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project RIDGERIDER About RidgeRIDER talk: Greenways / Blueways Conference - September 2001 |
| Adam
Mattis of the Allegheny Ridge Corporation speaks at the Mid-Atlantic Governors' Conference on Greenways, Blueways and Green Infrastructure Arlington, VA- The states of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia organized and conducted the Mid-Atlantic Governors' Conference on Greenways, Blueways and Green Infrastructure on September 16-19 to combat the rapid rate of development of open space and resource lands in their home states and beyond. Among the 63 featured speakers and presenters at the conference was the Allegheny Ridge Corporation's (ARCorp) Adam Mattis, Project Coordinator for Project Ridge RIDER, based out of Duncansville, PA. "It was a great privilege to represent ARCorp at the conference and to showcase a truly exciting project that can have enormous benefits for our environment and our economy," Mattis said. Project Ridge RIDER is a combined approach to
two issues, 1) reclamation of abandoned mine lands (AML) and, 2) responsible
multi-use trail development. The session stressed that through proper
design and management, abandoned mine lands could be reclaimed to accommodate
a multi-use, motorized recreation area, thus developing a "win-win"
situation for Pennsylvania. "With Pennsylvania's 250,000 acres
of abandoned mine lands and current debate on additional recreational
opportunities for the motorized community, the Ridge RIDER concept is
exploring a unique solution to a myriad of problems, " Mattis said.
Through mitigating pre-existing abandoned mine drainage problems, re-vegetating
AML with native flora, and expanding the recreation opportunities in
our communities, Ridge RIDER envisions a statewide system that will
encourage tourism and economic growth as well as help curb the problem
of motorized trail riding in inappropriate areas. Other issues addressed during the session focused
on working to bring about a "win-win" resolution to the ongoing
debate over motorized recreation in PA. Topics included changing (the
negative) public perception of motorized riding by emphasizing positive
environmental impact and potential for economic growth; and enlisting
legislative, state, grassroots and non-motorized support for combined
use trail facilities. The conference also provided an opportunity to reach hundreds of people and businesses interested in products and organizations related to outdoor activities, planning, landscape ecology, and resource conservation. Community and Watershed Stewardship Director Deborah Nardone and Pittsburgh-to-Harrisburg Greenway Project Coordinator Dan Pryor exhibited a display featuring many of ARCorp's initiatives, which are or are being considered statewide model projects, during the opening reception for the conference. The display highlighted the Pittsburgh-to-Harrisburg Greenway, which has been designated by the Governor's office and the White House Millennium Council as Pennsylvania's Millennium Legacy Trail and Project Ridge RIDER, which has been working hand-in-hand with the OHV and conservation communities to provide a positive, greener future for Pennsylvania. Although tailored to issues affecting the mid-Atlantic
region, practitioners from federal, state, and local agencies and experts
from around the country offered useful information to anyone involved
in planning of implementing greenway, blueway, or green infrastructure.
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