PA Greenways Program Update February 2003

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Pennsylvania Greenways Program Update February
2003
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20 Year Strategy

• Very comprehensive and ambitious
• 20 year implementation timeline
• 4 major goals
• 12 major implementation strategies
• 25 specific proposed targets / outcomes

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Focus of First Year

• Executive Order 1998-3 amended
• Organizational framework
• Funding T-21
• Link to State Recreation Plan
• GIS / mapping
• County greenway planning
• Clearinghouse / toolbox

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GIS/ Mapping

• 1st priority statewide map of major or spine
  greenway corridors
• Build on existing data sets wherever possible
• Seek consistency /standard approach
• Data Inventory Form
• Interactive map on PA Greenways website

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What is a Spine Greenway

• 50 miles or more in length and pass through 2 or
  more counties
• Recognized in an official planning document
• Major arteries of the developing statewide
  greenway system
• Meeting -- January 29, 2003

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Spine Greenways

• Susquehanna Greenway
• Mainline Canal Greenway
• Great Allegheny Passage
• Delaware-Lehigh Canal
• Schuylkill River Greenway
• East Coast Greenway
• Kittatinny Ridge/ Appalachian Trail
• Pine Creek Trail
• North Country Trail
• Horseshoe Trail

• Allegheny Forest Trails
• Baker Trail
• Chuck Keiper Trail
• Donut Hole Trail
• Laurel Highlands Trail
• Link Trail
• Loyalsock trail
• Mid-State Trail
• Quehanna Trail
• Tuscarora Trail
• Warrier Trail

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Spine GreenwaysWater Trails

• Middle Allegheny (85 miles from Kinzua Dam to
  Emlenton)
• Upper Monongahela (60 miles from Connesville to
  McKeesport)
• Lehigh (75 miles from Francis Walter dam to
  mouth)
• Schuylkill (142 miles)

• West Branch Susquehanna (240 miles from Cherry
  Tree to Sunbury)
• Middle Branch Susquehanna (51 miles from Sunbury
  to Harrisburg)
• Lower Branch Susquehanna (52 miles from
  Harrisburg to Mason-Dixon Line)
• Juniata, Raystown Branch (60 miles from Bedford
  to Saxton)

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County Greenway Planning

• County greenway plans form the basis for a
  statewide, interconnected system of greenways.
• Target By 2007, all 67 counties will complete
  and adopt greenway plans.

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County Greenway Planning

• What does DCNR mean by County Greenway Planning?
• Whats DCNRs approach to facilitate this
  planning?

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County Greenway Planning

• A planning process that results in county
  priorities for greenway corridors and
  conservation of open space and which together
  comprise a county greenway network.
• The result of the planning process is a County
  Greenways Open Space Network Plan.

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County Greenway Planning

• The greenway network includes linear greenway
  corridors, related open space and natural or
  manmade features/destinations (e.g. parks,
  schools, scenic natural areas, etc.) linked by
  these corridors.
• Adopted as element of County Comprehensive Plan
• Platform for more detailed greenway planning at
  municipal level

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Elements of the Planning Process

• Inventory and map existing natural resources,
  linear corridors and other related features
• Analyze and map envisioned county greenways and
  open space network
• Outline concrete action items for implementation
• Public involvement throughout process

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DCNR Approach

• To start DCNR is specifically targeting
• counties that have
• completed a County Natural Area Inventory
• commitment to open space conservation/park
  planning
• GIS mapping
• interest in incorporating into county
  comprehensive land use plan
• Regional or multi-county planning and
  coordination also encouraged

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DCNR Evolving Strategy

• Completed Monroe and Chester
• DCNR Open Grant Columbia, Cumberland, Fayette,
  Green, Indiana, Lackawanna, Lycoming, Luzerne,
  Schuylkill
• 2002-2004 Beaver, Berks, Centre, Lancaster,
  Lebanon, Lehigh/North, Mercer, York
• 2003 Evaluation Adams, Allegheny, Bucks,
  Butler, Franklin, Montgomery, Washington,
  Westmoreland

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Greenways Clearinghouse Website www.pagreenways.or
g

• Provide one-stop shopping for greenways
  community
• technical assistance
• framework for communication
• show progress on greenways network
• highlight successes of partners

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Clearinghouse Website

• Launched November 2002
• Need your input tool box resources, event
  calendar
• Sign-on as a partner / featured greenway
• Help establish the PA Greenways online community

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Coming Spring 2003

• Health Initiative Partnership
• Making health and greenway connections at the
  state and local level
• Partnership with PANA PA Advocates for
  Nutrition and Activity
• Hike for Health program

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For More Information

• Statewide Greenways Program
• Meredith Hill
• Greenways Land Use Coordinator
• DCNR Policy Office
• [phone]
• mehill_at_state.pa.us

• County Greenway Planning
• Diane Kripas
• DCNR Bureau of Recreation Conservation
• [phone]
• dkripas_at_state.pa.us