NEWS RELEASE
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Department of Conservation
and Natural Resources
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Terry Brady
DCNR Deputy Press Secretary
(717) 772-9101
GOV. SCHWEIKER ANNOUNCES $3 MILLION FOR PA TRAILS
Governor and his family celebrate Pa. Hiking Trails Week with two-mile hike through Michaux State Forest
HARRISBURG (May 15, 2002) — As part of Pennsylvania Hiking Trails Week, Gov. Mark Schweiker today announced more than $3 million in grants for the planning, acquisition, construction and maintenance of more than 295 miles of rail-trails and recreational trails in 22 Pennsylvania counties.
Gov. Schweiker and his family also marked the occasion by leading a two-mile hike through Michaux State Forest near Mount Holly Springs, Cumberland County. The hike was one of more than 100 organized hikes throughout Pennsylvania during Hiking Trails Week.
“Pennsylvania is a national leader in trail and greenway initiatives,” Gov. Schweiker said. “Over the last seven years, we have provided the funding and technical assistance to spark development of what is now one of the finest networks of trails in the nation.
“From the 100 continuous miles of the Great Allegheny Passage in southwestern Pennsylvania to the trail network within Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in northeastern Pennsylvania, our trails represent the hard work of many enthusiasts in small towns, cities and rural communities all across the state. These dedicated individuals and groups are responsible for building a trail movement that will be critical in the development of our statewide greenways plan.”
The Commonwealth is currently working on the implementation of a comprehensive 20-year greenways plan, unveiled last summer. “Pennsylvania Greenways: An Action Plan for Creating Connections” outlines steps for developing a network of greenways, connecting corridors of open space, natural landscape features and recreational sites statewide.
Approximately $2 million of today’s funding goes to 19 projects for rail-trails, abandoned railroad beds converted for trail uses. The remaining $1 million will fund 17 projects through the Pennsylvania Recreational Trails Program, a federally funded program that supports both motorized and non-motorized trail development.
Both programs are administered by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (DCNR) Community Conservation Partnership Program—a grant and technical-assistance initiative that helps communities and nonprofit organizations conserve natural and cultural resources, provide outdoor recreation, enhance tourism, and foster community and economic development.
Pennsylvania is No. 1 in the nation for the number of rail-trails with 116 open trails, according to the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Pennsylvania office.
During the Ridge-Schweiker Administration, Pennsylvania has nearly tripled the number of miles of rail-trails—from 432 in 1995 to 1,121. Pennsylvania also ranks first in the nation for the number of rail-trails under development.
The Rails-to-Trails Program uses funding from the Keystone Recreation Park and Conservation Fund and “Growing Greener,” the six-year, $650 million environmental spending package signed into law in 1999. Rail-trail grants provide up to 50 percent of funding for the planning, acquisition and development of rail-trail corridors for recreational uses such as hiking, biking, jogging and cross-country skiing.
The Pennsylvania Recreational Trails grants receive funding from the Federal Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). The grants provide funding to maintain, improve and restore existing trails; develop trailhead facilities; construct new trails; purchase and lease equipment needed to maintain trails; and provide educational programs to promote safety and environmental protection related to trails.
Funding supports both motorized and non-motorized recreation, including biking, hiking, jogging, horseback riding, snowmobiling, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) riding, cross-country skiing, four-wheel driving, off-road motorcycling, aquatic activities, and increased opportunities for people with disabilities.
The grant program provides up to 80 percent of the project’s cost, with the applicant providing the remaining 20 percent.
For more information on the Pennsylvania Recreational Trail and Rail-Trail grants, call (717) 772-3704, or log on to the PA PowerPort at www.state.pa.us, PA Keyword: “DCNR grants.”
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2002
EDITOR’S NOTE: A list, by COUNTY, of the grant recipients, the grant amounts and brief descriptions of the projects follows.
