Support Friends of the Riverfront on October 28

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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.