1. Economic Growth through Historic Preservation
Heritage tourism is a rapidly growing segment of the U.S. travel
industry, characterized by leisure travelers who desire authentic
experiences of our nation's recreational, cultural, and historical
resources. This segment currently accounts for 30% of the U.S. travel
market. Heritage tourists generally have higher incomes, stay longer,
spend more, and travel in larger groups than the average traveler.
The Allegheny Ridge Corporation helps local communities tap into
this growing market by assisting them in developing and funding comprehensive
strategies for the preservation, development, and promotion of their
downtowns and other historic resources.
In addition to the 18 national heritage areas, there are over 100
other heritage development themes being considered across the United
States. Four states have adopted and eight others are considering
official statewide heritage tourism programs.
2. Community and Watershed Stewardship
Historically, there has been an unfortunate "disconnect"
between economic development interests on the one hand, and proponents
of environmental stewardship on the other. In the modern post-industrial
age, however, this conflict is really no longer necessary or even
relevant. Across Pennsylvania and the rest of the country, people
are rediscovering their landscapes. A vibrant, historic downtown is
more than an amenity; it is a valuable asset that visitors and investors
are increasingly seeking out. Similarly, a clean, healthy watershed
is more than a luxury; it is a vital component of an area’s economic
infrastructure. Therefore, community growth and development depends
on fostering partnerships between conservationists, preservationists,
public servants, developers, and other stakeholders. Throughout the
Allegheny Ridge, ARCorp takes the role of creating and nurturing such
partnerships.
3. Grassroots Decision-Making
Pennsylvania's Heritage Areas contain a multitude of cultural, historic,
recreational, natural, and scenic resources of national significance
that collectively exemplify the industrial heritage of Pennsylvania.
Through regional partnerships and grassroots planning strategies,
these resources are preserved and developed to strengthen regional
economies through increased tourism, creation of new jobs and new
investment opportunities. The foundation upon which the Heritage Parks
Program is structured involves the building and strengthening of regional
coalitions of community leaders, non-profit interest groups, the private
sector, state agencies and the federal government.
This grassroots approach is designed to foster local leadership and
public participation in community projects, while building upon the
activities of existing grassroots organizations.
About Heritage Areas
History always happens somewhere
History is all around us. It can be found in particular buildings,
fields, towns or meadows. But some stories encompass a much larger
place.
Heritage areas are the living landscapes behind America's grandest
stories.
Congress or a state legislature must officially designate heritage
areas. This designation occurs when a legislative body determines
that a cluster of nationally significant historical resources exist
within a given area, and that these resources should be preserved
and interpreted for the American people.
There are heritage areas that interpret the stories of early Native
American and European settler life, 19th Century industrialism, the
evolution of transportation in America, the rise of modern agriculture,
and modern heavy industry. Each area has a story to tell about our
American heritage.
Historical Significance
Living Landscapes
Located in the southwestern quadrant of the state, the Allegheny
Ridge is a landscape that has witnessed centuries of Native American
life, westward expansion of European settlers across the formidable
Allegheny Mountains, and the rise and passing of the canal, railroad,
coal, and steel eras.
In an age of satellite communications and effortless travel, it is
difficult to appreciate the meaning of a natural barrier. But in the
early 19th Century, geographical features like the Allegheny Ridge
presented almost insurmountable obstacles. Rising steeply 1200 feet
above the western Pennsylvania towns of Altoona and Hollidaysburg,
and extending for a thousand miles, the Ridge stood in the way of
national expansion and the vast resources of the west. The challenge
of surmounting the Ridge with roads, canals, and rail became the symbol
of America's new technical prowess and the emergence of Pennsylvania
as an industrial giant.
The Allegheny Ridge is a living resource of national significance
that has been extensively documented and recognized. Its communities
and industries illustrate how nature was harnessed to produce the
underpinnings of our modern world. The area also preserves a unique
pattern of regional settlement that emerged around these industries.
The diverse yet interconnected culture of the Ridge lives in neighborhoods
where strong blue-collar values maintain ethnic churches, social groups,
and long-standing traditions.
PA Heritage
Discover Pennsylvania's Heritage
Pennsylvania: The state that built a nation
Pennsylvania's heritage regions are about the eras of steel and iron-making,
coal mining, the oil boom, canal- and railroad-building, the blazing
of early roads and highways, and life on the frontier. They're about
the influx of immigrants, the challenges and triumphs of a determined
people, and the birth of liberty and independence. They're about transforming
a frontier and forging a nation into an industrial giant. They are
why Pennsylvania became the Heart of America, and the state that built
a nation.
Scenic vistas and byways, hiking and biking trails, whitewater rafting,
historic towns and villages, ethnic foods, walking tours, abundant
parkland and recreational areas, antique shops, B&B's, fairs and
festivals, forest and agricultural landscapes, and thousands of miles
of rivers and streams await you. Pennsylvania's Heritage Regions are
your gateways to discovering yesterday - today!
Click on this link to visit the PA Heritage Region homepage.
