By Mary Ann Thomas, ASPINWALL HERALD
Tuesday, November 29, 2011

The nonprofit Friends of the Riverfront will discuss more details of its plan to develop a 29-mile recreational trail from Pittsburgh to Freeport along the Allegheny River tomorrow in Harmar.

The proposed extension of the Three River Heritage trail will travel through 17 communities along the river.

When completed, it would connect to the existing 22 miles of trails along the shoreline of the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers on one end, and the Butler-Freeport Community Trail on the other.

The walking and biking trail would serve as another link in the proposed Pittsburgh-to-Erie trail.

Friends of the Riverfront sponsored a study of the proposed trail with Allegheny County, the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and the Allegheny River Towns Enterprise Zone.

Community leaders and municipal officials in the towns where the trail would pass are excited about the prospect but are curious as to how planners will thread the trail around active rail lines, private property and industrial sites.

For towns such as Natrona, where residents are trying to rebuild and attract visitors, the trail could be an economic plus.

“With all the many hikers and cyclists, I envision future development such as restaurants and specialty shops catering to those visitors,” said Bill Godfrey, president of the civic redevelopment group Natrona Comes Together. “The trail would highlight many new sites in the town like our new playground and coming art sculptures all showcasing our rich industrial histor

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