The economic benefits of trails and greenways have been a frequent topic of reporting and discussion in this newsletter.  With economic weakness persisting, and the purse strings tightening at all levels of government, this continues to be an issue of key import in raising support for trail projects.  Studies continue to be done, and trails continue to prove their worth on a variety of fronts.  Trails are routinely cited by individuals, politicians, and business leaders as contributing to the quality of life in a community or region.  Businesses that locate in such an area know they can attract and retain good workers.  Proximity to trails is mentioned more and more often in real estate listings.  A Rails to Trails Conservancy(RTC) report on the Greenway Trail in Maryville, TN, relates a decision by the CEO of Ruby Tuesday to locate corporate offices in Maryville due in part to the trail. Click here for the complete article.

1) The emergence of communities as hubs for both land and water trails;

2) Connecting trails to our communities to bring visitors to shopping, dining, and lodging opportunities;

3) More fully integrating trails into our communities so that residents get the benefits of safe, accessible places to recreate and engage in non-motorized transportation.

Click here to learn about the Pine Creek Rail Trail and the 

Great Allegheny Passage development projects!

March 8, 2013

The 2013 symposium built on the Western PA Trail Symposia held in 2006 and 2010. Attendees continued their dialog on how to make their trail system the strongest, most connected and best managed system.

The event brought together 129 stakeholders from Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio, Northern West Virginia and Western Maryland. Symposium topics included: completion of mega greenways, connecting communities using trails, and developing healthy communities.  Participants were surveyed on their general satisfaction with the symposium as well as specific topics and opportunities for future improvement.  Those that completed the survey (~16%) reported that the event either met or exceeded their expectations and that it was  a great "networking opportunity" that allowed participants to "actually meet email acquaintances." 

May 2013

25th Annual Swatara Float & Clean-up Trip: May 4-5, 2013

Susquehanna West Branch Sojourn: May 14-19, 2013

15th Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn: June 1-7, 2013

Perkiomen Creek Sojourn: June 8, 2013

Juniata River Sojourn: June 8-12, 2013

Lehigh River Sojourn: June 21-24, 2013

Delaware River Sojourn: June 22-29, 2013

Lynn Conrad was recently appointed Executive Director of the Rail-Trail Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania.  In 1994, she organized some bike rides on the Delaware & Hudson (D&H) Rail-Trail, followed by developing a Trails Day celebration which led to a part-time position as project manager for the Council. To learn about Lynn's evolution from project manager to Executive Director, click here.