and Water Trail. Check out the link below for clips of the show, commentary and complete details.

http://www.facebook.com/InsideScoopOnRickSebak

Stolen North Shore Sculpture Recovered

2009-08-27T06:51:00.000-07:00

PITTSBURGH, PA – (August 5, 2009) The Unkillable Human Sculpture (pictured on right) stolen from the Three Rivers Heritage Trail over the weekend, was found Wednesday morning. The seven-foot-tall iron sculpture, created by artist Frederick Franck, was recovered by City of Pittsburgh Detective John Varner from a private residence in Bridgeville, PA. The inspiration for the sculpture came from the bombing of Hiroshima “where burned into a concrete wall [Franck] saw the shadow of the fellow human evaporated the moment the Bomb struck.” The sculpture suffered light damage, and Friends of the Riverfront is working with Red Star Ironworks of Millvale to restore the piece. Plans are being made for its reinstallation in late August.

The Three Rivers Heritage Trail is a paved and dedicated biking, hiking, and walking trail around Pittsburgh. Running for over 21 miles along both sides of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers, it is an almost complete public route for cyclists, walkers, runners, and in some places roller bladders. With funding from foundations, government officials, and diverse volunteer base, our rivers and riverfronts have been transformed from industrial wastelands to international examples of environmental renewal. Annually, 2 million people use the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, and it is promoted in Friends of the Riverfront’s free Heritage Trail Map. The map is distributed to approximately 50,000 individuals at several hundred locations within the City and surrounding areas.

For more information about Friends of the Riverfront, visit www.friendsoftheriverfront.org or call 412.488.0212.

The Fish Trophies are back!

2009-07-08T08:35:00.000-07:00

Friends of the Riverfront is proud to partner with Mendel Steel for the creation of the 2009 PNC Pittsburgh Triathlon & Adventure Race 1st place trophies. Each trophy is individually fashioned by hand from recycled materials themed with fish, gears and feet. This year’s event is set for Sunday, July 26th on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. Register today at www.pittsburghtriathlon.com to compete for one of your own.

The PNC Pittsburgh Triathlon and Adventure Race is approaching fast!

2009-06-30T10:16:00.000-07:00

All races will take place at the North Shore Riverfront Park/Great Lawn along the Allegheny River between PNC Park and Heinz Field. Participants and spectators will appreciate the exciting backdrops of the beautiful city over the three vital rivers in the area. Both the Triathlon and the Adventure Race have a bike and run portion, while only the Triathlon has a swim to start in the Allegheny River. In place of a swim, the Adventure Race has a paddle in either a kayak or a canoe. Athlete packet pick-up and Race Expo is scheduled for Saturday, July 25^th from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm followed by the Sunday, July 26^th Triathlon and Adventure Race beginning at 6:30 am. For more information, including details on registering for the PNC Bank Pittsburgh Triathlon & Adventure Race, please visit www.pittsburghtriathlon.com or www.friendsoftheriverfront.org or call 412-488-0212.

Photo Contest for 2010 Three Rivers Heritage Trail Map!

2009-06-26T07:18:00.000-07:00

Friends of the Riverfront is encouraging Trail users to take part in preparations for the release of their 2010 Three Rivers Heritage Trail Map & Guide. Individuals are asked to submit their favorite photos from the Trail, and the winning photographer will be featured and credited in 50,000 copies of the 2010 Map. The winner will also receive a $25 Gift Certificate to OTB Bicycle Café, which is located off the South Side Trail at 2518 E. Carson Street. Please visit our FaceBook page for more information!

Registration Filling for PNC Pittsburgh Triathlon!

2009-06-24T11:11:00.000-07:00

This year's PNC Pittsburgh Triathlon and Adventure Race is approaching fast! Registration is open and filling quickly, so hurry over to www.pittsburghtriathlon.com and register now! We hope to see you on July 25th and 26th at North Shore Park for the 12th Annual Triathlon and Adventure Race!