COMMUNITY WORKPLAN

Tunkhannock Heritage Communities Program

2011

Pennsylvania Route 6 Alliance TUNKHANNOCK HERITAGE COMMUNITY WORKPLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER/Subsection Page

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ii

COMMUNITY WORKPLAN SUMMARY 1

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT 3 Tunkhannock Heritage Communities Program 3

COMMUNITY INVENTORIES 4 Community and Area Overview 4 Location Map 5 Demographics 6 Economics 8 Historical and Architecturally Significant Buildings, Sites and Themes 15 Cultural History 20 Museum 22 Inventory of Community Events/Activities 23 Regional Attractions and Resources 25 Local Recreation Related Resources 30 Inventory and Survey of Businesses 34 Business Survey 36 Physical and Non-Physical Conditions 46 Transportation System 49 Community Visual Conditions and Design Analysis 56

SYNTHESIS OF INFORMATION 70 Public Input First Workshop – The Wish List 70 Second Workshop – Planning Charrette 72 Third Workshop – Draft Presentation and Comments 78 Issues and Opportunities Statement Overview 79

IMPLEMENTATION 81 Heritage Route 6 Economic Impacts 81 Tourism and Economics 82 Implementation Matrix 86 Summary of Recommendations 99 Interpretive Planning Statement 105 Marketing and Hospitality Planning Statement 107 Wayfinding Planning Statement 109 Heritage Resource Development/Physical Enhancement Planning Statement 115 Context – The Main Street Approach 119

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This planning effort represents a relatively new approach to heritage planning being implemented by the Pennsylvania Route 6 Alliance. The concept was locally developed during early Route 6 heritage planning and refined with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) who insisted that the Heritage Communities Program be premised on the engagement of the community. In short, DCNR wanted this to be “grass roots” and not “top down” planning requiring the establishment of the Heritage Community Stakeholders Groups in each Heritage Community. This was envisioned to be a group of area residents who met throughout this process and even spearheaded several early action implementation actions. Members of the Tunkhannock Stakeholders Group represented a cross-section of the community and met on numerous occasions between February 2010 and May 2011, and also helped during this period in conducting Community Workshops and a Planning Charrette. In addition, many other residents participated in various public forums such as during the focus group meetings during the Planning Charrette and at the various Community Workshops. The coordination provided by the staff of the Northern Tier Regional Planning and Development Commission was invaluable as the local liaison and point of contact on behalf of the Pennsylvania Route 6 Alliance planning team.

Major project funding for the Heritage Communities Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation through the Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, through the Heritage Areas Program under the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and a local contribution from Tunkhannock.

Last but not least, a special thanks to the residents and business community of Tunkhannock who not only embraced this program and participated, but more importantly showed a genuine love for their community.

ii TUNKHANNOCK HERITAGE COMMUNITIES PROGRAM Pennsylvania Route 6 Heritage Corridor COMMUNITY WORKPLAN

Background

A Community WorkPlan is a requirement of the Pennsylvania Route 6 Heritage Communities Program. It is intended to establish an action-oriented framework for local heritage and community planning and implementation in Heritage Communities along Route 6. This is a WorkPlan for the Tunkhannock area that is focused on the Borough, Tunkhannock Township, Eaton Township and the immediate surrounding region. While the document is important in itself the process gone through to prepare it is probably more important. In this regard local engagement is not only important but is required.

The process involved the engagement and discussion with a local Stakeholders Group that was involved throughout the planning period. The document attempts to aggregate and synthesize the input and recommendations of this Group, also taking into account public input received at Community Workshops and a planning charrette. The document and process also involves original and secondary research gathered by the Route 6 planning team. The WorkPlan is organized as follows:

BACKGROUND ACTIVITIES – DESCRIPTION  Tunkhannock Heritage Communities Program  Community Inventories - Themes and Sites, Heritage, Community Events, Businesses, Physical and Non-Physical Needs and Visual Conditions and design Analysis

SYNTHESIS OF INFORMATION  Public Input review and Issues and Opportunities Statement Overview  Issues and Opportunities Statement

IMPLEMENTATION - Planning Statements and Implementation Strategy

Overview

The Pennsylvania Route 6 Heritage Communities Program recognizes that the action-oriented framework requires attention to both physical and non-physical needs that address the Visitor’s Experience and the Community Context. Each has an impact on the other, and the latter frames and directly affects the former. Thus the Community WorkPlan must enhance the Tunkhannock area as a destination and a stopover, without negatively affecting the quality of life and community characteristics that make it a great place reside. In essence then, this entire process is an attempt to address tourism in a context-sensitive manner. In this regard, we recommend a number of enhancements:

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Visitor Experience Enhancement – ―things to see and do‖

 A decentralized visitor interpretation and guidance approach primarily using existing groups, agencies and websites  Local promotional effort – brochures, itineraries and web-based  Individualized Hospitality Training/Education in a format that is business- friendly and adaptable to changing employees  A series of Loop Tours that link the rich tourism resources of the region while reinforcing Tunkhannock as a hospitality center  Wayfinding Signage – at critical attractions and along the Loops and within the Historic District  Greater utilization of the Historic District as an economic resource

The Community Context – addressing local needs

 Gateway Enhancements at strategic points identified locally  An interrelated revitalization effort with the dual focus of enhancing the community as a place to visit – shopping, arts, dining and entertainment – and as a ―Rivertown‖ on the Susquehanna o Safe and more direct pedestrian connection with river o Riverside Park enhancements o Façade enhancements o Recruitment  Revisions – Land use and signage regulations

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BACKGROUND ACTIVITIES – DESCRIPTION

The Heritage Communities Program is an initiative of the Pennsylvania Route 6 Heritage Corporation, focused on strengthening the many vibrant communities along the Route 6 Corridor in Pennsylvania. The Program was developed by local stakeholders involved in the development of the Pennsylvania Route 6: Our Heritage and a Destination for the Future – Framework for Action during 2001- 03. These stakeholders have developed the Pennsylvania Route 6 Heritage Communities Program that requires communities – their leaders, business community and residents – to buy into the heritage tourism concept and process. The program provides assistance to Route 6 communities in first identifying and localizing heritage tourism sites, resources and themes; then developing ways to enhance and refine these resources; and finally a way to sustain local heritage tourism. This assumes a very inclusive grass-roots process involving local residents, which will have an important side-benefit of making the community a better place in which to live as well as visit.

The key to the Program is to identify and capitalize on the unique qualities of select communities on the Corridor that reflect the themes of Route 6. These themes are as follows:

 Warrior’s Road honoring the epic stories of the warriors of many races, genders and times fought or lived along the Corridor;  The many Natural Opportunities utilized and enjoyed by hunters, fishermen, oilmen, tanners and miners of the region, and the changes in the view of natural resources;  The rough terrain required Engineer’s Challenge to be met by spectacular feats of civil engineering that made Northern Pennsylvania and its resources more accessible;  The region has provided New Beginnings and Safe Havens for a diverse group including Connecticut Yankees, French Aristocrats and escaping slaves;  Visionaries, Achievers and Social Entrepreneurs of the region whose ideas and achievements inspired and transformed the region and the country; and  The region’s recognized position as an Outdoor Enthusiast’s Paradise offering active and passive recreational opportunities year-round.

The Program is premised on providing technical assistance to the communities in interpreting and localizing these themes.

Tunkhannock Heritage Communities Program

The unique qualities of the Pennsylvania US Route 6 Corridor are created and affected by the communities along its length. Descriptions of the Corridor often tout the unhurried, small-town ambiance that has not been traded for a ―brand

3 name drive-through identity‖. The Route 6 Community identity is authentic and individual and is not contrived. Route 6 heritage planning recognizes that this ―community identity‖ must be maintained and strengthened if heritage tourism is to prosper along the Corridor.

A request on behalf of the Borough of Tunkhannock was a successful applicant in the fifth round of the Heritage Communities Program, joining the following: st  1 Round: Smethport nd  2 Round: Corry/Union City rd  3 Round: Potter County (Austin, Coudersport and Galeton) th  4 Round: Conneaut Lake, Youngsville, Waymart and Wyalusing

A local visioning and participation process was carried out to establish the elements of a local heritage tourism effort meeting the orientation of the Pennsylvania Route 6 tourism effort while addressing local issues, themes and resources. This approach is identified in this planning document – referred to as a Community WorkPlan. As such, it is an action-oriented document that builds on past tourism planning, as well as regional and local efforts.

