East Deer, Tarentum to seek grant to improve Three Rivers Heritage Trail

Two Alle-Kiski Valley municipalities are hoping to snag a grant that could help them make improvements to the Three Rivers Heritage Trail.

If approved, the joint $50,000 Active Allegheny Grant would be used to determine how to best take the 24‑mile urban riverfront trail through East Deer into Tarentum.

“I’d like to see it connected all the way to Millvale and Pittsburgh, but there’s some logistical problems with certain properties, and you don’t want to see them use highways,” East Deer Commissioners Chairman Tony Taliani said. “What they’re going to study here is the best way just for East Deer and Tarentum.”

Tarentum Council approved a resolution to apply for the grant on Tuesday, and East Deer did the same Wednesday. Tarentum is applying for the grant on the East Deer’s behalf. The application will be submitted in the coming weeks.

“The grant will be used for planning and design of the trail. We hope to conduct a technical review of the existing trail,” Tarentum Borough Manager Mike Nestico said. “We would then begin planning and design work toward improvements or modifications to the trail.”

Both East Deer and Tarentum were part of a 2011 Community Trails Initiative that analyzed the feasibility of connecting several communities, many of which are in the Alle-Kiski Valley, with the Three Rivers Heritage Trail.

The goal of the connection is to extend the Three Rivers Heritage Trail roughly 26 miles from Pittsburgh to Freeport so that it can connect with various other trails, including the Tredway Trail and Butler-Freeport Community Trail.

The Active Allegheny Grant program is administered by the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County. It provides financial assistance to municipalities to develop and design transportation projects that allow people to get to their destinations by riding bicycles and walking, and increase opportunities for physical activity.

Taliani thinks the trail is a great idea.

“We have a nice walking track down along the river,” he said. “We have a nice, little park down there. They’re going to go through our park.”

Nestico couldn’t say how long it might take to receive the grant. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until Nov. 30, according to the county’s website.

“I believe grants are awarded on a rolling basis as well,” Nestico said.