Photo courtesy of Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

From left to right: Duane Ashley, former Director of Operations for the Office of the Mayor, Councilwoman Darlene Harris, and Walt Nalducci, Vice President of Observatory Hill, Inc., unveil a memorial bench for Moses Carper, who was known as the ‘Cowboy of Riverview Park” during the 2013 Heritage Day.

By Justin Criado

Observatory Hill’s Riverview Park will be a busy place this weekend as the Riverview Park 5k Run & Fitness Walk and annual Heritage Day are set for Friday-Saturday, June 12-13.

The Friday night race is part of the Citiparks Community Footraces Series, which consists of four footraces throughout Pittsburgh. As the only race on the Northside, Riverview Park is full of challenging trails as well as being home to a challenging paved 5k course, which will be the track for the race. The course will cover most of the park, passing along

Registration is online or day-of, starting at 5 p.m. at the Riverview Park Activities Building, for $15.

For more information or to register online please visit the official website.

The Top 5 men’s and women’s finisher will receive an award.

After the burn of the Friday night run subsides, the annual Riverview Park Heritage day will be held Saturday, June 13 from 12-4 p.m.

During the celebration, explore nature by viewing rare birds from the National Aviary, and meeting furry friends from the Animal Rescue League & Wildlife Center and Western Pa. Humane Society.

Stop by the Carnegie Science Center booth for a creative make-and-take activity. Check out a Bomb Squad robot and tour a SWAT vehicle as the Department of Public Safety’s SWAT, Police and Fire divisions offer interactive and educational experiences for all ages.

Throughout the park grounds, children take on the challenge of games, adults receive advice from health professionals and families tour the Allegheny Observatory to name just a few of the day’s many activities.

The grounds of the Chapel Shelter, which is  a short walk from the Activities Building, will be transformed into Fort Heritage as children can experience life on the American frontier by riding horses, painting totem poles, making trail mix, designing feather hair ties and more.

The “Bike Rodeo” and “Bike Bowling” return on the path just outside the Activities Building. Venture Outdoors provides the bikes.

There will also be free refreshments.

For more information call 412-255-2493 or visit the official website.