2023 Three Rivers Water Trail Survey

Background

The Three Rivers Water Trail is a series of 31 river access points along the Allegheny, Monongahela, Ohio and Youghiogheny Rivers in Allegheny County. The water trail is managed and maintained by Friends of the Riverfront with assistance of various organizations within the county. These access points are placed where users can launch non-motorized boats such as kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards and access the river for fishing, wildlife viewing, and general enjoyment. This survey is intended for anyone who uses the Three Rivers Water Trail in any of these ways, as well as those who might like to. You do not need to live in Allegheny County to take the survey.

Friends of the Riverfront has worked to protect and restore the riverfront for more than 30 years, primarily through trail development and stewardship. Please help us gain a better understanding of your experiences and interest in using the water trail. Your feedback will help to inform the Three Rivers Water Trail Management Plan. Thank you for your time and support!

INSTRUCTIONS

This survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. All responses will remain anonymous.

For a chance to win a Sea to Summit Dry Bag, provide your contact information after you have submitted your survey.

The survey will remain open until November 30, 2023. If you have any questions or concerns about this survey, please reach out to Katie Craig at katherine@friendsoftheriverfront.org.

IMPORTANT NOTES

1) If you own, operate, or maintain a portion of the Three Rivers Water Trail, you will be surveyed separately and don’t need to take this survey. You can, however, share this survey with others.

2) If you recently took the Three Rivers Heritage Trail Survey focused on the adjacent land trail, we invite you to also take this survey, which is entirely focused on the water trail and activities along the water’s edge. Your feedback is important to us as we work to improve the water trail.

YOUR PERSONAL TRAIL USE

We have some questions about how you use the Three Rivers Water Trail. If you don’t already use the trail, that’s okay! Your response will help us better address your needs. Please note: the Three Rivers Water Trail is located on the water and launch areas along the water’s edge. The Three Rivers Heritage Trail is the paved shared use trail that parallels the river. Friends of the Riverfront manages both trails but this survey is specific to the water trail.

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* 1. What is your zip code?

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* 2. How often do you use the Three Rivers Water Trail?

Daily

Few times per week

Few times per month

Once a month

Few times per year

Never

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* 3. If you do not currently use the water trail, what keeps you from doing so? (Select all that apply.)

Not enough time

Inexperience

Safety Concerns

There isn't a launch near my home

I don't have enough information

I don't have the right equipment

I don't have anyone to join me

Other (please specify)

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* 4. If you chose Safety Concerns above, please describe your concerns below.

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* 5. What is your most likely way to reach the water trail?

Biking

Personal Vehicle

Public Transit

Ride Share (Uber/Lyft/etc.)

Walking

Other

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* 6. What is your preferred or primary water trail activity?

Canoeing or Kayaking

Fishing

Relaxing beside the water

Rowing

Standup Paddleboarding

Swimming/Tubing/Floating

Wildlife Viewing

Other (please specify)

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* 7. What are other ways you use or may use the water trail?

Canoeing or Kayaking

Fishing

Relaxing beside the water

Rowing

Standup Paddleboading

Swimming/Tubing/Floating

Wildlife Viewing

Other (please specify)

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* 8. Whatever your activity, what do you consider your experience level to be?

Novice

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Expert

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* 9. What are your reasons for using the water trail? (Select all that apply.)

For my health

For fun/enjoyment

To get from place to place

For work/professional purposes

Other (please specify)

I don't use the water trail

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* 10. Which launches are you most likely to use while along the water trail?

	Along Allegheny River	Along Monongahela River	Along Ohio River	Along Youghiogheny River
First Choice	First Choice Along Allegheny River menu	First Choice Along Monongahela River menu	First Choice Along Ohio River menu	First Choice Along Youghiogheny River menu
Second Choice	Second Choice Along Allegheny River menu	Second Choice Along Monongahela River menu	Second Choice Along Ohio River menu	Second Choice Along Youghiogheny River menu
Third Choice	Third Choice Along Allegheny River menu	Third Choice Along Monongahela River menu	Third Choice Along Ohio River menu	Third Choice Along Youghiogheny River menu

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* 11. If you are paddling, how many launches do you typically use in a single trip? (Note: Our work and this survey are focused on non-motorized activities. This and similar questions do not pertain to motorized boating.)

