Impact

The pollution in Nine Mile Run doesn't just impact the environment, it has negative effects on the people of Pittsburgh and those who use Frick Park. Nine Mile Run contributes to the pollution in the rivers of Pittsburgh, which gives the city a bad image. The pollution in the stream also makes the popular trails in the park less pleasant for runners, hikers, bikers, and everyone else who uses them.

The Three Rivers

Pittsburgh's rivers are notoriously dirty. The city has an image of being horribly polluted from the steel mills, and the pollution in our waterways doesn't help that. The city is looking into ways to fix our infrastructure to make the rivers cleaner, because the bad image drives away potential new residents of the city (McGill, 2013). Restoring Nine Mile Run would be one step in this process.

Nine Mile Run flows into the Monongahela River

Frick Park

Nine Mile Run flows through one of the most popular parks in the area. On any nice day, the trails in Frick Park are filled with people. However, the trails near NMR are made less enjoyable by the polltuion of the stream. Trash in the water is unpleasant to look at, and the stream often smells.

My sister Brigid is a frequent visitor to the park.

I surveyed 71 people who visit Frick Park about their thoughts on the stream. I asked them what they knew and thought about Nine Mile Run, and how pollution in the stream affects them personally. View the full results here.

Most people surveyed visit Frick Park once a month or more. Very few actually thought that pollution wasn't a problem. The majority of those surveyed said that pollution in the stream affects their enjoyment of the park. I also asked the survey takers to write what they thought about the stream. Here are some of the things they said:

“It's a cool spot but I avoid it because it stinks.”

"I want to swim!" "The stream usually smells weird."

“In the summer, my dogs pull so hard on the leash towards the water to cool off. It'd be nice if I could let them, but I'm afraid they'll get sick.”

“In good weather I regularly bike through Frick for my commute … the portion south of the Irish Centre (off the main trail) is not great. I know that path isn't paved or even graveled and not considered heavily traveled, but there's a good bit of refuse there.”

"I try to avoid allowing my dog from drinking or swimming in the creek."

This survey shows just how much people are affected by the stream. Most people indicated that they would enjoy the park more if the stream was clean. Dog walkers don't like having to keep their pets away from the water (and some want to go in themselves). The smell of the sewers and the sight of trash keeps people away from the area.

Brigid walks her dog by the stream.

In addition to the obvious negative effect on the environment, the pollution in Nine Mile Run has a negative impact on the City of Pittsburgh and the people in the area. However, the stream doesn't have to be polluted forever: clean up projects will hopefully continue to restore the stream to its original state. Restoring Nine Mile Run to a healthy state will mean cleaner waters for everyone in the area.