Schuylkill falls short to Pittsburgh rival in 'River of Year' race
Oh, the shame of second place.
Oh, the shame of second place.
The Schuylkill River fell 146 votes short in its bid for Pennsylvania's annual "River of the Year" voting, losing to Pittsburgh's mighty Monongahela River for the right to boast and to accept the small cash prize for marketing, state officials announced at the closing of public voting Friday.
Supporters for Philly's second most famous river took the high road at the close of public voting Friday — and they aren't giving up.
"The show of support for Philly's Hidden River was truly impressive, and goes to show that the Schuylkill holds a special place in so many people's hearts," Zoe Axelrod of the Schuylkill River Development Corporation said in an email. "The SRDC plans to nominate the Schuylkill again next year, and we will be sure to let you know when that happens."
For the third year in a row, the public got to vote for a river through the Pennsylvania Organization of Rivers and Waterways. Among the 25,450 ballots cast over the last couple months, the Monongahela River received 8,156 votes. The five other finalists and total votes received were: Schuylkill River (8,010); Lackawanna River (5,286); Kiskiminetas River (2,310); Swatara Creek (1,213); and Juniata River (475).
"Like so many of our great state rivers once sullied by mine drainage and other pollution, the Monongahela is surging back as a vital link to unlimited recreational potential and rich natural and historical resources," Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Richard Allan said.
Some might argue a victory for the Schuylkill in this year's voting might have signaled some East State bias, considering the Delaware River won in 2011.
For some — shall we say prideful — information about the Monongahela River, check out the Pennsylvania Organization of Rivers and Waterways' recap of the contest.
Get used to it. The Monongahela won fair and square a year's worth of bragging.