A single launch

Two launches

More than two launches

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* 12. If you are a paddler who doesn’t typically use multiple launches on a single trip, what prevents you from doing so? (Select all that apply.)

Logistical concerns about getting back to my starting point

Security concerns in terms of leaving my boat and gear at stops along the way

There aren’t enough things to do (shops, restaurants, cultural sites, etc.) along the river to justify a longer trip

I don’t want to commit the time needed to paddle between multiple sites

Regardless of conditions and amenities, I would not paddle between multiple launch sites

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* 13. If you are a paddler, would you launch from a private marina along the water trail if that option was available to you?

Yes

I already do

I'm not sure

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* 14. If you are paddling, do you ever pass through the locks?

Yes

No, but I'd like to learn how to

I'm not sure what a lock is

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* 15. If you are a paddler or are interested in paddling, how secure do you feel in the following scenarios along the water trail?

	Not at all safe	Not very safe	Somewhat safe	Very safe
Being in a launch area	Being in a launch area Not at all safe	Being in a launch area Not very safe	Being in a launch area Somewhat safe	Being in a launch area Very safe
Getting in and out of the water at launch sites	Getting in and out of the water at launch sites Not at all safe	Getting in and out of the water at launch sites Not very safe	Getting in and out of the water at launch sites Somewhat safe	Getting in and out of the water at launch sites Very safe
Paddling on the open water	Paddling on the open water Not at all safe	Paddling on the open water Not very safe	Paddling on the open water Somewhat safe	Paddling on the open water Very safe
Passing through locks	Passing through locks Not at all safe	Passing through locks Not very safe	Passing through locks Somewhat safe	Passing through locks Very safe
Parking and leaving your personal vehicle in a launch site parking lot	Parking and leaving your personal vehicle in a launch site parking lot Not at all safe	Parking and leaving your personal vehicle in a launch site parking lot Not very safe	Parking and leaving your personal vehicle in a launch site parking lot Somewhat safe	Parking and leaving your personal vehicle in a launch site parking lot Very safe

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* 16. If you are a current trail user, do you tend to make purchases when you visit the water trail?

Yes

Sometimes

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* 17. If yes, what types of purchases do you make? (Select all that apply.)

Lodging

Food or Drink

Transportation

Equipment, services, and fees

Other

CONDITIONS, MAINTENANCE, AND AMENITIES

Friends of the Riverfront works with 73 municipalities and other regional partners to manage and maintain the trail. This includes 31 launch points located along four rivers (we manage the McKeesport launch on the Youghiogheny River). This is no small task, hence the need for an updated management plan. This section includes questions about the conditions of the launches.

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* 18. If you use the launches, how would you rate the condition of the launches you use?

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

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* 19. Please rate the conditions of each of the following at the sites you use.

	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Launch	Launch Excellent	Launch Good	Launch Fair	Launch Poor
Boat Racks	Boat Racks Excellent	Boat Racks Good	Boat Racks Fair	Boat Racks Poor
Wayfinding	Wayfinding Excellent	Wayfinding Good	Wayfinding Fair	Wayfinding Poor
Interpretive Signs	Interpretive Signs Excellent	Interpretive Signs Good	Interpretive Signs Fair	Interpretive Signs Poor
Trash Receptacles/Litter Graffiti Control	Trash Receptacles/Litter Graffiti Control Excellent	Trash Receptacles/Litter Graffiti Control Good	Trash Receptacles/Litter Graffiti Control Fair	Trash Receptacles/Litter Graffiti Control Poor
Vegetation	Vegetation Excellent	Vegetation Good	Vegetation Fair	Vegetation Poor
Other	Other Excellent	Other Good	Other Fair	Other Poor

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* 20. What other amenities would improve your experience along the trail? Some examples include picnic areas, benches/seating, parking, changing rooms, and fishing line recycling bins. And before you answer…we all LOVE flush toilets, but we are unlikely to be able to install and maintain restrooms along the water trail.