Administered by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
(www.dcnr.state.pa.us),
Pennsylvania's System of Heritage Regions (also called Heritage Parks)
provides administrative and financial support for each heritage area
in PA. Collectively, the PA Heritage Regions strive to generate economic
development opportunities, preserve and protect the state's magnificent
natural, historical and cultural resources, and enhance its existing
system of state and local parks.
Master Plan
Download a PDF version of the document.
News & Events
Allegheny Ridge Corporation News
Local Heritage Preservation Group Presents Initiatives at National
Conference
November 8, 2002
Orlando, FL--Allegheny Ridge Corporation's (ARCorp) Pittsburgh-to-Harrisburg
Mainline Canal Greenway™ and Project RidgeRIDER™ are featured
model projects presented during the 16th National Trails Symposium,
"Greenway & Trails -Crossing the American Landscape"
in Orlando, Florida. . .
See Full Story
Allegheny Ridge Corporation Receives Award of Distinction
August 22, 2002
Allegheny Ridge Corporation (ARCorp) has been named recipient of
the 2002 Blair County Business Hall of Fame Award of Distinction for
Community Service. This particular award honors businesses and employees
for outstanding community service not only in voluntary capacities,
but generally contributing to the betterment of the community. ARCorp
will receive the award at the Blair County Chamber of Commerce Business
Hall of Fame Awards dinner in October. . .
See Full Story
New Decade, New Name
August 8, 2002
It's official. The Allegheny Ridge State Heritage Park is now known
as the Allegheny Ridge Heritage Area. By unanimous vote the Allegheny
Ridge Corporation Board of Directors adopted the name change to commemorate
the tenth anniversary of the heritage area and managing organization.
The vote passed in the form of a resolution during the second quarter
meeting of the Allegheny Ridge Corporation board of directors. . .
See Full Story
Allegheny Ridge Corporation Receives 2001 Townie Award
June 5, 2001
Gettysburg, PA - At its annual conference dinner this evening at
the Gettysburg Hotel, the Pennsylvania Downtown Center will present
a statewide Economic Restructuring Award to the Allegheny Ridge Corporation
(ARCorp). ARCorp was chosen for the 2001 Townie Award in recognition
of the organization's success in developing the Altoona Heritage Discovery
Center, a major historic rehabilitation project in downtown Altoona.
The Hollidaysburg Community Partnership nominated ARCorp for this
award, and selection for the award was based in part on the statewide
implications of the development methods and strategies employed by
the nominated projects. . .
See Full Story
Pittsburgh-to-Harrisburg Mainline Canal Greenway™ News
Murtha Announces National Trail Association
April 7, 2003
Farmington, PA -- U.S. Rep. John Murtha today announced that he has
introduced legislation in the 108th Congress directing the National
Park Service to do a study that could lead to National Scenic Trail
status for hiking and bicycling trails across Southwestern Pennsylvania
and surrounding states. . .
See Full Story
Greenway Holds First Round of Public Open Houses
October 30, 2002
Duncansville, PA --The Pittsburgh-to-Harrisburg Mainline Canal Greenway™,
an initiative sponsored by the non-profit Allegheny Ridge Corporation
(ARCorp), will hold a series of four public meetings in the form of
open houses beginning Nov. 4.
See Full Story
Recreation and Conservation Grant (C2P2) Funds Greenway Initiative
Altoona, PA - Governor Ridge's recent announcement of more than $30
million in recreation and conservation grants across Pennsylvania
will have a major regional impact. $150,000 in state funding will
be provided for the planning and development efforts of the Pittsburgh-to-Harrisburg
Mainline Canal Greenway™, a community and watershed stewardship
project managed by the non-profit Allegheny Ridge Corporation (ARCorp)
. . .
See Full Story
ARCorp Attends 2001 Venture Outdoors Festival
September 12, 2001
Pittsburgh, PA -Deborah Nardone, Director of Community and Watershed
Stewardship, and Dan Pryor, Project Coordinator for the Pittsburgh-to-Harrisburg
Mainline Canal Greenway, represented Allegheny Ridge Corporation (ARCorp)
at Venture Outdoors 2001 . . .
See Full Story
Project RidgeRIDER™ News
RidgeRIDER™ Receives Grant
January 23, 2003
Duncansville, PA -Allegheny Ridge Corporation (ARCorp) received a
$55,000 grant for continued development of Project Ridge RIDER, a
regional motorized trail plan working toward a win-win solution to
the ongoing debate over motorized recreation Department of Conservation
and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary John C. Oliver announced last
week. . .
See Full Story
Allegheny Ridge Corporation News / Greenway News / RidgeRIDER™
News
Projects listed on this site have been financed in part by grants
from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources,
Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.
Website Funding and Support Provided By the Pennsylvania Historical
and Museum Commission
|
Allegheny Ridge Corporation:
1421-1427 Twelfth Avenue
P.O. Box 348, Altoona, PA 16603
Phone: (814) 940-1922
Fax: (814) 940-1423
|
Trail Headquarters:
1040 Dry Run Road
Duncansville, PA 16635
Phone: (814) 696-2900
Fax (814) 696-8906 |
Send comments to: info@alleghenyridge.org
©
2005 Allegheny Ridge Corporation