Community Inventories - Community and Area Overview

There is a very strong identity and attachment to Tunkhannock and a core of highly motivated and engaged people who want to improve it. The concept of ―Tunkhannock‖ appears to transcend the Borough itself and includes portions of Tunkhannock and Eaton Township as well. The relative location and approximate distance between Tunkhannock and other nearby communities is below:

Community Approximate Distance Meshoppen 9 miles Factoryville 10 miles Montrose 22 miles Wyalusing 24 miles Scranton (near I-81/I-476) 24 miles Wilkes-Barre (near I-81) 26 miles Carbondale 29 miles Towanda (US-220) 39 miles Honesdale 44 miles Hawley 53 miles Athens/Sayre & Waverly, NY (I-86) 58 miles Milford 74 miles Mansfield 77 miles Wellsboro 90 miles Harrisburg (I-76/I-81) 133 miles Smethport 161 miles Conneaut Lake 287 miles

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TUNKHANNOCK TOWNSHIP

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Tunkhannock Borough 0 0.5 1 Miles Rt 6 Corridor HCP Demographics

The 2010 Census populations for Wyoming County, Tunkhannock Borough, Tunkhannock Township, Eaton Township and the combined area of the Borough and Townships are identified on Table 1 in addition to the actual Census figures for 1990 and 2000.

 Wyoming County’s population has remained relatively unchanged as it experienced only a minimal population increase of 0.01% between 1990 and 2000 and a slight increase of 0.70% between 2000 and 2010. However, compared to its adjoining five PA Counties, Wyoming County fared fairly well in terms of population as its percentage of population growth was the highest among them expect for Sullivan County who experienced a 2.6% increase in this period.  Tunkhannock Borough experienced a 15.1% decline in population between 1990 and 2000 and a continued population decrease of nearly 4% between 2000 and 2010. Overall, Tunkhannock’s population has decreased by 18.4% between 1990 and 2010.  Similarly Tunkhannock Township experienced population declines between 1990 and 2000 although not to the extent as Tunkhannock Borough. Overall, Tunkhannock Township population decreased by 2.2% between 1990 and 2010.  Eaton Township experienced a modest increase of 2.8% between 1990 and 2000; however as with Tunkhannock Borough and Township it also lost population (5.1%) between 2000 and 2010.  Taken together, the combined area had a 2000 population of 7,853 and a 2010 population of 7,628, resulting in an overall decline of just under 3%.

TABLE 1 DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE – 1990-2010 Tunkhannock Borough Heritage Communities Program Area

% % % Area 1990 2000 Change 2010 Change Change Population Population 1990- Population 2000- 1990-2010 2000 2010 Wyoming 28,076 28,080 0.01% 28,276 0.70% 0.71% County Tunkhannock 2,251 1,911 -15.1% 1,836 -3.9% -18.4% Borough Tunkhannock 4,371 4,298 -1.7% 4,273 -0.6% -2.2% Township Eaton Township 1,600 1,644 2.8% 1,519 -7.6% -5.1% Combined Area 8,222 7,853 -4.5% 7,628 -2.9% -7.2% Source: US Census Bureau

Overall, the data shows that since 2000 Tunkhannock Borough, Tunkhannock Township and Eaton Township have all lost population at a at a time when the population of the County increased by less than 1%.

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Larger Region

According to the US Census Wyoming County is part of the Scranton-Wilkes- Barre Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) includes Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wyoming Counties. The 2010 population within this larger region was 563,631.

Population Projections

Projecting populations at a local level is a challenge given the many variables that affect population (i.e. migration patterns, mortality, age profile, household size/profile, market forces, etc.) and the general lack of verifiable information. Projections for places experiencing spikes in growth or decline are especially challenging. In the former case then, it is not surprising that relatively recent projections for Wyoming County for 2010 were somewhat off indicating a population decrease of 4.3% rather than the actual 0.70% increase between 2000-2010.

 Population projections are available through 2030 on a county basis through the Pennsylvania State Data Center. The 2010 projected population was 26,872 or approximately 3.5% lower than the 2010 population as per the US Census. The 0.43% average annual decrease PDC projection projects was not met.

The above description is not a criticism but a notation since most published projections underestimated the 2010 population, the projections for subsequent years would likely be off as well. Instead of replicating these projections, it appears safe to say that notable population decline is likely to continue for the Tunkhannock Area, although the trend is not clear for the community or county, due in part to the recent Marcellus Shale drilling activity.

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Economics

Employment and Number of Establishments

The economic base of Wyoming County has undergone change throughout the recent and distant history. Economists look at employment bases in several ways, including by place of residence (where employees reside) and by place of work (where people work regardless of where they live). The decennial Census is the place where information by place of residence is available on a municipal basis. Given the age of available Census data (i.e. 2000) this data is not meaningful at the time of this writing in early-2010. Given the fact that detailed 2010 Census data is not anticipated for awhile, this study uses more recent place of work data even though it is available only on the County basis. Overall, place of work data has been found to be a better barometer of local economic activity in Route 6 economic analyses anyway.

Before reviewing this data for Wyoming County descriptive background information is reviewed. Table 2 reviews and compares information from two recent County Business Patterns reports. County Business Patterns is an annual series that provides sub-national economic data by industry. The series is useful for studying the economic activity of small areas; analyzing economic changes over time; and as a benchmark for statistical series, surveys, and databases between economic censuses. Businesses use the data for analyzing market potential, measuring the effectiveness of sales and advertising programs, setting sales quotas, and developing budgets. Government agencies use the data for administration and planning.

 County Business Patterns covers most of the country's economic activity. The series excludes data on self-employed individuals, employees of private households, railroad employees, agricultural production employees, and most government employees.

 The information is establishment based. An establishment is a single physical location at which business is conducted or services or industrial operations are performed. It is not necessarily identical with a company or enterprise, which may consist of one or more establishments. When two or more activities are carried on at a single location under a single ownership, all activities generally are grouped together as a single establishment. The entire establishment is classified on the basis of its major activity and all data are included in that classification. Table 2 identifies them as firms in the respective years compared.

 Paid employment consists of full- and part-time employees, including salaried officers and executives of corporations, who are on the payroll in the pay period including March 12. Included are employees on paid sick leave, holidays, and vacations; not included are proprietors and partners of unincorporated businesses.

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TABLE 2 ECONOMIC PROFILE AND CHANGE Wyoming County 1999-2008

1999 2008 % 1999 2008 % Economic Sector Employees Employees Change Firms Firms Change Forestry, fishing, hunting, and agriculture support 20-99 100-249 NA 7 6 -14% Mining 20-99 20-99 NA 7 7 0% Utilities 20-99 20-99 NA 3 3 0% Construction 365 323 -12% 83 66 -20% Manufacturing 2,970 2,500-4,999 NA 32 32 0% Wholesale trade 291 250-499 NA 23 16 -30% Retail trade 1,204 1,124 -7% 119 113 -5% Transportation & warehousing 929 279 -70% 35 34 -3% Information 20-99 62 NA 5 9 +80% Finance & insurance 208 203 -2% 35 39 +11% Real estate & rental & leasing 20-99 0-19 NA 9 9 0% Professional, scientific & technical services 152 360 +137% 38 41 +8% Management of companies & enterprises 0-19 0-19 NA 1 2 +100% Admin, support, waste mgt, remediation services 329 793 +141% 18 28 +56% Educational services 100-249 100-249 NA 2 3 +50% Health care and social assistance 927 1,131 +22% 60 66 +10% Arts, entertainment & recreation 0-19 20-99 NA 6 10 +67% Accommodation & food services 670 577 -14% 61 58 -5% Other services (except public administration) 244 240 -2% 72 68 -6% Unclassified establishments 0-19 - NA 11 NA NA Total 8,646 8,468 -2% 627 610 -3% Source: US Census Bureau; County Business Patterns Note: Ranges in italics are all that are available for certain sectors, precluding determination of exact percentages

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Data presented on Table 2 above suggests the following trends as reflected in employment and/or number of establishments:

 Employment in manufacturing is very important with approximately 34% of the total employees being employed in that industry in 1999. Although exact 2008 employee numbers were not available, the range provided indicates employment numbers probably did not significant decrease. Another local anchor retailing has sustained losses in employees (7%) and employers 5%) in the 1999-2008 period.

 On the positive side, professional, scientific and technical services along with health care and social services have both sustained impressive increases in employment as well as the number of establishments involved. Taken together, these two sectors added 412 employees and 9 establishments in the period reviewed.

 The Administrative support, waste management, remediation services sector also sustained notable employment and employer increases during this period.

 Two sectors classically associated with tourism (in addition to retail) are the arts/entertainment/recreation and accommodations/food services. The arts/entertainment/recreation saw an increase in the number of establishments, however accommodations/food services experienced a decline both employment and number of establishments during the 1999-2008 period.

Unfortunately, reliable information on a small municipal basis is only available via the US Census, reflects data by place of residence and more recent data is not anticipated until 2012. Other relevant economic figures and trends are summarized below:

 Place of residence data shows that the total civilian labor force (not seasonally adjusted) in Wyoming County for December 2009 was 14,600, of which 13,200 were employed and 1,400 were unemployed. The unemployment rate was 9.6% at the time the statewide rate was 8.5%.