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* 21. Would you use boat lockers/storage if they existed in more places?

Yes

I'm not sure

ACCESSIBILITY

It is important to us that the Three Rivers Water Trail is accessible and can meet the needs of most people. This section includes questions about accessibility.

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* 22. Currently, the Springdale location is the only ADA accessible launch. Does the lack of other ADA accessible launches currently prevent you or someone you know from paddling on the water trail?

Yes

I'm not sure

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* 23. Besides ADA accessible launches, what amenities would make the trail more accessible and more inviting to a wider audience?

ADA compliant picnic tables

ADA compliant portable toilets

Closer bus/transit stops

Closer parking

More parking

More equipment rental options

Other (please specify)

PROMOTION

A part of our job as the trail manager is to provide trail information and promote the trail. This section includes questions related to trail information and promotion.

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* 24. Before taking this survey, were you aware of the Three Rivers Water Trail?

Yes

I use the area, but didn't know it was considered a trail

I'm not sure

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* 25. If yes, how did you find out about the water trail?

Convention and Visitors Bureau (VisitPITTSBURGH)

Driving By

Friends of the Riverfront website or social media

Live or work nearby

Local Outfitter

Print or digital publications (e.g., newspapers, magazines, etc.)

Public trail websites or apps (e.g., PA Fish & Boat Commission, ExplorePATrails.com, Parks Dept.)

Private trail websites or apps (e.g., AllTrails, etc.)

Recreation Organizations (e.g., Venture Outdoors, Riverlife, etc.)

Roadside or on-trail signage

Search engines (e.g., Google, Bing, etc.)

Three Rivers Water Trail Map & Guide

Word of mouth

Other (please specify)

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* 26. What are the best ways that we can get updates and trail information to you? (Select all that apply.)

Website

Map & Guide

Bulletin Boards at Launch Sites

Facebook

Instagram

X (formerly known as Twitter)

Partner websites or social media accounts

Other (please specify)

EXPANSION

As Friends of the Riverfront develops the Three Rivers Water Trail Management Plan, we want to take into consideration the possibilities for expanding the trail system and the audience of trail users. Please share your thoughts on expanding the system.

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* 27. Where would you like to see additional launches in Allegheny County?

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* 28. If you could change one thing about the water trail, its management, or how it is promoted, what would it be?

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* 29. What amenities are missing from your preferred launch? (Please include the name of the launch.)

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* 30. How can the water trail be more accommodating to people who are using it for reasons other than paddling?

DEMOGRAPHICS

More About You (Almost Done!)

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* 31. What is your age?

Under 18

18-24

25-34

35-44

45-54

55-64

65 or older

Prefer not to answer

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* 32. Which of the following best describes your gender?

Man

Woman

Nonbinary

Unknown/Prefer not to answer

Prefer to self describe

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* 33. How would you best describe yourself? (Select all that apply.)

Asian or Asian American

Black or African American

Hispanic or Latino

Native American or Indigenous

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

White

Multiracial or two or more races

Prefer not to answer

Other (please specify)

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* 34. Are you of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin?

Yes

Unknown/Prefer not to answer

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* 35. How many people are considered part of your household? This includes children, grandparents, other relatives, partners, friends, and roommates, regardless of age, who live in your house most of the time.

1 - I live alone

6 or more

Prefer not to answer

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* 36. What’s your annual household income range?

Less than $25,000

$25,000 - $49,999

$50,000 - $74,999

$75,000 - $99,999

$100,000 - $149,999

$149,999 - $199,999

$200,000 or more

Unknown/Prefer not to answer

THANK YOU!

Thank you for completing the Three Rivers Water Trail User Survey!

If you would like to enter to win a Sea to Summit Dry Bag, enter your contact information below.

We are also asking trail users to share what they love about the Three Rivers Water Trail! Submit a photo and/or quote using the following link, and it may be selected to be featured on our website, social media, or the next print guide!

For more information about the project and the Three Rivers Water Trail, visit friendsoftheriverfront.org/three-rivers-water-trail.

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* 37. Enter your name, email address, and phone number below if you would like to enter for a chance to win the Sea to Summit Dry Bag.

Name

Phone Number