Small but mighty, Natrona riverfront trail opens

A small but vital trail link recently opened in Natrona to connect the community park with the Allegheny River shoreline.

The strip of land — 10 feet wide and 100 feet long — provides a major impact.

“It is critical,” said Bill Godfrey, president of the Natrona Comes Together advocacy group. “There was no way to cross before. You had to double back.”

Friends of the Riverfront will manage that short leg of a much longer trail.

Courtney Mahronich Vita, director of trail development, said the short stretch provides great strides in growing the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, a 33-mile path that extends from Pittsburgh on both sides of the river.

“It will be awesome for the people of Natrona to have the path to the river from one end of town to the other,” Harrison Commissioner Jim Erb said.

“You may see some people from out of town that hear about it and make the trip. But it will be really nice for the folks from town and family and friends.”

#NewTrail in Natrona! This smaller trail is important, as it connects the Natrona Community Park to the Natrona Riverfront Park! It is also progress towards growing the #ThreeRiversHeritageTrail and the #ErieToPittsburghTrail. Thank you to all who helped make this happen! pic.twitter.com/eN28PMOnqZ

— Friends of the Riverfront (@FriendsRvrFront) August 15, 2022

The $43,000 project has been a few years in the making.

Harrison Commissioner Chuck Dizard said it made sense to open the alley where the trail dead-ended and provide walkers and bikers a way through.

Dizard, himself, purchased the land, which abuts the Army Corps of Engineers’ entrance to Lock and Dam 4, and sought donations for a concrete trail with a fence.

Money flowed in from nearly two dozen local donors, along with a $10,000 grant from the Port of Pittsburgh Commission, a group that promotes the development of inland waterways.

Next week, community volunteers will meet with Godfrey and an artist to complete a set of 12 mosaics to be installed along the trail fence.

They will match the decor across the street at the Natrona Community Park and will detail the animals, birds and plants found along the riverfront.

Each piece will be about 3 feet by 2 feet.

“It will be beautiful but will also be an educational opportunity,” Dizard said.

“It will extend aesthetically from the mosaics at the park. On each edge of the concrete walkway, we’ll be planting greenery to make it really something nice.”

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be scheduled in the fall.