 The average weekly wage for Wyoming County in 1st Quarter 2009 was $704, 81.8% the statewide weekly wage of $861. This would be equivalent to $17.60 per hour or $36,608 per year, assuming a 40-hour week worked the year around.

 Average weekly wages varied considerable among the County’s economic segments in 2009 (most recent annual figures available by segment) o Accommodation and Food Services - $208 o Health Care and Social Assistance - $675 o Manufacturing - NA o Retailing - $397

10 Market Segmentation

Econometrics is a field always showing sophistication and even localization. One approach in understanding economic markets is the Nielsen Claritas PRIZM segmentation system that brings together household and geographic level data. PRIZM attempts to capture demographic and lifestyle data to help companies target their customers. It also provides those not marketing a good or service with a ―snapshot‖ view, perhaps oversimplified, of how small areas (i.e. Zip Code level) may be profiled. The PRIZM model contains 66 segments consistent at both the household and geodemographic levels. The 66-segment model resulted from standard demographic measures – Age, Income, Presence of Children, Marital Status, Homeownership and Urban/city. The most common PRIZM segments and larger social groups identified for Tunkhannock Borough and the surrounding 18657 zip code area are as follows:

 Simple Pleasures (Lower-Mid income, Mature, Mostly w/o Kids) - With more than two-thirds of its residents over 65 years old, Simple Pleasures is mostly a retirement lifestyle: a neighborhood of lower-middle-class singles and couples living in modestly priced homes. Many are high school-educated seniors who held blue-collar jobs before their retirement. And a disproportionate number served in the military, so many residents are members of veterans clubs  Shotguns & Pickups (Lower-Middle income, Younger, w/ Kids) - The segment known as Shotguns & Pickups came by its moniker honestly: it scores near the top of all lifestyles for owning hunting rifles and pickup trucks. These Americans tend to be young, working-class couples with large families, living in small homes and manufactured housing. Nearly a third of residents live in mobile homes, more than anywhere else in the nation  Heartlanders (Lower-Middle income, Older, Mostly w/o Kids) - America was once a land of small middle-class towns, which can still be found today among Heartlanders. This widespread segment consists of older couples with white- collar jobs living in sturdy, unpretentious homes. In these communities of small families and empty-nesting couples, Heartlanders residents pursue a rustic lifestyle where hunting and fishing remain prime leisure activities along with cooking, sewing, camping, and boating.  Blue Highways (Lower-Middle income, Middle Aged, Mostly w/o Kids) -On maps, blue highways are often two-lane roads that wind through remote stretches of the American landscape. Among lifestyles, Blue Highways is the standout for lower- middle-class residents who live in isolated towns and farmsteads. Here, Boomer men like to hunt and fish; the women enjoy sewing and crafts, and everyone looks forward to going out to a country music concert.

The above four segments are within the Middle America social group, which is categorized as including lower-middle-class homeowners living in small towns and remote exurbs. Typically found in scenic settings throughout the nation's heartland, Middle Americans tend to be white, high school educated, living as couples or larger families, and ranging in age from under 25 to over 65. Like many residents of remote communities, these conservative consumers tend to prefer traditional rural pursuits: fishing, hunting, making crafts, antique collecting,

11 watching television, and meeting at civic and veterans clubs for recreation and companionship.

 Back Country Folks (Downscale, Older Mostly w/o Kids) - Strewn among remote farm communities across the nation, Back Country Folks are a long way away from economic paradise. The residents tend to be poor, over 55 years old and living in older, modest-sized homes and manufactured housing. Typically, life in this segment is a throwback to an earlier era when farming dominated the American landscape.

The above segment is within the larger Rustic Living social group. These segments represent the nation's rural towns and villages, having relatively modest incomes, low education levels, aging houses and blue-collar occupations. Many of the residents, a mix of young singles and seniors, are unmarried. Typically, these consumers spend their leisure time in such traditional small-town activities as fishing and hunting, attending social activities at the local church and veterans club, and enjoying country music and car racing.

The above segments and social groups may be an oversimplification, but the demographic data taken into consideration by the Nielsen Claritas PRIZM system suggest the existence of lower income segments of the Tunkhannock Borough community.

Tourism Spending Patterns

General spending and related economic impacts for tourism are included in a series of reports entitled The Economic Impact of Travel and Tourism in Pennsylvania (Global Insight), which tracts spending patterns at the County level. Between 2004-07 visitor spending in Wyoming County increased by 3.1%, from $37.63 million to $38.80 million. However the percentage share of the total county economy from visitor spending fell from 2.0% in 2004 to 1.9% in 2007. The following summarizes visitor spending by category (dollars in Millions):

Category 2004 2007 % Change

Transportation $ 9.27 $ 8.91 - 3.88% Food & Beverage $11.42 $11.56 + 1.23% Lodging $ 5.12 $ 5.39 + 5.27% Shopping $ 8.35 $ 9.55 + 14.37% Entertainment $ 1.57 $ 1.19 - 24.20% Other $ 1.89 $ 2.20 + 16.40% TOTAL $37.63 $38.80 + 3.11%

In 2007, the largest individual segments are retail shopping and food and beverage, each showing increases from 2004 levels. All segments with the exception of transportation and entertainment showed increases during this period. The decline in entertainment also was seen in the other Pennsylvania

12 Northeast Mountains region counties (i.e. Bradford, Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzern, Monroe, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna and Wayne) and with the exception of Sullivan County, the decline in transportation also was seen in the other Pennsylvania Northeast Mountains region counties during this period

Tourism Employment Impacts

The same report noted above reveals that in 2007, 556 people in Wyoming County were directly employed in tourism-based businesses, approximately 2.9% less than the figure for 2004. When adding those persons indirectly benefiting from tourism (i.e. suppliers of tourism businesses, impacts of buying power from those directly employed in tourism, and other secondary beneficiaries), a total of 852 persons are affected by tourism employment, representing 8.8% of the County’s economy. Wages from those directly employed in tourism businesses amounted to $14.9 million in 2007, approximately 2.6% higher than the 2004 figure. Again, when considering those directly and indirectly benefitting from tourism, the 2007 figure is just over $26.4 million.

Localized Information

The Pennsylvania Route 6 Tourism Infrastructure Plan (2008) helps localize the direct impacts alluded to above. In 2008 the following summarizes the tourism infrastructure in the Tunkhannock area:

 There were 38 establishments categorized as offering accommodations and food services, including motels/inns, RV parks, restaurants, fast food and camping opportunities;  There were 13 arts, recreation and entertainment establishments, including art galleries, museums and golf courses; and  There were 62 tourism-oriented retail/service establishments ranging from gift/novelty/artisan venues to convenience stores/gas station to a movie Theater.

Finally, the Pennsylvania Travel Profile presents an overview of overnight leisure travel for the Endless Mountains & Coal Region (2007), summarized as follows:

 Median Age: 48  Median Household Income: $55,900  Traveling Party: Adults Traveling Alone  Primary Purpose of Stay: Visiting family/friends  Average length of Stay: 3.5 days  Primary Accommodations: Private Home  Top Activities: Dining, Shopping, Sightseeing  Secondary Activities: Nature-based Activities and Outdoor Sports  Average Per Diem Expenditures: $97.90/person/per day  Average Per Trip Expenditures: $592 per travel party/per day

13 Generally the age profile of the traveler to the Region is higher than that statewide (43) but on par with the nearby Valleys of the Susquehanna (central PA), Dutch Country (Berks and Lancaster) and the Pocono Mountain Region (eastern PA). The median income is lower than the statewide median ($71,700), the primary purpose of travel is consistent with that seen statewide and the length of stay is slightly longer than statewide figures (3.39). The top activities reflect a varied assortment of attractions and opportunities and together present a more varied set of tourism resources than most other regions or the state as a whole. Expenditures per person per day in the Region is lower than for the state as a whole ($90) as well as for expenditures per travel party per trip ($797).

14 Historical and Architecturally Significant Buildings, Sites, and Themes

This subsection outlines sites and structures having some role in the heritage of Tunkhannock. The Study Area for this subsection includes the Borough and Tunkhannock and the immediate surrounding area.

The National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places was established by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 as the standard for preservation efforts (Section 101). It is the ―hall of fame‖ of places that are important to the American people. To be eligible for listing on the National Register, a property must pass a rigorous review at the state and federal level. It is not easy to list a property on the National Register, so the properties that are listed are truly worthy of preservation.

