One of Pittsburgh's many ironies is that despite its outdated reputation as a filthy mill town, the city has long since cleaned up and has many outdoors amenities and a culture of outdoors participation.

In its eighth year, Great Outdoors Week will draw attention to Pittsburgh's bountiful outdoorsiness May 15-24 with dozens of activities located throughout the region.

Parks run by communities, the city, county and state are located throughout the region, and hiking and biking trails transect the city and countryside. Fishing and hunting are popular in the outlying area, and with 36 miles of riverfront and many local lakes, Allegheny County has the nation's second-highest rate of boat ownership after Dade County, Fla.

"This 10-day celebration is designed to encourage folks to get outside and enjoy the outdoors," said Ginette Walker Vinski of Sustainable Pittsburgh, one of the event's coordinating groups. "We have so many natural amenities here in our region from our parks, to trails to rivers; they are perfect settings for hiking, biking and paddling whether you're a beginner or an expert."

The dozens of Great Outdoors Week activities, spread over 10 days and much of Southwest Pennsylvania, can be tracked at Walls Are Bad, sort of an online clearing house for regional outdoors activities (www.wallsarebad.com). The site includes details including:

• May 14 Great Outdoors Week Kickoff at Market Square, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., including a climbing wall, kayak safety and kiosks staffed by members of regional outdoors groups.

• May 15-16 Spring Birding at McKeever Environmental Learning Center in Sandy Lake.

• May 16-17 Women's Flyfishing Class at Ohiopyle State Park.

• May 16-17 Overnight Backpacking Essentials in the Laurel Highlands.

"Outdoor recreation contributes to our region's sustainability in many ways, like promoting healthier lifestyles, boosting our local economy, fostering a sense of environmental stewardship, and even attracting new talent for the area," said Walker Vinski. "With the increased recognition we continue to receive nationally as an outdoors destination, it's only fair to build more awareness locally of how to access and enjoy these amenities."