Herrs Island, Pittsburgh
Herrs Island, also known as Washington's Landing, is an island in the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is officially considered part of the Troy Hill neighborhood.[1]
Herrs Island
Washington's Landing | |
---|---|
Herrs Island from the 31st Street Bridge, with Downtown in the distance. | |
Herrs Island Location in Pittsburgh | |
Coordinates: 40.4667°N 79.975°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Pennsylvania |
County | Allegheny County |
City | Pittsburgh |
Rehabilitation
As a result of the industrial activity, Herrs Island was a brownfield site. By the 1970s, most industrial activity on the island had left. During the 1980s and 1990s, a major redevelopment effort was undertaken after a long study of best uses.[2]
The island is now a showcase project of urban redevelopment for the City of Pittsburgh.[3] It is now a mixed-use community, home to townhomes and business parks, as well as a marina, the Three Rivers Rowing Association, and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.
The northern portion of Herrs Island contains a small park with tennis courts, a public lawn, and manicured landscapes. A section of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail loops around the island, offering a crushed-gravel pedestrian path with several scenic overlooks of the Allegheny River.[4]
Head of the Ohio
Since 1987, the island and piers have hosted the starting point for the annual Head of the Ohio crew race. The Three Rivers Rowing Association also maintains their boathouses on the island.
References
- "Herrs Island promises". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. September 15, 1986. p. 6.
- Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh Archived October 17, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- "Touring the Trails: Washington's Landing". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2017-06-03.