The National Register recognizes several categories of resources including single objects, structures, or buildings and groups of resources within a site or district. Regardless of category, the resource must possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. The property must also be significant, as determined by these criteria:

It must be associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or It must be associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or It must embody distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or o Represent the work of a master, or o Possess high artistic values, or o Represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction, or It must have yielded, or be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history (abstracted from 36 CFR Part 60.4).

In Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission (PHMC) maintains an inventory of historic properties. It includes not only those that have been listed on the National Register but also those that have been determined to be eligible for listing. It also lists resources that have been reported by professional and amateur archaeologists and historians that have not been fully evaluated regarding the National Register criteria but which appear to meet those criteria or are important to a local community.

15 Tunkhannock Historic District

There is one resource in Tunkhannock that has been listed on the National Register and that is the Commercial and Residential Historic District (listed: 07/27/2005). The extensive Tunkhannock Historic District extends from Tioga and Susquehanna streets on the south to Harrison Street and Putnam Avenue on the north, and from Wyoming Avenue on the west to Pine Street on the east and contains 248 buildings, of which 225 are contributing and only 23 are noncontributing. The period of significance for the Tunkhannock Historic District runs from 1841, when Tunkhannock Borough was incorporated, through 1954.

Historically, Tunkhannock had three distinct sections — industrial, commercial, and residential — each on its own axis. The industrial portion of Tunkhannock was situated along the north bank of the Susquehanna River. Tunkhannock's commercial area was located along both sides of Tioga Street from Warren Street east to about Pine Street, with short extensions to the north and south along Bridge Street. Tunkhannock's densely built commercial area forms a pivotal part of the Tunkhannock Historic District. The remainder of Tunkhannock was predominantly residential in character and oriented around the Wyoming County Courthouse. The organizational framework for the residential portions of the Tunkhannock Historic District, situated predominantly north of Tioga Street, is the street grid. Like the commercial area, Tunkhannock's residential district is densely-built. Scattered throughout the residential neighborhoods are institutional landmarks, including the Wyoming County Courthouse (1 Courthouse Square), the former Harrison Street School at East Harrison and Bridge streets, a grange building (32 Wyoming Avenue), and numerous churches.

The Tunkhannock Historic District has significance under Criterion A (property is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history) for commerce and it role in politics/government. Tunkhannock served as a regionally important transshipment point, a local industrial trading post, and the commercial, professional, and governmental center of Wyoming County. Its role in commerce is best conveyed by the borough's commercial district on Tioga, Warren, and Bridge streets. Tioga Street, in particular, contains store buildings ranging in age from the 1840s through the mid-twentieth century, with the majority dating from the 1850s through the 1870s, one of Tunkhannock's most significant periods of growth. The Tunkhannock

16 Historic District is also locally significant for its role as a seat of local government for Wyoming County.

The Tunkhannock Historic District compares favorably with other nearby historic districts significant for commerce, including the Coudersport Historic District in Potter County and the Towanda Historic District in Bradford County. All were the most important commercial centers in their rural counties. The Tunkhannock Historic District also shares many similarities with the Coudersport Historic District, which is also significant for Politics/Government. Both historic districts are county seats of rural counties in Pennsylvania's Northern Tier, and that role helped make them the largest communities and centers of politics and government.

The Tunkhannock Historic District is also significant under Criterion C (property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack individual distinction) for its architecture. The intact street grid, generally unaltered streetscapes of buildings constructed between the mid-nineteenth and mid-twentieth centuries and diffuse examples of high style architecture create a cohesive, architecturally significant whole. The Tunkhannock Historic District is architecturally significant as a complete, largely unaltered landscape of commercial, residential, and civic buildings. The majority of buildings in the Tunkhannock Historic District lack a definitive architectural style, but they generally reflect the styles prominent during the period of significance, most notably Queen Anne, Greek Revival, and Italianate. High-style residences are found throughout the historic district, with the largest concentration on Tioga Street. Other architecturally significant buildings include the Italianate Wyoming County Courthouse (1 Courthouse Square), the Romanesque Revival Harrison Street School (West Harrison and Bridge streets), and the numerous churches throughout the historic district.

Likewise, architecturally the Tunkhannock Historic District compares favorably with three other similar historic districts in the area: the Towanda Historic District in Bradford County, the Coudersport Historic District in Potter County, and the Honesdale Residential Historic District in Wayne County.

Source: Kuncio, Gerald M.; Skelly & Loy, Inc., Tunkhannock Historic District, Wyoming County PA, nomination document, 2004, National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places, Washington, D.C.

17 Other Historic Properties/Sites

A multi-component archaeological site discovered in conjunction with the construction of the Tunkhannock Bypass, identified as 36WO75, is the only other site near Tunkhannock that is considered by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to be eligible for the National Register. The Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission (PHMC) records indicate that seven (7) other cultural resources that have historical value have been recorded in the vicinity of the Borough. They were recorded but have not yet been evaluated or are ineligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. Most of these resources are ineligible. These resources are summarized in Table 3 below.

TABLE 3 KNOWN HISTORIC PROPERTIES Tunkhannock Borough Heritage Communities Program Area

Location Description National Register Status Hazel St and Winola Ave District Ineligible Ottaviani House Ineligible Tunkhannock Mills; Electric Company Ineligible Hydroelectric Generating Station Tunkhannock Borough Hughey Farmstead Ineligible Wall Farmhouse; Bissell Farmstead Ineligible 36WO55, Harding Flats Insufficient data to make determination Lehigh Valley Railroad Undetermined Source: PA Historic and Museum Commission, CR GIS; accessed June 7, 2010.

18 Historic Markers

The iconic blue and yellow PHMC Historic Markers identify important historic sites, events and resources and are readily recognizable by heritage-tourists, residents and the casual traveler. There are 13 historical markers located in Wyoming County. Table 4 summarizes the five (5) PHMC markers (PHMC website phmc.state.pa.us; accessed November 22, 2010) found to be especially critical for the Study Area.

TABLE 4 HISTORICAL MARKERS Tunkhannock Vicinity, Wyoming County

Name Location Category Text Sullivan Expedition US 6 (W. Tioga St) & American Twelve miles from Quialutimack on the against the Warren St., Revolution march from Wyoming to Teaoga August Iroquois, 1779 Tunkhannock Military 3, 1779 Lay on lowlands between this Native American point and the river Sullivan’s March US Bus 6 (W. Tioga American Gen. John Sullivan's army on Aug. 3, St.) at Warren St., Revolution 1779 camped by the river. Third camp Tunkhannock Forts from Fort Wyoming. Part of the Clinton- Military Sullivan campaign ending in the rout of Native American the Six Nations Iroquois. The Tory-Indian menace on the frontier was eliminated. Tunkhannock Rt. 6 bypass & Bridge Cities and towns The name of a Delaware Indian village St (PA 29/3009), at Early settlement located at the mouth of the creek in the bridge, Tunkhannock Native American mid-18th century. Visited by Cammerhof & PA 92, south of in 1749. Hays and Tatemy found it Tunkhannock deserted in 1758. The name means "small stream." Walter B. Memorial Field, Medicine and Winner of five medals in track & field, Tewksbury (1876- Tunkhannock Area science 1900 Olympic Games in Paris (two gold, 1968) High School, Maple Sports two silver, one bronze). Co-holder, world Ave. and record, 100 - meter dash, 1900. Member, Pennsylvania Ave, National Track & Field Hall of Fame and 200 yards from Rt. 6 Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. At the University of Pennsylvania, intercollegiate champion, 100 & 220- yard dashes, 1898 & 1899; graduated, D.D.S., 1899. Practiced dentistry, coached track & field, and was active in the Tunkhannock community. Wyoming County County Courthouse, Government & Formed on April 4, 1842 out of Luzerne Warren St., politics County. The name, honoring the Tunkhannock Government & Wyoming Valley, is derived from an politics, 19th Indian word meaning "extensive century meadows." County seat of Tunkhannock Native American was settled 1790; incorporated 1841. Sullivan's March passed through in August 1779.

19 Community Inventories - Cultural History

The area we know today as Pennsylvania has been inhabited since the end of the last ―Ice Age.‖ As the continental ice sheets retreated across northern Pennsylvania, the ancestors of today’s American Indians soon arrived on this tundra-like landscape across northern Pennsylvania. Evidence of these early people was discovered during the construction of the Route 6 bypass. There is evidence of Native American habitation in the Tunkhannock Creek Area from 4,000 through 700 years ago, in the form of ancient paths and artifacts. Because of its nearness to the river, it is likely that other prehistoric foragers and farmers may have lived in the area, but subsequent industrial and commercial development may have destroyed any evidence of their settlements and activities.

Historical Events

Table 5 lists some important events in Tunkhannock history. This summary was prepared from material submitted in support of the nomination of the historic district to the National Register (Kuncio 1994) and from the Tunkhannock Creek Watershed Atlas.