TRAIL GRANT RECIPIENTS
REGIONAL
DCNR-Bureau of Forestry, $60,000 for the Appalachian Trail Conference to continue the “Ridge Runner” program that provides temporary seasonal staff to perform light and routine maintenance, record trail user information, and provide user education on Pennsylvania’s 141-mile portion of the Appalachian Trail;
Rail-Trail Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania, $28,800 to develop a safety education program for motorized trail users on the Delaware and Hudson Rail-Trail and the Ontario and Western Rail-Trail;
Regional Trail Corporation, $50,000 to study and implement the “Trail Towns” concept within communities along the Great Allegheny Passage in Allegheny, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties; and $13,400 to purchase a wood chipper to further maintain the Regional Trail Corporation trail system;
ALLEGHENY COUNTY
Pittsburgh City, $200,000 to develop a section of the Station Square Riverfront Trail;
Student Conservation Association Inc., $49,400 to provide high school-aged students and one college intern as work crews for the North Country Trails Conservation Challenge at Moraine and McConnell’s Mill state parks;
ARMSTRONG COUNTY
Allegheny Valley Land Trust, $28,000 to prepare a master development plan for a 3.6-mile segment of the Armstrong Rail-Trail that begins at Cowanshannock Creek in Rayburn Township and extends north to Lock & Dam No. 8 in Boggs Township;
Roaring Run Watershed Association, $65,000 to acquire 212 acres along the Kiskiminetas River in Kiskiminetas Township for 2.5 miles of trail development and natural areas;
CAMBRIA COUNTY
Nanty Glo, $65,000 to develop a Ghost Town Trail trailhead area at the borough’s McMullen Memorial Field Complex;
CENTRE COUNTY
Pennsylvania State University, $213,000 to develop 1.2 miles of the Bellefonte Central Rail Trail, from the Penn State/Toftrees property line to the McKee Street/Clinton Avenue bike path;
CLEARFIELD COUNTY
Headwaters Charitable Trust, $105,000 to develop a mile of the Snow Shoe Rail-Trail; and $15,000 to study the feasibility of developing a 40-mile rail-trail from Piney Township, Clarion COUNTY, to Brockway, Jefferson COUNTY;
Houtzdale Line Rails to Trails, $5,000 to further develop one-half mile of the Houtzdale Line Rails-to-Trails from State Route 2007 in Woodward Township to Houtzdale;
CLINTON COUNTY
Sproul State Forest, $41,900 to improve the Sproul ATV Trail; and $9,000 to develop a 10-mile non-motorized, multi-use Eagleton shared-use trail;
CRAWFORD COUNTY
French Creek Recreational Trails Inc./Union Township, $50,000 to continue design, engineering, construction supervision and development of trail amenities for a five-mile section of the Ernest Bike Trail;
CUMBERLAND COUNTY
Cumberland Valley Rails-to-Trails Council, $140,000 to further develop the Cumberland Valley Trail-Newville/Oakville Link (NOL), extending 3.9 miles between Beaver Spring Avenue in the Borough of Newville and the Oakville Trailhead located east of Oakville Road in North Newton Township;
DAUPHIN COUNTY
Weiser State Forest, $79,900 to develop three miles of trails and related facilities at the Rowland Picnic Area;
GREENE COUNTY
Greene Trail Design Project, $40,000 to design and engineer the second phase of the Greene Trail—a 3.1-mile segment from the Crucible Mine Site to the Jessop Boat Club in Cumberland Township;
INDIANA COUNTY
Conemaugh Valley Conservancy, $140,000 to acquire 636 acres in Conemaugh Township near Tunneltown for 11 miles of trail development and open space preservation;
INDIANA, WESTMORELAND COUNTIES
Conemaugh Valley Conservancy, $68,300 to develop one-half mile of the West Penn Trail on Bow Ridge near the terminus of the Conemaugh Dam section of West Penn Trail;
LACKAWANNA COUNTY
Countryside Conservancy, $20,000 to complete a feasibility study across six municipalities in Lackawanna COUNTY
LEBANON COUNTY
Lebanon Valley Rail-Trail, $273,000 to further develop the Lebanon Valley Rail-Trail with a 1.52-mile extension between Route 72 and Route 419 in Cornwall;
LYCOMING COUNTY
Tiadaghton State Forest, $80,000 to rehabilitate the 18-mile Haneyville ATV Trail;
MCKEAN COUNTY
Kinzua Valley Trail Club, $40,000 to develop a 2-mile segment of the Kinzua Valley Trail between Thundershower Run and Libby Run;
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Cheltenham Township, $100,000 to develop one-half mile of the Tookany Creek Trail;
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY
Tatamy Borough, $106,000 to design and develop the Tatamy Borough Trail, including approximately one-half mile of trail, from Palmer Township to Main Street;
West Easton Borough, $55,000 to develop one mile of trail in the boroughs of West Easton and Wilson, which will connect to the existing trail system in Palmer Township;
Wilson Borough, $175,000 to develop one mile of former railroad right-of-way for a biking and hiking trail;
POTTER COUNTY
Susquehannock State Forest, $48,000 to rehabilitate 9.7 miles of the Susquehannock State Forest ATV Trail;
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
Eastern Schuylkill Recreation Commission, $64,000 to purchase trail maintenance equipment, including a skid steer loader and implements;
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association, $83,700 to rehabilitate more than eight miles of existing trails and trail-related facilities at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, including trailhead pavilions and compost restroom and the purchase of an outdoor-terrain motorized wheelchair;
SOMERSET COUNTY
Allegheny Highlands Trail, $200,000 to rehabilitate a 9.2-mile segment of trail between Meyersdale and Greenville Township;
Forbes State Forest, $20,000 to develop trail support facilities at Forbes State Forest’s Mount Davis Picnic Area;
UNION COUNTY
Buffalo Valley Trail, $26,000 to develop a non-motorized trail feasibility study and master plan for eight miles of an existing rail right-of-way between Lewisburg and Mifflinburg; and
WESTMORELAND COUNTY
Alle-Kiski Revitalization Corporation, $300,000 to develop about three miles of the Kiski Junction Trail.
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