2008 Riverfronts Naturally Volunteer Dates Click HERE

Riverfronts Naturally is a program of Friends of the Riverfront working to restore native vegetation to areas adjoining the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, desolate brownfield areas and other public spaces.

The Three Rivers Heritage Trail has established public access to the rivers and is creating an opportunity to improve and showcase the ecological health of our riparian environment. The efforts of Riverfronts Naturally to plant native vegetation will:

• Restore the natural ecosystem
• Provide sustainable habitat for wildlife such as heron, geese and beaver
• Reduce the need for fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and watering, thereby benefiting the environment and reducing maintenance costs
• Enhance the outdoor experience for land and water trail users
• Provide educational opportunities and living laboratories for schools, universities and the general public.

Over time, the plantings along the trail will grow into an extensive park, or greenway within our city, able to sustain itself with restored trees and wildflowers.

Native Plants
Native species of trees, shrubs, wildflowers and grasses produce oxygen and filter pollutants out of the air and also soils, preventing them from leaching into the water. They increase biodiversity by providing native wildlife habitat. Native trees such as sycamore, maple, willow and locust are adapted to growing in this environment which means they will grow faster and healthier – without fertilizers and pesticides. Native shrubs such as dogwood, viburnum and elderberry provide important sources of food for resident and migrating birds. Wildflowers life purple coneflower, butterfly weed and joe-pye create beautiful colors and fragrances that attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds.

Invasive Species
Many plants not native to our region have successfully established themselves, causing environmental damage in their new habitat. When invasives go unchecked, they crowd out native plants by competing for light and nutrients, greatly diminishing biodiversity. Our riverfronts are a prime example of this process. We have many invasive species–most notable and destructive is Japanese Knotweed–along the rivers and adjacent trails. You may notice large bamboo-like plants and no other flora and fauna. The Riverfronts Naturally mission attempts riparian (riverbank) restoration by eradicating invasives, reintroducing natives and controlling trouble areas.