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Modern Day Makers Story Map Guides You to Handmade Items Along the Trails

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Part of a Series of Self-Guided Itineraries

Image Credit: Stray Cat Studio, Beaver Falls

Could you pedal through history, you would find that the “Industrial Heartland” was a land of “makers.” Innovators in this part of the world forged iron and steel, produced glass, and so much more. You might be surprised that the region continues to be dotted with makers of every sort, and our trails connect all of this ingenuity. From Fiesta Ware to baseball bats and custom pocket knives, there is a lot of “making” that still takes place in the Industrial Heartland. Some of these connect back to Northern Appalachian heritage, while others have introduced new crafts to the region.

Check out our Modern Day Makers Story Map, which takes you to nearly two dozen regional shops and maker sites around the region. Some are accessible by trail; others are better reached by vehicle or public transit. Most of the sites are open year round, so plan to hit up some of the sites and support local businesses and artisans this holiday season. Enjoy!

The Heart of Our Community

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 If you haven’t seen the new Industrial Heartland Trails Coalition video, then you are in for a treat.

Not only is the video an outstanding resource to present to those who are unfamiliar with the IHTC vision, but its sunny scenes provide a very welcomed reminder that riding season is right around the corner!

Keep track of the trails and communities you see in the video, and make sure to put them on your ‘to-visit’ and ‘must-ride’ list for the spring.

IHTC Quarterly Meeting Announcement!

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The Ghost Town Trail

We’re already a month into 2019 and that means it’s time for our first IHTC Quarterly Meeting of the New Year!

Join representatives from the IHTC footprint on Monday, February 11th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. as we discuss updates throughout the region and strategies for moving developing trails forward.

This meeting will be about more than just corridor updates as we’re partnering with Susan Loucks from the Bayer Center for Non-profit Management to offer an engaging session titled “Invigorating and Expanding Your Members and Leadership.”  Here’s what Susan has to say about the session:

  Community members are the life blood of trail groups, and it’s critical to keep your finger on the pulse.  This session will explore strategies for recruiting new people into your organization, maintaining their interest, and cultivating leadership within your member base.  You’ll leave with ideas that grow your capacity, and yet are manageable without paid staff. 

Please RSVP to Deb Frawley at dfrawley@pecpa.org so that we know who to expect and have an accurate count for lunches!

 

Here are some other helpful details :

Location
Bayer Center for Non-profit Management
339 Sixth Avenue, Suite 750
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Parking
A variety of options are available for parking and alternate transportation. Please see the websites below for information.

PLEASE NOTE: Parking garages fill quickly, so allow yourself extra time in case the garage you wish to use is already full.

Smithfield/Liberty Garage
This garage is located behind the building, with an entrance on Liberty Avenue, as well as an entrance on Smithfield Street.

Mellon Square Garage
This garage is a half block away, on the other side of the street from the building.

Oliver Garage
This garage is approximately two blocks from the building on Oliver Avenue. It can hold over-sized vehicles.

Greyhound/Grant Street Garage
From the Greyhound garage, walk approximately one block down Grant Street and turn right on Liberty Avenue. Walk approximately two blocks down Liberty and left onto Sixth Avenue for one block to the building. While this garage is the farthest away, there are almost always spaces available, no matter what time of day.

Busways & “T” Light Rail System
There are numerous buses that stop in close proximity to our building. The “T” has a station at Wood Street that is just one block from the building.

 

Be Sure to Register for the 2018 IHTC Summit!

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The 2018 Industrial Heartland Trails Coalition Summit is right around the corner!

There’s still time to register for the 2018 IHTC Summit in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Speakers are confirmed, mobile workshops are filling up, and we’ve specifically requested good weather, so register today!

The photo below directs you to the registration page, so click on!  

 

IHTC Presentation at International Trails Symposium

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May 17-20

Eric Oberg of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and Frank Maguire of PEC were selected to speak about the Industrial Heartland Trails Coalition at American Trails’ International Trails Symposium in Portland, OR, taking place May 17-20. Eric and Frank will work with other regional trail project leaders from around the Country on a three hour “core track” that focuses on how large regional trail projects are being managed. Other projects in the presentation include The Circuit in Philadelphia, Bay Area Trails Collaborative in the San Francisco Bay area and Central Ohio Greenways in Columbus, Ohio.