by Tim Poole 

 

Dear (Contact First Name),

 

With regrets to the ski industry, most of us have enjoyed a mercifully mild winter and are now in the embrace of an absolutely gorgeous spring. This comes as a welcome respite after last fall's steady stream of hurricanes, rain, wind, flooding, that freak Halloween snow storm and even a small earthquake. As a time of renewal in both our personal and professional lives, spring 2012 brings us a multitude of trail trainings and events. May is Bike Month http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bikemonth/ and a great chance to showcase our trails to our most significant user groups. And June gives us National Trails Day, http://www.americanhiking.org/NTD.aspx the premier day of the year to get volunteers, users, and public officials on our trails for service, advocacy, and fun. Find additional events, trainings, and resources in this edition of "Trails-to-You" to help develop, promote, utilize and "spring clean" your trails! Read on!

 

By Kimberly M. Woodward, CRPP, PRPS Executive Director

 

As I write this article, we are in the midst of the biggest battle we have ever faced in regards to funding for recreation, parks, trails and conservation. Unless you've only been on the trails lately you should be aware of the current issue facing funding in our state. The Governor's proposed 2012-13 budget that is essentially raiding the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund by moving it PERMANENTLY to the general fund. This is a $30 million cut to the DCNR budget and means the loss of grant funding to all of us (recreation and parks, trails, and land trusts) and loss to DCNR's infrastructure (including state parks and forests). Click here  http://www.prps.org/training/documents/AdvocacyArticle-K.Woodward.pdf for the complete article. ACT NOW to save this important funding!

 

 

Clean Up PA!

Thursday, March 1st- Thursday, May 31st

Everyone wants to live, work, and play in a clean and green community! You can help by participating in the 2012 Great American Cleanup of PA from March 1 - May 31. Clean up litter along roads, streams, parks, forests and neighborhoods. Registered events can get freecleanup supplies like bags, gloves, and vests that are donated by PennDOT and Keep American Beautiful. Additionally, from April 21st-May 7th registered events have access to freedisposal! To organize or participate in a cleanup event in your community visit gacofpa.org.

 

Bike Harrisburg

Sunday, May 6th

Attention state employees, legislators, and others in the capital region: Join fellow cyclists for Harrisburg's first ever celebration of Bike Month! On Sunday, May 6th, Front Street will closed down between Forster Street and Walnut Streets to allow families to bike in a traffic-free zone.  Bike shops and other cycling-related organizations will be giving out helpful information, providing free services and presenting demonstrations throughout the day. For an event schedule and additional information visit www.bikeharrisburg.org.

 

 

Bike to School Day

Wednesday, May 9th

Trails have become the backbone of "Safe Routes to School" walking and biking programs in many PA communities. Join schools across the nation as they take part in the first National Bike to School Day on Wednesday, May 9th. Go to www.walkbiketoschool.org for more information about Bike to School Day and to access new event planning resources and tools, including a new GIS-powered walking and bicycling route mapping tool.

 

Revolutionary River Documentary Special Screening

Thursday, May 17th

A special screening of the PBS documentary The Revolutionary River-the Schuylkill River-will be held on May 17th at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute, www.brynmawrfilm.org. Following the screening, Schuylkill River Heritage Area Executive Director, Kurt Zwikl, will participate in a panel discussion on trail-related projects. Proceeds from the event benefit the Cynwyd Station Revitalization and the Schuylkill River Greenway Association. To learn more or purchase tickets visit www.schuylkillriver.org.  

  

 

Hiking Week

Saturday, May 26th-Sunday, June 3rd

Have you started planning an event or celebration?  DCNR has once again teamed up with the Keystone Trails Association to offer more than 100 organized hikes and walks throughout Pennsylvania during the nine-day hiking event. Find and share Hiking Week events by visiting www.explorepatrails.com/hikingweek.aspx.

 

National Trails Day

Saturday, June 2nd

Looking for a great opportunity to showcase your trail and to generate more support and funding for your projects? Sponsored by the American Hiking Society and a variety of partners, National Trails Day®is celebrated the first Saturday of each June. The goals are to promote the need for trails, get some work done, recognize volunteers, and generate buzz for local trails. Visit www.americanhiking.org/NTD.aspx for event planning materials and/or to find event near you!  

 

West Branch Susquehanna Sojourn

Saturday, May 19th-Thursday, May 24th

Break out the paddles and get your campfire tales organized! Plans are in the works for a 6-day educational canoe/kayak trip along some of the most remote and lovely sections of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River! Details and registration will appear at http://www.susquehannagreenway.org/ as they are available. Contact Erin, epierce@susquehannagreenway.org, if you are interested in joining the Planning Team or have ideas for sponsorship!

