PADDLE BOARDERS ON THE ALLEGHENY RIVER DOWNTOWN | PHOTO COURTESY FRIENDS OF THE RIVERFRONT

Did you know Allegheny County has a Water Trail?

In fact, it includes 33 access points over 96 miles on four rivers for non-motorized watercraft like kayaks, canoes, hybrid fishing kayaks and paddle boarders, as well as for anglers, swimmers and folks who just want to sit by the river.

These access points stretch north on the Allegheny River to Natrona and Freeport, west to Leetsdale on the Ohio River, south to Elizabeth on the Monongahela River and then south to the Buena Vista boat launch on the Youghiogheny River. Most are concentrated on the Allegheny River and in the City of Pittsburgh.

Friends of the Riverfront, a nonprofit that works to protect and restore the riverfront in the Pittsburgh region, has just launched one of its most ambitious management plans ever that calls for adding 22 more access points in Allegheny County over the next 10 years — bringing the total to 55. They see this not only to help meet the growing demand for water activities but as an economic driver for the region.

“It’s a huge need,” says Courtney Mahronich Vita, director of Trail Development and Government Relations for the Friends organization that was established in 1991. “We have a lot of communities that want to reconnect with their waterways.”

Since the pandemic, sales of canoes and kayaks have increased in Pennsylvania, she says, ”We’re hearing a lot of anecdotal accounts from our communities that have launches that they’re full. Parking lots are full. We’re seeing launches starting to get overtaxed.”

The Friends of the Riverfront, which also helps manage the Three Rivers Heritage Trail along the rivers, developed a 2024 impact report that shows the land trail spurred $26.5 million in economic impact in 2023 through local spending and effects of increased development.

“This is another way for us to help promote the region and for visitors coming to our city to use our waterways,” she says. “Our waterways are safe. They are safe to use and recreate on.”

KAYAKERS IN SPRINGDALE BOROUGH | PHOTO COURTESY FRIENDS OF THE RIVERFRONT

The nonprofit’s short-term plans call for adding or improving an access point in Cheswick near Rachel Carson Riverfront Park on the Allegheny, in Braddock along the Monongahela and another in Verona on the Allegheny. For Verona, docks have been ordered and they should be ready to install in the spring, she says.

Oakmont also is looking to add an access point near The River’s Edge development. The organization is currently evaluating a few sites.

Among the largest boat launches in the county are the South Side Riverfront Park, although it doesn’t have a dock, and Millvale Riverfront Park. And surprisingly, one of the most popular is a small access point in Braddock at the end of 11th Street next to the Edgar Thomson Works steel mill.

“It’s actually one of the best places to fish for catfish in Allegheny County,” Vita says. “We often see five, six people fishing there at a time.”

At the Braddock site, there’s just two parking spaces, some street parking, a picnic table and a concrete ramp. The nonprofit is looking to put in a dock, fishing pad, benches and other amenities.

For many of the smaller communities, it’s not just a desire for a place to launch watercraft. “It’s also about, ‘Hey, I just want a place to come and sit by the river and read a book,’” Vita says. “We also heard a lot from the anglers. They want more opportunities to fish.”

In all of these improvements, the nonprofit has to work with individual municipalities (there are 67 along the rivers) to get permission for the site and to create the access. Funding for these improvements, for the most part, come from local foundations, state agencies and other sources.

The long-range management plan was supported by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the state Department of Economic Development and local, county, state partners and stakeholders such as the state Fish and Boat Commission.

“This is one of the first water trail management plans in the state,” Vita says. “So we’re already getting a lot of calls from our fellow water trail partners that they want to do something similar as well to help better plan and manage their water trails for the future.”