TABLE 5 TUNKHANNOCK SELECT HISTORICAL EVENTS Tunkhannock Borough Heritage Communities Program Area

Date Event 1771 Zebulon Marcy is first documented Euro-American settler in the Tunkhannock area. Within a year or two settlers of English, Dutch, and French descent had come to the area 1779 The Americans mount an offensive against the Iroquois of southern New York led by General John Sullivan. The expedition follows the North Branch of the Susquehanna. 1784 The end of the Yankee-Pennamite wars between Pennsylvania and Connecticut and the end of the American Revolution brings settlers to Tunkhannock. John McCord subdivided his lot at the mouth of Tunkhannock Creek and the village of Tunkhannock developed. 1790’s The North Branch of the Susquehanna becomes an important thoroughfare for shipment of the products of the field, forest and river. Farming, lumber and shad fishing become established industries. Evidence of extensive economic activities as commercial ferries crossed the Susquehanna near Tunkhannock. 1798 Transportation improvements enhanced settlement - The Susquehanna and Great Bend Turnpike is constructed along the North Branch following an Iroquois trail 1818 A turnpike is completed between Great Bend and Philadelphia creating road between Tunkhannock and Pennsylvania's most important city 1830 Tunkhannock has been established as an important transshipment point, and the village contains a post office, stores, hotels and mechanic’s shops 1841 Tunkhannock is incorporated into a borough and enjoys significant commercial growth 1842 Tunkhannock becomes the county seat of Wyoming County. The Bolles-Bardwell- Tewkbury Building was built by this time and is the oldest building in the Historic District

20 TABLE 5 (cont’d) TUNKHANNOCK SELECT HISTORICAL EVENTS Tunkhannock Borough Heritage Communities Program Area

Date Event 1843 Courthouse is built. 1849 Steamboat ―Tunkhannock‖ launched into Susquehanna and made regular trips to Towanda, Pittston and other locations. Tunkhannock was thriving with merchants, churches, taverns, homes, a schools, blacksmiths & industry. 1870’- Anthracite becomes an important resource to the community as a fuel and as a 1920’s commodity. 1834 The North Branch Canal connects Northumberland and Wilkes-Barre, improving water transportation. 1840 The Tunkhannock foundry opens, manufacturer of railroad castings, circular sawmills, and agricultural machinery. Lumber fueled much of Tunkhannock's growth and was Wyoming County's and Tunkhannock's single most important export product from 1840 to until the turn of the twentieth century. 1850 A fire destroys the block between Bridge and Warren streets north of Tioga Street. 1856 The North Branch Canal reaches Tunkhannock, connecting Harrisburg, Wilkes-Barre & Binghamton 1865 The ―Great Flood‖ sweeps away a portion of the Tunkhannock bridge and carries off several small buildings. 1866 The Tunkhannock Tannery opens, requiring 60,000 tons of hemlock bark to process 30,000 hides annually. 1869 A subsidiary of the Lehigh Valley Railroad opens a line from Wilkes-Barre to Waverly, New York, passing through Tunkhannock. 1870 The courthouse is expanded and redesigned by architect D. R. Nott and builder John W. Crawford. A fire destroys more than 20 buildings between Tioga and Bridge streets. These timber-framed buildings were replaced by brick structures. 1872 The Lehigh Valley Railroad opens a narrow gauge line from Tunkhannock to Montrose. 1873 Tunkhannock Mill opened on site of older mill using stream flowing from Lake Carey, producing 400 bushels of wheat/day. Later site of Tunkhannock Toy Co. 1875 Flooding causes damage in and around the borough. 1888 Mill on Swale Brook begins production of wooden butter pails, tubs & later shingles. 1896 Lake Carey began to prosper as resort & vacation spot, with cottages & hotels ringing the Lake, benefitting from rail access between Lake & Tunkhannock. 1902 Flooding causes damage in and around the borough. 1900’s The lumber industry begins to decline. 1900 Local dentist Walter Tewksbury wins five gold medals in the Olympic Games, Paris. 1920’s The anthracite industry begins to decline. 1930 The Tunkhannock Tannery closes. 1936 Flooding causes damage in and around the borough. 1968 The Lehigh Valley Railroad closed the narrow gauge line from Tunkhannock to Montrose. 1972 Flooding resulting from Hurricane Agnes inundates the borough.

21 Community Inventories - Museum

The Wyoming County Historical Society is headquarter in and maintains a Historical Museum and Genealogical Library in the former Harrison Street School Building in Tunkhannock at the corner of Harrison St and Bridge St. The Museum displays historical items from Wyoming County and surrounding areas. The Society offers a collection of Indian artifacts as well as numerous items from the Civil War, World Wars I & II. Dr. Walter Tewksbury's 1900 bronze Olympic Medal along with the displays of toys, tools and household items of special interest to visitors of the museum as well as temporary special exhibits of local significance. The Society also maintains a Genealogical Library that includes numerous books on New England ancestry, newspapers dating back to 1797 and census records for Wyoming and surrounding counties from 1790 to 1930.

The Society’s website advertises Hours for the Genealogical Library between 10:00-4:00 PM on Wednesdays all year and 10:00-4:00 PM on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month and on Tuesdays from 10:00-4:00 PM between April 15 and Oct 15. The website also notes that the Museum is open by appointment from May 15 – October 15 and that tours are available.

Source http://www.pawchs.org/

22 Community Inventories - Inventory of Community Events/Activities

Inventories of events are available for most activities in the Tunkhannock area and the larger region on the following websites.  www.tunkboro.com – the official website of Tunkhannock Borough  http://wyccc.com/ - the website of the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce that lists Chamber events  www.endlessmountains.org/ - the website of the Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau  www.endlessmountainsheritage.org/ - the website of the Endless Mountains Heritage Region

A review of information from the listings and input during Community Workshop #1 in April 2010 yields a varied assortment of events and activities for both the visitor and the resident. The events recognized as of tourism interest have been sorted by topic or provider and are summarized below:

Tunkhannock Community Events

 Wine Tasting Event - March  Film Festival - April  Earth Day Celebration - April  Steam Rail Excursion - May  Tunkhannock Memorial Day Parade - May  Giant Book Sale - June  Tunkhannock Founders' Day & River Paddle- June  Shakespeare In The Park – June  Tunkhannock Rotary Club Fireworks - July  Celebrate Our River Day – July  Sidewalk Sales - July  VFD Carnival – August  Airing of the Quilts - October  Folk Art! - October  Holiday open house - November  Christmas In Our Hometown - December  Various exhibits, concerts, performances and workshops year-round at the Dietrich Theater

Tunkhannock Area Events

 Beerfest - Shadowbrook Inn and Resort - March  Celebration Of The Bluebells - Endless Mtns. Nature Ctr - May  Sky Haven Airport Fly In Breakfast – June & October  Classic Cars and Critters Show - Lazy Brook Park - June  NEPA Bluegrass Festival – Lazy Brook Park - June  Endless Mt. Nature Center – Lazy Brook Park - June  Endless Mountain Antique Power (Tractor) Show – Lazy Brook Park - July  Susquehanna River Day Paddle Trip – July

23  Endless Mountains Downriver Canoe/Kayak Race - Susquehanna River Riverside Park - July  Various environmental workshops at EMNC June-Sept  Flaming Foliage Motorcycle Run Lake Carey Volunteer Fire Company – September  Rotary Harvest & Wine Festival – Lazy Brook Park - October

Wyoming County Events

 Wyoming County American Red Cross Summer Spectacular Fun Day at Sky Haven - August  Kiwanis Wyoming County Fair - Meshoppen - September

Some of the above activities are functions of more local tourism interest especially for those with ties to the Tunkhannock area. However, most are in fact the types of activities that can be destinations for travelers, regular and casual. Not all are publicized in one place or on one website, and some do not appear at all. The number and variety of events in Tunkhannock are noteworthy. A review of the timing of the activities reinforces a March-November schedule with a gap in the winter season from December to March. Although Christmas In Our Hometown does take place in Tunkhannock in December but no other events were listed during the December-March, suggesting where gaps exist for future programming ideas.

24 Community Inventories – Regional Attractions and Resources

Wyoming County does not have a State Park or State Forest, however State Game Lands make up a large portion of the southwestern portion of the County and there is a variety of other recreation amenities available to residents and visitors. Wyoming County is fortunate to have water and land trail corridors, scenic routes, lakes and the Susquehanna River as well as bike routes for public use that collectively create opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts including hikers and bikers, as well as fishing and wildlife viewers.

