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Grant greenbacks turn orange river into true blue whitewater park
By Emily Weir Twenty years ago the Stonycreek River ran orange with acid mine runoff; today it is the site of a 300-yard long whitewater park—the only one of its kind in Pennsylvania. June 5 marked the dedication and grand opening ceremony of the $850,000 Stonycreek Whitewater Park. Realizing the potential to promote outdoor recreation, improve residents’ quality of life and attract visitors to the region, DCNR funded $495,000 of the total project cost with Keystone and Growing Greener funds. “We've taken a natural resource that was once polluted and are now inviting people back to the river, something that many of us never believed would happen,” said Mike Quinn of Conemaugh Valley Conservancy.
What draws people back to the river is the construction of drops, pools, a slalom course for racing and a freestyle course with surfing waves. This specific section of the river was chosen because of its flow volume, stream gradient and channel width. These constructed and natural water features provide enough variety to appeal to novice or experienced water enthusiasts. Improvements to the stream bank include the construction of put-in and take-out areas, gravel trails, and bank re-grading to include vegetated terraces. “Pennsylvania has beautiful natural resources and DCNR is committed to making sure that as many people as possible are attracted to them, whether they get in a kayak or just sit along the river,” Quinn said. So, those looking for a more relaxed experience can still enjoy Greenhouse Recreation Park, which caters to more than just whitewater activities. The nine-acre park offers a walking trail, volleyball court, picnic tables, benches, pavilions and open spaces. Plans to add restrooms and playground facilities are in place. However, it is not just the park’s “stone and mortar” that DCNR’s funding dollars and project supporters like the Conemaugh Valley Conservancy are supporting—it’s the potential for local stimulation. Stonycreek Whitewater Park is “symbolic of how local natural resources can play a major role in bringing back a region's economy and quality of life," said Cindy Adams Dunn, deputy secretary of DCNR. “We see it as integral to the Laurel Highlands and Johnstown,” she added.
“Increasingly, what determines where these young people locate are recreational opportunities like whitewater park,” he said. DCNR’s funding in the Laurel Highlands area stretches beyond this single project as two other projects include a feasibility study for Whitewater Trail and the development of Greenhouse Recreation Park. The Whitewater Trail Feasibility Study was covered in part with a $20,000 Growing Greener grant extending the Jim Mayer Riverwalk Trail through multiple townships in Cambria and Somerset Counties. This project merges with efforts in Greenhouse Recreation Park, which includes the whitewater section of the Stonycreek River. A $236,000 Keystone grant funding went toward developing a portion of trail in Greenhouse Park connecting with the existing Jim Mayer Trail. Additionally, pavilions, an access road, parking, ADA accessibility and signs were added. Projects like Stonycreek Whitewater Park that promote outdoor recreation and foster positive community growth are the focus of DCNR’s funding efforts in the Laurel Highlands. Emily Weir is currently serving as an intern in the Bureau of Recreation & Conservation’s planning, outreach and technical support division.
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Quinn agrees with the positive economic impact the park will continue to have on the community. According to him, multiple businesses within a ten-mile radius of the park are “faced with the daunting challenge of attracting young, educated employees who are capable of getting jobs almost anywhere they want.”
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