DEVELOP INTERPRET RESTORE National Association of Recreation Resource Planners Conference Pittsburgh-to-Harrisburg Main Line Canal Greenway new connections between old neighbors
Learning Objectives By the end of the workshop, participants will: - Effectively use existing, supporting planning documents for project implementation - Identify the function and purpose of hubs and spokes concept for greenway planning - Discuss mechanisms for elevating the work of partners - Understand the logic model as a context for measuring the impact of greenway development - Exchange information about other mechanisms for outcome-based greenway development
Pennsylvania s State Heritage Areas
ARCorp stransition to Greenway Corridor Initial theme focused upon crossing the Allegheny Ridge Area broadened with new focus - recreation and economic development opportunities associated with former Main Line Canal System
Scenic By-ways Assessment Performed a PADOTsponsored assessment of potential scenic by-ways along the corridor Included in new management plan Scenic By-ways to be a component of corridor resource management and promotion
Main Line Canal Greenway Follows Historic PA Main Line Canal 320-mile corridor includes: Heritage Development Recreation Opportunities Environmental Stewardship Economic Stimulus Designated Pennsylvania s Millennium Legacy Trail
The Main Line Canal Greenway
Canal Towns Pittsburgh Chapter 1: Introduction Freeport Chapter 2: Existing Saltsburg Conditions Chapter 3: System Recommendations Chapter Blairsville 4: Implementation Program Appendices Cresson Johnstown Hollidaysburg Lewistown Huntingdon Duncannon Harrisburg
Canal Towns Develop Canal Town Hubs in accordance with DCNR s Hubs & Spokes Model from Statewide Greenway Plan (2001) Economic enhancement Environmental stewardship Historic sites Outdoor recreation
Planning Units Hubs and Spokes Hubs eleven communities within the Greenway system that serve as major destination points or gateways, centers for economic enhancement efforts focused on historic, environmental, cultural, and recreational resources. Spokes land and water trails serve as connectors between hubs and other nearby destinations such as parks, gamelands, historic sites. In their function as linear connectors, some spokes reach outside of the project corridor to connect the Greenway to tother parts of the state or region.
Planning Units Clusters Clusters a larger area that incorporates more than one hub into a regional planning area, often bound together by a similar topographical identity, similar stretch of river, or demographic. The approach allows for a mapping of resources with enough detail to be meaningful while showing a linear connection among these resources.
Planning Units Clusters
Model Cluster Development Initiated Model Cluster Development in Kiski-Conemaugh via Laurel Foundation support for coordinator DCNR/DCED support for coordination with emphasis on Allegheny Ridge and Juniata Clusters Hub mini-grants available Corridor-wide interpretive plan underway
Model Hub - Hollidaysburg Visioning Example of canal town community development Working with community s Main Street program Developed market analysis and feasibility study for NID with PDC Worked in partnership with Pennsylvania Downtown Center on model Canal Town Plan/opportunity for similar work in other hub communities with active Main Street Programs
Water Trails Juniata Water Trail added to Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network in 2004 signage grant awarded Worked with PEC, Fish and Boat Commission, local outfitters, and other partners to craft Upper and Lower Juniata River Water Trail maps Phase I Interpretive and Orientation/Safety signs to be installed by Spring 2007
Site Assessments and Recommendations Each river access site that was part of this plan was visited and assessed for its signage needs Priority I, II, and III sites were recommended
Prioritization I River access points with well developed river access put-ins, parking, and site services II Developed parking areas and access ramps but less use due to location or services III River access points that will probably receive low usage, difficult to find, poor parking etc. Shawmut Portstown Park Willamsburg Smithfield Riverside Park Locust Campground
Story development for each access point includes Interpretive theme or topics Site Objectives Interpretive Objectives Interpretive Media or Services
Bringing it all together through interpretation The Main Line Canal Greenway is a 320-mile long living museum that celebrates the legacies of past generations to our cultural and natural history and the importance of those contributions to our lives today
Kiski-Conemaugh Cluster
Logic Model for Measuring Program Outcomes Goal 1: Complete a system of land and water based trails. Goal 2: Identify new heritage development opportunities throughout the cluster and capitalize on community-identified sites. Goal 3: Work with regional watershed and conservation organizations to implement their primary initiatives and capitalize on existing River Management Plans. Goal 4: Build upon existing initiatives and complement those efforts being made throughout the corridor in the areas of recreational opportunities, environmental stewardship, heritage development, and economic revitalization. Goal 5: Continue partnerships with tourism promotion agencies to create a corridor-wide marketing system that encourages usage and further development. Goal 6: Establish a standard for Greenway signage and interpretation.
K-C Model Cluster Development Progress Established KC Cluster newsletter distributed every other month via email to municipalities, community revitalization groups, historical societies, parks and trails contacts, planning and development offices, and others throughout the Greenway corridor. Pittsburgh-to-Harrisburg Main Line Canal GreenwayTM A communication for communities in the Kiski-Conemaugh Cluster www.alleghenyridge.org One page of community news, grant announcements, events, project updates etc.; one-page K-C Cluster map to reinforce the corridor concept to recipients.
KC Model Cluster Development Progress - Coordinated and evaluated 2 trainings with internationally renowned heritage interpretation specialist John Veverka for DCNR staff, historical societies, and others. with a focus on creating interpetive features that are practical and outcome-oriented. Amazing that such common sense ideas haven t been practiced at a state org. such as mine! (Will use seminar for )evaluation of (I will) be sure to follow all suggestions for new and upcoming marketing initiatives. I will now look at publications in a new light and awareness. current exhibits for effectivenessimmediate implementation of ideas with ongoing publications can t wait to utilize the info!
KC-Model Cluster Development Progress Blairsville Your Town Workshop conducted through support of NTHP, NPS, and NEA Focused on reconnecting to river, gateway enhancement, and downtown revitalization
K-C Model Cluster Development - Progress - Spearheaded and facilitating a project to update and improve the KC water trail map with an emphasis on integrating paddlers into the hub communities and creating a web-based application -Applying for Appalachian Regional Commission Gateway grant for a planning workshop on behalf of Freeport/Leechburg/Apollo Group to incorporate natural area interpretation into community revitalization plans
K-C Model Cluster Development Progress - Facilitating the development of Blairsville Heritage Tour Guide to showcase Blairsville s considerable, but hidden, heritage assets - Preparing Appalachian Regional Commission Gateways Community Grant to enhance Blairsville s Packsaddle Gap viewscape
KC Model Cluster Development - Progress - Facilitating PA Greenways and Trails Summit site visit to Saltsburg May 4 - Facilitating PA Heritage Partnerships mobile workshop site visits to Saltsburg, Blairsville May 18
Logic Model Reveals Revisions
Logic Model Reveals Revisions
Discussion and Comments