Tunkhannock is within the UpstatePA Region as identified by the PA Department of Community and Economic Development (www.visitpa.com). The Upstate PA Region is described as having some of the most dramatic scenery and landscapes in Pennsylvania with mountainous areas covered with forests and steep peaks interspersed with tranquil communities with unmatched natural beauty. Tunkhannock is also within the Endless Mountains Heritage Region designated by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The Endless Mountains Heritage Region has been called Pennsylvania's best kept secret with landscapes featuring a blanket of rolling hills, interspersed with charming historic towns, hamlets, farmsteads, pastures, and peaceful rambling roads and the North Branch of the Susquehanna River that allows for breathtaking scenic opportunities. The general area in and around Tunkhannock reflects these branding efforts.

Regional State Nature Tourism Resources – State Gamelands

The Pennsylvania State Game Lands are lands managed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) for hunting, trapping and fishing. Typically these lands are either acquired by or donated to the PGC. Wyoming County contains a large portion of State Game Land 57 which encompasses a total of 36,506 acres with approximately 25,300 acres located in the County. State Game Land 57 comprises 15% of the total land area in the county. Source: PGC Website & Northern Tier Open Space, Greenway & Outdoor Recreation Plan

Regional Nature Tourism Resources – Gateway to the Endless Mountains Byway

The National Scenic Byways (NSB) Program is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. The program is a grass-roots collaborative effort established to help recognize, preserve and enhance selected roads throughout the United States. Under the program, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation recognizes certain roads as National Scenic Byways or All- American Roads based on their archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic qualities. There are 150 such designated Byways in 46

25 states. The Federal Highway Administration promotes the collection as the America's Byways®.

The designated Gateway to the Endless Mountains Byway is a three-mile portion of Route 6 that bypasses much of Tunkhannock but offers a picturesque view of the Susquehanna River and the Endless Mountains. The Byway was not identified as such by signage at the time of the HCP planning process, and a ―sound wall‖ shielding nearby residential and commercial development has a certain generic or non-descript look to it.

Regional Nature Tourism Resources – The Vosburg Neck

The Vosburg Neck is a unique oxbow in the Susquehanna River between Tunkhannock and the Proctor & Gamble plant near Mehoopany and features natural, cultural, recreational and historic attributes including the Vosburg Railroad Tunnel, North Branch Canal intact remnants, Camp Lackawanna, Endless Mountains Nature Center, and Howland Preserve of the North Branch Land Trust.

Regional Nature Tourism Resources – North Branch Land Trust (NBLT) Howland Preserve

The North Branch Land Trust (NBLT) focuses on acquiring and protecting watersheds and other lands that frame the North Branch of the Susquehanna River. The 667 acre Howland Preserve located on Vosburg Neck west of Tunkhannock is a substantial and ecologically diverse front property along the Susquehanna River. The land was bequeathed by Ernest Howland to the NBLT in 2003. The Preserve features almost two miles of riparian forest along the Susquehanna River including mature conifer plantations and mixed forests. The NBLT and its Howland Preserve Committee is working with foresters and naturalists to thoroughly inventory the property’s conservation values and to develop a working plan for the 667-acre property.

26 Regional Nature Tourism Resources – North Branch Land Trust (NBLT) Camp Lackawanna

The 281 acre Camp Lackawanna is contiguous to the Howland Preserve described above and together they represent more than 900 acres of front property on the Vosburg Neck including approximately four miles along the Susquehanna River. The Camp and the NBLT are resolved to work together on the conservation values of the Vosburg Neck whenever practicable.

The Howland Preserve and Camp Lackawanna properties are together preserved for public enjoyment and continue to be well used by the residents of and visitors to Wyoming County. Visitors can access the Susquehanna River and the property is recognized as a designated stop on the Susquehanna River Water Trail.

Regional Nature Tourism Resources – Endless Mountains Nature Center/Camp Lackawanna

The Endless Mountains Nature Center located on the Vosburg Neck is a nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging the preservation of the natural environment by providing educational opportunities and recreation activities. the Endless Mountains Nature Center is within Camp Lackawanna and serves as an environmental steward at Camp Lackawanna and works to provide interpretation and education on the natural resources there. Facilities at the Camp include a pool, volleyball and basketball courts, several large fields, access to the river for fishing and non-power boating, canoes, a labyrinth, campfire rings and wooded hills for hiking and exploring the natural outdoors. From late August through May, the lodges, pavilion, and cabins are available for rent.

27 Regional Nature Tourism Resources – Lake Winola

Located approximately eight (8) miles east of Tunkhannock, Lake Winola is a 200-acre impoundment owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and managed by the Fish and Boat Commission for public fishing and boating. The Commission stocks Lake Winola with trout several times during the year and a fishing pier is available for persons with disabilities. Statewide regulations for Commonwealth Inland Waters apply for all other species of fish. There is a surfaced boat launch ramp and associated parking facilities and non- powered boats may be moored at the lake in accordance with Commission property regulations. To be used at the lake, boats must be registered or have a valid launch permit and Special Boating Regulations are enforced by the Commission.

Regional Nature Tourism Resources – Lake Carey

Located approximately five (5) miles north of Tunkhannock, Lake Carey is a 254 acre glacial lake owned by the Lake Carey Welfare Association. It consists of a 183-acre upper lake and a 71-acre lower pond. The upper lake is a natural glacial lake while the lower pond was created to power a former sawmill. Lake Carey is used for recreation, including fishing, boating, swimming and ice skating. The Lake is surrounded by a cottage community that serves a population of approximately 400 households.

Regional Nature Tourism Resources – North Branch Susquehanna River Water Trail

The North Branch Susquehanna River Water Trail is a designated National Recreation Trail and is part of the Pennsylvania Water Trail System coordinated by Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. The mission of the Susquehanna River Trail project is to promote environmentally responsible recreation on the Susquehanna River and its islands and encourages resource awareness, stewardship, and conservation. The North Branch of the Susquehanna River flows from New York through

28 Pennsylvania to Sunbury where it joins the West Branch and forms the river's main stem. The Trail traverses Wyoming Counties and extends through the scenic Wyoming Valley passing by the Vosburg Neck and Tunkhannock. Users of the Trail can see Native American lookout points, the remnants of a past canal system, and an area that was the hub of the nation's anthracite coal and industrial boom in the 1800s. Whitetail deer, beaver, river otters, and great blue herons are often seen along the river banks and the water abounds with smallmouth bass and other game fish. Eagles commonly soar high along the rock cuts near the Vosburg Neck. The Water Trail can be accessed by a paved ramp at Riverside Park in Tunkhannock and/or via a gravel ramp just south of the Borough near the Sky Haven Airport off of PA Rt 29. These access sites, along with other along the Trail, serve as trail heads with enticing, naturalistic signage welcoming visitors to the River Trail.

29 Community Inventories – Local Recreation Related Resources

Riverside Park

Tunkhannock is home to Riverside Park, which is located between the Rt. 6 Bypass (Scenic Byway) and the Susquehanna River. Amenities of the Park include a paved boat launch accessing the Susquehanna River/Water Trail, an inc rink, various play ground apparatus and courts, picnic tables and a Tannery interpretive panel (Tannery era noted as 1860’s – 1930’s). Riverside Park serves as a trail head to the Susquehanna River Water Trail. The Park is separated from the downtown by both the Byway and railroad tracks.

Lazy Brook Park

Located in Tunkhannock Township just east of the Borough on Route 6, this Park area is open to the public for various types of recreation activities and is home to a number events throughout the year. A sample of recent events include the NEPA Bluegrass Festival, the Endless Mountains Nature Center, the Endless Mountains Antique Power Association and the Harvest and Wine Festival, just to name a few.

30 Bicycle/Hiking Trails

 Bicycle PA Route Y - PennDOT has established a network of cross-state bicycle routes including Route Y which is US Route 6 through the Tunkhannock Area. In recent years PennDOT has widened and paved shoulders along Route 6 in a number of the eleven counties that form the corridor.

 The Endless Mountains Nature Center Trails – The Nature Center maintains over eight miles of trails, which are open to the public for walking and hiking. Most of the trails are shaded, and the difficulty varies from easy to moderate. The trails meander along a peaceful stretch of the Susquehanna River and the historical remnants of the North Branch Canal, through mixed broadleaf and hemlock forests, and up to an overlook with a view of the river and valley below. Visitors can appreciate birds singing, water trickling over the steep cliffs or rocks in the river, leaves rustling, and the overall lack of modern noise. Information provided on the Center’s Web Site (www.emnconline.org/index.php) indicates that the Trails are open according to the following schedule:

June 20-Aug 19: Sat 9 am-dusk, Sun 8 am-3 pm Aug 20-Nov 28: 8 am to dusk Nov 29-Dec 11: Closed for hunting Dec-June 19: Open 8 am-dusk, everyday

31  Iroquois Trail – This trail begin at the eastern edge of the Borough just north of Route 6. As reported on the online version of the Wyoming County Press Examiner on June 15, 2011 plans for the 1.8 miles of the Iroquois trail have been submitted to PennDOT for approval and once those comments are received and addressed, the project will be put out to bid with construction of the first phase starting at the Little League ball field in Tunkhannock and extending parallel to the Tunkhannock Creek just behind Shadowbrook Resort. When complete, the full trail will include some surface streets and should be approximately 16.5 miles long.

