Summer Adventure on the Ohio River

One of the perks of working at evolve is our annual summer office gatherings. Over the years we have enjoyed spending time together, outside of our normal office setting in such places as Pirates games at PNC Park, picnics, and even white water rafting. This summer’s outing was no less exciting, with our entire office plus family and friends enjoying a special dinner cruise aboard one of the Gateway Clipper Fleet’s famous river boats.

Traveling on our rivers was more than just a fun activity; our ecodistrict projects with riverfront communities as well as the water-related aspects of our consulting and design work drives a deep appreciation for the region’s waterways. This made the evening meaningful in a number of ways, such as providing a unique perspective of the geography of Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle and North Shore, a 2030 District where many of our clients are based. We were reminded of the myriad triple-bottom-line benefits we enjoy from the rivers: ecological, economic, and equitable assets that our communities and clients work to restore and preserve through stormwater management, pollution prevention and fresh water conservation.

Gateway Clipper tours are a classic Pittsburgh experience, but this dinner cruise also gave us the opportunity to marvel at some of the region’s most impressive infrastructure and learn a bit about its history. The Lock and Dam tour took us from the docks at Station Square, located just across the Monongahela River from Downtown Pittsburgh, past the point where three rivers converge and continuing several miles to the west along the Ohio River as the sun was setting in front of us.

The highlight of the night was passing through the lock at the Emsworth Dam, which first opened in 1921 and is still a major commercial passage today. Below are some snapshots from the cruise, but there is no substitute for the experience. Make sure you put this on your list of things to see and do in The ‘Burgh!

Looking back at the city from beyond the West End Bridge

Western Penitentiary, built in the 19th century

Approaching the Emsworth Dam

View of the dam from inside the lock

Passing through the lock at Emsworth

A good time had by all!