Regional Partnerships
The Pittsburgh-to-Harrisburg Mainline Canal Greenway was envisioned
as an opportunity to preserve the rich transportation heritage of
the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal while encouraging recreation opportunities,
environmental stewardship, and economic revitalization throughout
a 320-mile long, two-mile wide corridor. The Greenway serves as
a community link throughout the Allegheny Ridge Heritage Area, extending
through 14 counties and four major watersheds.
Allegheny Ridge Corporation partners determined the need for the
Greenway project as a compliment to the existing transportation
heritage interpretation that is a major component of the Allegheny
Ridge Heritage Area. Partners also agreed the Greenway would fulfill
the need for economic stimulus and community connectivity throughout
the financially struggling corridor. This large-scale effort minimized
the inevitable challenges through solid partnerships and grassroots
governance that has driven the project from an ambitious concept
to a viable network designated "Pennsylvania's Millennium Legacy
Trail." Since the Greenway project's proposal, local organizations
began the on-ground work of developing initiatives and participating
in the planning process. The Greenway now has Master Plan, with
content chosen by partners and residents through public open houses
and comment periods.
Creating this continuous system from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg that
recognizes the individual character of each community requires strong
local and regional partnerships. Interested partners have been identified
through outreach strategies in the Greenway's five clusters and
eleven (11) "hubs" - project regions highlighted as possessing
unique opportunities reflecting the Greenway's four project goals.
The Allegheny Ridge Corporation has identified over 1,000 organizations
and community residents who have participated in some aspect of
the Greenway process, including many major funding and in-kind contributors
who are the keystones of this project. Partners include heritage
preservation societies, watershed and conservation organizations,
local business owners and recreation-development groups. The Greenway
has also designated "Locktenders" in these significant
areas that act as information conduits and local representatives
of the regional implications of community initiatives. This outreach
network has provided an effective method for Greenway communications
between partners and staff, which is augmented by an extensive public
outreach strategy including public open houses and advisory meetings.
Partners not only serve in a community outreach capacity. Greenway
partners are responsible for the planning and development of each
Greenway project, from historical restoration to trail building.
These partners work with guidance from Allegheny Ridge Corporation
to complete significant projects while considering their connection
to other initiatives. This groundwork is instrumental to the successful
development of the Greenway and the opportunity to create a complete
system from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg. These partnerships also have
provided increased funding opportunities due to the availability
of corridor-wide matching funds, which in turn has increased the
need for organizations to work in tandem to create complementary
projects.
A Sampling
of National/Statewide Partners
Department of Environmental Protection - DEP Watershed
Coordinators offer expertise and funding to local watershed Greenway
partners and larger basin-wide organizations
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
- Provided overall funding for the Greenway Master Plan in the sum
of $150,000, as well as funding and support to individual heritage
and recreation initiatives through the Heritage Parks Program and
Keystone Grant funding
Local State and Federal Representatives - Congressional
leaders throughout the Greenway have assisted in securing hundreds
of thousands of dollars to fund the rehabilitation of historic sites
and the construction of multi-use trails
National Park Service - From restoring historic structures
to planning key trail connections, NPS has provided immeasurable
staff hours and funds for projects in the Greenway
Pennsylvania Conservation Districts - Conservation
Districts for Greenway counties have provided in-kind assistance
in completing Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Indexes, an important
component of Greenway planning
Pennsylvania Historical Societies - Provide historical
documentation, location of heritage destinations, and interpretation
of regional history
Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
- Provided funding through main street program for numerous
organizations among other initiatives
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation - PennDOT
has been a major contributor for Greenway alternative transportation
projects and has provided hours of technical assistance for groups
in planning stages
Pennsylvania Environmental Council - Has received
nearly $100,000 for initiatives throughout the Greenway, including
the research and development of Water Trails and Environmental Advocacy
Committees
Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission -
Provided $5,000 grant for Greenway website development and have
been involved in various heritage projects
Southwest Pennsylvania Heritage Preservation Commission
- Provided $75,000 in funding for the Greenway Action Plan
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy - Has provided pertinent
Green Infrastructure pieces in the form of County Natural Heritage
Inventories
A Sampling of Regional
Alle-Kiski Revitalization Corporation - A vital link
in the Greenway network; AKRC is working on a local level to develop
recreational and heritage initiatives
Allegheny Ridge Heritage Coalition - Grassroots citizen
group that serve as advocate for Path of the Flood trail and works
closely with the Cambria County Recreation Authority and ARCorp
to develop this initiative
Blairsville Intown Group & Hoodlebug Trail -
This organization has received over $750,000 to engineer and build
a 9.5 mile trail that provides a necessary connection for the western
half of the Greenway
Borough of Hollidaysburg - Has successfully constructed
the Hollidaysburg Canal Basin Park and Reiser House Visitor Center
that serves as an instrumental gateway and trailhead for the Greenway
corridor
Cambria County Recreation Authority/ Cambria-Indiana Trail
Council - These organizations have worked together to create
trail linkages in small communities in the two counties and have
received hundreds of thousands of dollars for trail and park planning
and construction
Conemaugh Valley Conservancy - The CVC is an environmental
advocate as well as an active trail organization, receiving $900,000
for nearly 9 miles of scenic trail
Downtown Lewistown Incorporated - Have successfully
acquired funding, approximately $17,000, for several trail initiatives
connecting from Lewistown Borough to the region at large
Duncannon Borough- Has received $20,000 to build
river access areas, which coordinate with water trail initiatives
Friends of the Riverfront - Successfully implemented
numerous Pittsburgh trails and further connections to the Freeport
Hub
Juniata Clean Water Partnership & their individual watershed
partners - Successfully completed a Watershed Management
Plan for the Juniata and serve as a local conduit for watershed-based
recreation
Juniata River Canal Trail Association - Grassroots
citizen group that serves as advocate for Juniata Valley trail initiatives
Juniata Valley Tourist Promotion Agency - Have provided
broad-based regional connections in formulation of a tourist promotion
strategy throughout the Greenway corridor
Kiski-Conemaugh Native Biodiversity Conservation Program
- This group has worked for three years and spent over $20,000
to eradicate Japanese Knotweed, a threat to biodiversity and recreation
opportunities
Kiski-Conemaugh River Basin Alliance & their individual
watershed partners - Watershed partners have donated hours
and funds for remediation projects throughout the Greenway and have
been active in the advisory and public process
Mid-State Recreation, Conservation and Development
- Locally led non-profit that fosters partnerships between citizens,
businesses, agencies and organizations throughout the Mid-State
region, including the Greenway corridor
Rails-to-Trails of Central Pennsylvania - Developed
the Lower Trail, one of the most popular connections in the eastern
portion of the Greenway and have received over $200,000
Roaring Run Watershed Association - Watershed organization
and trail-building group has received over $500,000 to create a
successful multi-use trail connection
Southern Alleghenies Recreation, Conservation and Development
- Locally led non-profit that fosters partnerships between citizens,
businesses, agencies and organizations throughout the Southern Alleghenies
region, including the Greenway corridor
Westsylvania Heritage Corporation - Provided ground-proofing
expertise to locally managed initiatives
©
2005 Allegheney Ridge Corporation