Resorts and Golfing

 Shadowbrook Resort - The Shadowbrook Inn & Resort is located off of Rt 6 approximately 2-miles east of Tunkhannock. The Shadowbrook is a full service resort offers an 18-hole championship golf course as well as other amenities including a fitness center, lounge/restaurant and hotel accommodations. According to the Resorts web site (www.shadowbrookresort.com) additional recreation opportunities at the resort include: Fish and Pay Ponds Canoeing and Kayaking Skeet Shooting Skiing and Tubing Ice Skating Bowling Bowling Leagues, Bowling parties and Corporate outings Racquetball WallyBall Miniature Golf Course on site Volleyball Sand Court Horse Shoe Pit Hot Air Balloon Rides (just a short drive away)

 Stonehedge Country Club - Stonehedge is a premier semi-private golfing community and residential development located on 265 acres to the east of Tunkhannock. According to their web site (www.stone- hedge.com) the 18 hole golf course has earned the reputation as one of the finest golf courses in the Northeast. The golf course is surrounded by a planned development of single family home sites and luxury town-homes

32

Structures and Sites

 Tunkhannock Viaduct - The Tunkhannock Viaduct, also known as the Nicholson Bridge, is located approximately 4.4 miles off of Rt.6 approximately 13 miles from Tunkhannock, and is perhaps the most well known regional attraction and resource.. The Viaduct is the world's longest concrete railroad bridge. Built for the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad in 1912, the span rises 300 feet above its deepest foundation pit and is 2,375 feet long. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 11, 1977.

 Proctor & Gamble Plant – located approximately 6 miles west of Tunkhannock, the Plant has the distinction of being the largest Proctor & Gamble site in the world and its first diaper manufacturer. The plant sits on nearly 800-acres and is by far the largest industrial facility in the County.

 Sky Haven Airport – is a public general aviation airport located approximately 1 mile south of Tunkhannock, off of PA 29. The Airport is home to the home to the Endless Mountain Skydivers. Endless Mountain Skydivers offers tandem skydiving for first- time jumpers and 2 programs, Instructor Assisted Deployment (IAD) and Accelerated Free Fall (AFF), with USPA (United States Parachute Association) Certified Instructors. Normal hours of operation are 9:00am to sunset 7 days a week year- round including holidays.

33 Community Inventories - Inventory and Survey of Businesses

US Route 6 and Business Route 6 (SR 3006) split east and west of the downtown area. In the western section of town, Business Route 6 traffic traverses strip commercial and residential areas, with the latter adjacent to the downtown and characterized as a tree lined street having some Victorian houses. The Route 6 Bypass (Gateway to the Endless Mountains Byway) has taken some of the regional traffic from the downtown, although sections of Business Route 6 carry a nearly equal volume as the Bypass. The pedestrian scale business district offers on-street parking on Business Route 6 and side streets. It offers numerous resources including stores, eating establishments, lodging, a restored Theater and the National Register Tunkhannock Historic District.

The major Tunkhannock Borough area ―business district‖ identified by the consulting team actually consists of four (4) areas, the historic business area centered on Bridge and Tioga Street in Downtown, a linear highway-oriented concentration on West Tioga Street, a compact area on East Tioga Street somewhat separated from the Bridge/Tioga Street downtown area and a large highway/strip commercial district on PA Rt. 29 in Eaton Township south of town that includes a Wal-Mart, auto related stores, convenience stores, fast food restaurants and others. There are a few businesses and convenience stores scattered elsewhere but these are the major centers. Planning staff focused on the first three business areas during the Summer of 2010, and summarize them with an emphasis on tourism relevance as follows:

Downtown – Bridge/Tioga Street

This is the classic pedestrian scale downtown along and essentially centered on the intersections of Business Route 6 (Tioga Street) and PA Route 29 (Bridge Street), which is highly walkable and rather charming as well. Many older brick buildings remain with relatively good architectural integrity, and some new buildings/expansions are also in evidence. At least nineteen (19) specialty retail businesses are in this area, as well as twenty-four (24) service businesses (i.e. financial, professional, etc.), six (6) eating/drinking establishments and only three (3) vacant storefronts during the HCP field work. The Dietrich Theater is a prime anchor this business area, which also includes a department store, financial institutions and many small stores.

34

Eastern Edge – East Tioga Street

This is a scattering of under twenty businesses in a mixed commercial/residential area, with some more walkable than others, including three (3) specialty retail stores, four (4) service businesses, two eating/drinking establishments, a major motel under construction and no vacancies during the HCP field work.

West Tioga Street

This is primarily a highway oriented business area on the western edge of town in largely in Tunkhannock Township, anchored by two moderate-sized strip commercial shopping centers (Town Plaza and Tioga West Plaza) as well as a host of small stores and store clusters. This are includes at least seven (7) specialty retail establishments, eight (8) eating/drinking establishments, sixteen (16) service establishments and seven vacant storerooms during the HCP field work. While it has a highway-orientation rather than a pedestrian feel to it, it hosts the Tunkhannock Public Library and the Endless Mountains Council of the Arts.

Perceptions – Views from an Outside Visitor

Tunkhannock appears to have a mix of retail choices and services that appeal to both visitors and residents. Tunkhannock has a number of restaurants for being a relatively small town, and many of them having evening and weekend hours. In addition, the Dietrich Theater is a special draw and resources. Tunkhannock is easily promoted as the dining and entertainment destination of the region. Even the retail stores in the business district are open on evenings and weekends, working to capture the existing audience from the restaurants. The businesses are customer friendly and appear to promote themselves well. In short, businesses seem to ―get it‖ as far as tourism-friendliness is concerned. However, many business addresses not visible and some storefronts may need minor attention. Even with some stores offering extended hours there is no consistent evening hours among merchants. While stores offering jewelry, gifts and various specialty items were abundant, clothing was not as available during the HCP field work.

35 Business Survey

A survey of businesses was conducted during mid-2010. The questionnaire was developed in consultation with the local Stakeholders Committee. The stakeholders helped develop a listing of commercial and services businesses most closely associated with tourism and addresses and personally dropped off questionnaires, with completed questionnaires returned to the Consultant.

Overview of Responses: A total of eighteen (18) responses were received representing an overall return of 25% which matches our internal 25% target. The detailed returns are as follows, with a good response from retailers and eating and drinking establishments. Numbers reflect some respondents noting more than one type of business.

TYPE Tunkhannock Borough # % Lodging: Motel, hotel, B&B, etc. 1 5.0

Retailing: Gifts, convenience goods, 5 25.0 hardware, etc. Eating/Drinking Establishments: 5 25.0 Restaurants, taverns, etc. Food Products/Services: Food products, 1 5.0 snacks, groceries, etc. Recreation services: Guide, outfitter, 0 0.0 sporting equipment, etc. Attraction: Amusement, museum, 0 0.0 entertainment establishment, etc. Medical/Dental Goods/Services 0 0.0 Other Professional Services: Legal, 0 0.0 accounting, etc. Automotive Goods/Services: Fuel, service, 0 0.0 automobile parts, sales, etc. Financial Services: Banking, real estate, 0 0.0 insurance, etc. Personal/Household Services: Plumbing, 1 5.0 contracting, hairstyling, repair, etc. Rental 0 0.0 Business Services: Data processing, 0 0.0 copying, etc. Storage/Wholesaling 0 0.0 Non-profit agency/organization 2 10.0 Other 5 25.0 No Response 0 0.0 TOTAL 20 100%

36 Business Operations: Overall, the responses are generally from middle to long- term (11 to 20+ years) with 44% in business over 20 years and 22% in business between 11-20 years and full-time operations (89%) together employing 145 persons, with most being part-time employees. a. Number of operational years for responding businesses: Long-term orientation with an interesting mix of 44% in business for more than 20 years and another 22% from 11-20 years, but approximately 17% in business under 5 years.

RANGE Tunkhannock Borough # % 1 year or less 1 5.6 2-5 years 2 11.1 6-10 years 3 16.7 11-20 years 4 22.2 More than 20 years 8 44.4 No Response 0 0.0 TOTAL 18 100%

b. Business a full-time or part-time operation: Full-time orientation for 89% of the responding businesses.

TYPE Tunkhannock Borough # % Full Time 16 88.9 Part-time 1 5.6 No Response 1 5.6 TOTAL 18 100% c. Number of people employed in businesses: Part-time employment is important for local businesses as reflected in the fact that nearly 78% of employees were part-time .

