Jan 17, 2018 3 min read

Growing up, Justin Beinhauer enjoyed riding bikes with his friends in Peterswood Park. They’d ride to McMurray Dairy Bar and Rocco’s Pharmacy.

“The only way to get there was the trail, because we couldn’t (drive yet),” Beinhauer said. “I’m familiar with the freedom that the trail can create for people.”

That’s why Beinhauer, 44, of Upper St. Clair, is hosting an event Jan. 25 at Bridgeville Public Library, 505 McMillen St., to talk about his ambition to find a way to connect the different communities in the South Hills through trails. The event, called, “Growing Together Through Trails,” will start at 7 p.m.

Along with the enjoyment he had on trails as a kid, Beinhauer also believes his initiative is promoting a healthy lifestyle for South Hills residents.

“My efforts of this whole thing come from a long time ago. I grew up along a portion of the Montour Trail in Peters Township, the Arrowhead Trail, which connected Peterswood Park down into the community,” he said. “Being connected to the trail for me means to have increased health and freedom.”

While efforts are already underway to possibly connect Boyce Mayview and the Montour Trail, Beinhauer is interested in connecting the communities of Upper St. Clair, South Fayette and possibly others to Bridgeville, which he calls the “heart of the community.”

“It seems very suitable to have a welcoming center and having a connection like veins or arteries into the heart of our community reaching out into different neighborhoods and communities,” he said.

Throughout the trails, Beinhauer hopes pedestrians will be able to access businesses, libraries, schools, grocery stores to create a “peace and serene atmosphere,” rather than having to always hop in a car to go somewhere.

“I have seen some great communities that have used trails to connect their different residential communities and different towns to the heart of the community,” he said. “I want to bring something like that to my neighborhood and my community. I’m raising a family here, and I’ve got four boys and want to do something that will be lasting for the community.”

At the meeting, Beinhauer hopes to generate community interest and find other people who would be able to use their expertise to further his initiative.

“Hopefully, at this meeting, I will get together the people that can provide some input or establish some sort of group that can come together and put the pieces of this puzzle together,” Beinhauer said. “This is just to see if we can get this together. Honestly my whole goal is for us to grow this together. We’re not all in the same township or county, but we’re all here and this is our community, so let’s grow it together.”

Beinhauer hopes local high school and college students, as well as professionals, are able to attend the forum.

For more information or to RSVP for the event, email growingtogetherthroughtrails@gmail.com.