The votes are in and it is official — the Schuylkill River has been named the 2014 Pennsylvania River of the Year, thanks to you.
The River of the Year has been around quite awhile, but the contest has only been a result of popular vote for the past four years.
With a five week voting period, the Schuylkill River dominated with 43 percent of the popular vote.
The Schuylkill River Greenway Association will receive a $10,000 Leadership Grant to help sustain the Schuylkill River Sojourn and Pedal and Paddle events.
The Pedal and Paddle events are held monthly on Saturdays from May to September, hosted by The Schuylkill River Heritage Area. Through the association, lunch, bikes, kayaking and kayaking gear are provided to those who sign up. The event begins with a 4.5 mile bike from Pottstown’s Riverfront Park to Historic Morlatton Village in Douglassville.
‘We are elated to have the Schuylkill be selected as Pennsylvania River of the Year for 2014,’ Schuylkill River Greenway Association Executive Director Kurt Zwikl said. ‘We are particularly pleased to be named because in last year’s balloting we lost out by less than two hundred votes.
This is the second time the Schuylkill has been named River of the Year, having last received this distinction in 1999, Laura Catalano, Schuylkill River Heritage Area, confirmed.