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Greenways
and Open Space in the Oil Region and neighboring communities...
History
and Purpose
Throughout
2007, those associated with trail and open space planning, development
and operation throughout the Oil Heritage Region identified the
need for a staff person to assist in the coordination of greenway
and trail work as well as serve as a central point of contact
and to give professional technical assistance. A partnership was
formed by fifteen municipalities and organizations and a Coordinator
was hired to serve Oil Heritage Region and areas with contiguous
greenways both to the north and to the south. A steering committee
will serve as the managing entity of the organization with one
representative from each of the partners. It will be responsible
for coordination, prioritizing, planning, desigh, development,
and maintenance of all the efforts related to greenways and open
space in the Oil Heritage Region.
The
steering committee will work directly with affiliated organizations
such as local municipalities, trail and conservation organizations,
governmental agencies, private businesses, and non-profits to
help them fulfill their objectives in greenway and open space
planning, design, development, and maintenance. These organizations
will provide direct input back to the steering committee concerning
their interests as well. The Greenways and Open Space Coordinator
can focus attention on bringing the appropriate agencies and nonprofit
organizations to the table, interfacing with municipal officials
and providing technical assistance where needed.
The
goal of this partnership is to maintain and operate the premier
greenways system throughout this region and to plan and implement
projects that create and build on the groundwork for future aquisition,
development and/or management of greenways and open space, natural
areas, rails-to-trails, and river/watershed corridors. Technical
assistance will be given to meet statewide and local needs and for
educating the public on recreation and conservation opportunities.
Assets
& Initiatives
- A
network of multi-purpose recreational trails used as models
in other regions
- 60+
miles of completed asphalt trail
- Additional
15+ miles in planning or construction
- 2006 Trail
Utilization Study showing 160,000 annual trail users with $4
million economic impact
- Oil Heritage
Region - State and National designations
- Allegheny
Wild and Scenic River designation with the Allegheny River Trail
- The new
Erie to Pittsburgh Trail Alliance effort will create and connect
continuous trails from Erie to Pittsburgh and then connect to
the Great Allegheny Passage which travels to the C & O Canal
Towpath in Maryland which continues on to Washington D.C. This
local area will become a major hub in that system.
- Green infrastructure
- defined as the network of greenways, openspace, woodlands,
wildlife habitat, parks and other natural areas which sustain
clean air, water, and other natural resources and enrich citizens'
quality of life.
Needs
- "Fill
in the gaps" in the current trail system
- Maintain,
operate, and promote current greenways and assets
- Protection,
reclamation, and enhancement of natural system of green infrastructure
Benefits
of Greenways
- Protection
of Natural Resources
- Protection
of Water Resources
- Stewardship
of Pennsylvania's Rural and Farmland Legacy
- Conservation
of Historic and Cultural Resources
- Conservation
of Scenic Resources
- Fostering
of Public Recreation, Health, and Fitness
- Creation
of Educational Opportunities
- Support
of Economic Prosperity
- Promotion
of Sustainable Development and Sound Land Use
- Provision
of Alternative Transportation
- Building
Partnerships
Steering
Committee Partners
Each
partner contributes funding for operation and administration of
the office and staffing with the Coordinator
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Pennsylvania
and its many partners will develop an outstanding network of greenways
across the Commonwealth,
creating an asset highly valued by Pennsylvanians and enhancing
the quality of life for all.
This network
of greenways will connect Pennsylvania's open space, natural landscape
features, scenic, cultural, historic, and recreation sites, and
urban and rural communities.
Greenways
will become one of the Commonwealth's most powerful tools to achieve
sustainable growth and liveable communities.
-
From Pennsylvania Greenways: An Action Plan for Creating Connections,
June 2001
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