 

Schuylkill River Sojourn

Saturday, June 2nd-Friday, June 8th

The Heritage Area staff is busy planning for the 14th Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn. The week-long, 112-mile guided canoe/kayak tour will once again take a fleet of paddlers from Schuylkill Haven to Philadelphia, camping at parks along the way. This year's theme will be Recreation With the River, and will feature presentations on a wide range of recreation topics, such as hiking, biking, yoga, and, of course, paddling. Check out our website at http://www.schuylkillriver.org/Sojourn.aspx to learn more about the sojourn.

 

Additional Sojourns

Most Water Trail Sojourns are planned for late spring due to water levels. For a full slate of sojourns planned around the state, please visit http://pawatersheds.org/2012/02/2012-sojourn-announcements-rolling-in/.

 

By Tim Poole, Trails-to-You Editor

 

Thomas Baxter IV is the Executive Director of Friends of the Riverfront, a 20-year-old membership organization charged with increasing awareness and engagement with the Pittsburgh region's rivers and riverfronts through activities, stewardship, and expansion of water and land trails. Prior to coming to Friends of the Riverfront Thomas spent several years studying archeology and conducting excavations as an undergraduate before attaining a graduate degree in geography and regional planning. Click here

http://www.prps.org/training/documents/TrailChampion-T.Poole.pdf for the complete article.

 

Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference 

 

DCNR--New Trails Report

The Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee, assembled to help inform and guide statewide trail program decisions, continues to work toward the goal of a trail in every community throughout the Commonwealth.
 

The annual report can be downloaded at www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/recreation/trails/index.htm

or www.paoutdoorrecplan.com. For more information about trails visit www.ExplorePAtrails.com.
 

Rails-to--Trails Conservancy-Urban Pathways Initiative Video 

One of the pressing issues raised in the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's Urban Pathways Initiative is trail user safety. It's vitally important for urban park users not only to be safe, but also to feel safe when recreating outdoors. Take a look at this great video, http://vimeo.com/38062769, from Rails-to-Trails addressing issues of crime and perceptions of safety on urban pathways.  It takes an honest look at urban trail safety and highlights an important observation, "Trails themselves do not generate crime; however they are not immune to crime."
 

WalkWorks--A Model Program for You 

By Stefanie P. Junker, MPH, Projector Coordinator, Center for Public Health Practice, University of Pittsburgh

The University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH) Center for Public Health Practice and the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) have created WalkWorks, an effort to increase physical activity among people of all ages and abilities in Western Pennsylvania by developing community-based walking programs. Accomplishments to date include integration of walking routes into the Crawford County greenway plan, efforts by the MonValley Chamber of Commerce to increase lunch-time walking through special business promotions, and better connections in Johnstown between neighborhoods, schools and trails. Read a full article about the WalkWorks program by clicking here http://www.prps.org/training/documents/WalkWorks-S.Junker.pdf  and be sure to visit the WalkWorks http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=750276&mode=2 webpage.

 

Safe Routes to School--Have you seen their Resource Center? 

The PA Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Resource Center provides free resources, from safety training courses to lesson plans, to promote walking and biking to school.  Sign up to receive periodic news and monthly e-newsletters from the SRTS Resource Center by clicking here www.saferoutespa.org.
 

Lackawanna Heritage Valley--New Economic Impact Study Released 

In 2009, Lackawanna Heritage Valley (LHV) initiated a large-scale planning initiative, the "Lackawanna Greenway Plan and the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail Feasibility Study." One component of this project was a survey of the people who use the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail. The analysis of the data gathered from these surveys estimated 128,000 annual user visits to the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail in 2009, resulting in a direct economic impact to the local economy of approximately $28,251,862.LHV has released the detailed findings in a new report, "The Lackawanna River Heritage Trail: 2009 Trail User Survey and Economic Impact Analysis." Click here www.lhva.org/impact-trails.html to access the full report, Executive Summary and one-page Fact Sheet.
 

City of Middleton, Wisconsin--Porous Asphalt Shows Advantages 

While not a new material, "porous asphalt" is gaining interest among trail and greenway planners. Porous asphalt refers to a mix that adds a significant amount of air space, or voids, to the gravel and petroleum binders that make up asphalt paving. A project in Middleton, WI highlights advantages that include resistance to cracking, maintenance savings, improved winter usability, and use of recycled materials. For additional information and photographs visit the American Trails website

www.americantrails.org/resources/trailbuilding/Porous-asphalt-Middleton-Wisconsin.html.
 

National Center on Accessibility--National Trails Surface Study 

Through a collaborative effort with the U.S. Access Board and Oklahoma State University, the National Center on Accessibility is seeking information on construction practices of pedestrian/hiker, natural surface trails in the United States. This study will provide better insight into the products used on trail surfaces, the firmness and stability of those surfaces, and the frequency of maintenance/repair activities performed.  For more information and/or to participate in the study visit American Trails website www.americantrails.org/resources/trailbuilding/ncasuracef05.html.