The Northside portion of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail was renamed the Thomas J. Murphy Trail to recognize the efforts of the former Pittsburgh mayor in the 1990s to develop the city’s riverfront trail network.

Photo by Clifton Loosier

A public hearing was held on Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 1:30 p.m. at the City Council Chambers to discuss a proposal to rename the Northside portion of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail to Thomas J. Murphy Trail. Council approved it on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

Former Mayor Murphy was at the forefront of efforts in the 1990s to develop the 25-mile trail network along Pittsburgh’s riverfront for public access and recreational use.

“Mayor Murphy really had a vision and his vision has come true,” said Councilwoman Darlene Harris at the public hearing. “People from all over love our trails.”

According to a City of Pittsburgh press release, the former mayor is “a long-time runner on the city’s trails and one of the few Pittsburghers who has run in every Great Race since it was instituted by the late Mayor Richard Caliguiri in 1977.”

The former mayor, who still resides in Perry Hilltop, began the first of his three terms in office in January 1994. He holds the record for being the second-longest serving mayor in Pittsburgh history after David L. Lawrence. This year marks the 25th anniversary of his inauguration.

“I couldn’t think of a better name for the trail,” Councilwoman Harris said.