Contact: Rebecca Malena
Tel. 412.255.0564 ext. 29
rmalena@ventureoutdoors.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GRAND VIEW SCENIC BYWAY VISION IS FUTURE OF PITTSBURGH'S IMAGE
Venture Outdoors hosts third Town Hall Meeting to discuss project
Pittsburgh, PA - July 9, 2007) In a vision for the future of Pittsburgh's image, acres of green will stretch across Mt. Washington as part of the Grand View Scenic Byway Park, adding to the city's unique ability to enhance nature through trails and parks entwined in the midst of its urban streets.

This meeting, the third in a series of Town Hall Meetings held by Venture Outdoors, will be held on Thursday, July 19 at 5:30 p.m. at the pavilion amphitheatre at Grandview Park to discuss the vision and planning behind the Grand View Scenic Byway Park initiative.

The Pittsburgh City Council created the Grand View Scenic Byway Park (GVSBP) in 2005 to include a PA State Scenic Byway and over 280 acres of open space from Grandview Park, wrapping around the northern face of Mt. Washington to Duquesne Heights and around the southern face to Mt. Washington Park to the back of Mt. Washington. The area includes one of the top tourist destinations in the region, attracting over 1 million people per year to enjoy the scene from Grandview. The Mt. Washington Community Development Corporation (MWCDC) and the City of Pittsburgh have been working to create this park and have made instrumental steps in progress over the last several years.

The Town Hall presentation will reveal steps for the future as well as describe the layout of the park, which will unify and preserve green space throughout Mt. Washington and Duquesne Heights. It will also provide attendees with information on ways they can become involved in the process.

Speakers from the Open Spaces Task Force of the MWCDC will be present. There will be a question and answer session after the presentation.

"Our GVSBP is a very unique asset for the region that MWCDC, the community, the city and other strategic partners are working together to turn into a world-class attraction that has both active uses and significant passive environmental benefits,” said Lynne Squilla, Chair of the MWCDC Open space Task Force.

The event will last until about 7:30 p.m. and is open to the public. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided. To RSVP for the event, please email townhall@ventureoutdoors.org or call Rebecca Malena, Venture Outdoors Marketing Coordinator, at 412.255.0564 x 29.

Venture Outdoors, a non-profit organization, seeks to transform the Pittsburgh region into a place where the outdoors is an integral part of our culture, identity and lifestyle. Venture Outdoors does this by increasing participation in outdoor recreational activity. This in turn creates a sense of community among participants, an increased awareness of the region’s excellent quality of life, and a better understanding of and deeper appreciation for the environment and wilderness among the residents of and visitors to western Pennsylvania.

For more information, visit www.ventureoutdoors.org or call 412.255.0564.

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