TYPE Tunkhannock Borough # % Full Time employees 32 22.1 Part-time employees 113 77.9 TOTAL 145 100%

37 d. Business hours varied greatly among the respondents. The ―typical business day‖ is difficult to generalize, due to the special needs and markets of the businesses. As an illustration, businesses generally open throughout the morning hours with opening times after 10:00 AM being the most common. While most businesses close at 5:00 PM and number of businesses do stay open after 8:00 PM. Although difficult to characterize, the later closings are typically at eating/drinking establishments likely serving mainly local residents and the visiting public. Approximately 88% of the responding businesses note Saturday hours, including one noting 24/7 operations and one noting a Saturday opening without designating hours. Similarly, 55% note Sunday hours as well, when considering the same two respondents.

Tunkhannock Business Hours Summary

Weekdays Open Close Before 8:00 AM 3 Before 4:00 PM 8:00 AM 4:00 PM 8:30 AM 1 5:00 PM 7 9:00 AM 3 6:00 PM 1 10:00 AM 3 7:00 PM 1 After 10:00 AM 6 8:00 PM 1 After 8:00 PM 6 NOTE: One (1) respondent noted being closed on Monday, One (1) respondent noted 24 hour operations/seven days a week, two (2) respondents noted being a seasonal business, two (2) respondents noted having reduced winter hours, Seven (7) respondents noted closing later on Friday and one (1) respondent did not provide their Weekday hours. Saturday Open Close Before 8:00 AM 2 Before 4:00 PM 2 8:00 AM 1 4:00 PM 2 9:00 AM 2 5:00 PM 4 10:00 AM 4 6:00 PM After 10:00 AM 5 7:00 PM 8:00 PM After 8:00 PM 6 NOTE: One (1) respondent noted 24 hour operations/seven days a week, one (1) respondent did not provide their Saturday hours, two (2) respondents noted being a seasonal business, two (2) respondents noted having reduced winter hours, Sunday Open Close Before 8:00 AM 2 Before 4:00 PM 8:00 AM 4:00 PM 1 9:00 AM 5:00 PM 2 10:00 AM 6:00 PM 1 After 10:00 AM 6 7:00 PM After 8:00 PM 4 NOTE: One (1) respondent noted 24 hour operations/seven days a week, one (1) respondent did not provide their Sunday hours, two (2) respondents noted being a seasonal business, two (2) respondents noted having reduced winter hours,

38 Perceived Busy Days/Seasons: a. One third of the respondents note no difference among days while 28% designated Saturdays as the ―busiest day‖.

DAY Tunkhannock Borough # % Monday 1 5.6 Tuesday 1 5.6 Wednesday 0 0.0 Thursday 1 5.6 Friday 2 11.1 Saturday 5 27.8 Sunday 1 5.6 No Difference 6 33.3 No Answer 1 5.6 b. Christmas Season (50%) and Summer (39%) and are by far busiest seasons for businesses. Autumn, Spring and no-difference among seasons were indicated to a much lesser extent. Comparatively, Summer is typically the ―busiest‖ season among Route 6 communities, making Tunkhannock somewhat unique. Multiple Answers were allowed per respondent given some seasons ―tie‖ for certain businesses; explaining percentage totals exceeding 100%, with percentages reflecting percent of 18 respondents answering this item.

SEASON Tunkhannock Borough # % Summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day) 7 38.9 Autumn (September through November) 2 11.1 Christmas Season (Thanksgiving through 9 50.0 New Year’s Day) Winter (January through March) 0 0.0 Spring (April through May) 3 16.7 Other 0 0.0 None; all seasons are generally the same 2 11.1

39 Ownership: The business community generally reflects a local year round resident orientation with 61% of owners being full-time local residents.

LOCATION Tunkhannock Borough # % A year-round resident of Tunkhannock 11 61.1 Borough A part-time resident of Tunkhannock 0 0.0 Borough A year-round resident of another Wyoming 1 5.6 County Community A part-time resident of another Wyoming 0 0.0 County Community A part-time resident of an adjacent County 6 33.3 Other; none of the above applies 0 0.0 No Answer 0 0.0 TOTAL 18 100%

Route 6 Location: The relative importance of US Route 6 for business at the present time is strong as approximately 83% rate it as either very or somewhat important while only 17% indicated that it is minimally important to their business. Interestingly, no respondents indicated it was not important to their business.

IMPORTANCE Tunkhannock Borough # % Very Important 13 72.2 Somewhat Important 2 11.1 Minimally Important 3 16.7 Not Important 0 0.0 Other 0 0.0 No Answer 0 0.0 TOTAL 18 100.0%

40 Sales and Trends: Overall positive characteristics and trends among the communities a. The estimate of business’ annual gross sales or revenues volume suggests a mix level of business success in the Community. A relatively high number of businesses (39%) indicated a high volume (+$250,000) of business. On the other hand, 33% of the businesses reported sales or revenues less than $100,000 with 16.7% reporting sales/revenues between $25,000- $50,000/year.

RANGE Tunkhannock Borough # % Under $25,000 per year 0 0 $25,000 - $50,000 per year 3 16.7 $50,001 - $100,000 per year 3 16.7 $100,001 - $250,000 per year 1 5.6 Over $250,000 per year 7 38.9 No Answer 4 22.2 TOTAL 18 100.0% b. Sales/revenue volume trends in the prior 12 months are stable, perhaps not reflecting recessionary impacts in the larger economy, with 33% experiencing increases, 33% experiencing stability and only 22% having decreases.

TREND Tunkhannock Borough # % Increased 6 33.3 Decreased 4 22.2 Stayed about the Same 6 33.3 No Answer 2 11.1 TOTAL 18 100.0%

41 Customer Base/Characteristics a. There is somewhat of a variation in the ―typical‖ daily customer/client base, with approximately 44% reported having over 100 customers/clients per day while approximately 56% reported having 50 or less customers/clients per day, suggesting a mix of large and small businesses.

RANGE - # of customers/clients per day Tunkhannock Borough # % Under 5 0 0 5-10 2 11.1 11-25 2 11.1 26-50 6 33.3 51-75 0 0 76-100 0 0 101-200 4 22.2 Over 200 4 22.2 Clients/Customers do not come to business 0 0 No response 0 0 TOTAL 18 100.0% b. Percentage of customer/client base that is comprised of ―local‖ residents (i.e. people who live in and around Tunkhannock Borough): There is a variation among the respondents although few appear to be overwhelmingly dependent on local residents only. Approximately 39% of those offering a response suggest that locals account for more than 70% of their customer base. However, approximately 28% report that locals account for less than 30% of their business.

RANGE – estimated customer “Local” “Regular” “Casual” base # % # % # % 91 – 100% 1 5.6 0 0.0 0 81 – 90% 3 16.7 0 0.0 0.0 71 – 80% 3 16.7 1 5.6 0.0 61 – 70% 2 11.1 0 0.0 0.0 51 – 60% 0 0.0 1 5.6 0.0 41 – 50% 3 16.7 3 16.7 2 11.1 31 – 40% 0 0.0 2 11.1 2 11.1 21 – 30% 1 5.6 2 11.1 1 5.6 10 - 20% 3 16.7 4 22.2 9 50.0 Under 10% 1 5.6 5 27.8 4 22.2 No Answer 1 5.6 0 0.0 0.0 TOTAL 18 100% 18 100% 18 100%

42 c. Percentage of customer/client base that is comprised of ―regular‖ visitors and tourists (i.e. visiting local families, hunters/fishermen, seasonal residents, etc. who they may be seen a number of times over the years): The ―regular‖ visitors appear to be important to a moderate number of businesses as 39% of those offering a response indicated that regular visitors account for anywhere between 21% to 40% of their business. Approximately 28% of those offering a response indicated that regular visitors account for more than 50% of their business with 50% noting they account for under 20% of their business. d. Percentage of customer/client base that is comprised of ―casual‖ visitors and tourists (i.e. people ―passing through‖ who you see only once): These visitors appear to comprise a relatively low percentages of the customer base among the businesses, with all of those offering a response suggesting they account for less than 50% of their base. More specifically, 72% suggested the casual visitor accounts for under 20% of their base. e. Overall summary: Moderate dependence on local residents and regular visitors with a relatively low dependence on casual visitors.

Tourism and Business in General: a. Overall, businesses have either seen an increase in tourism traffic (56%) or sustained continuity in tourism traffic (28%) in their business in recent years. Only 6% reported a decrease in tourism traffic during this period.

TYPE Tunkhannock Borough # % Tourist traffic has increased 10 55.6 Tourist traffic has decreased 1 5.6 No change in tourist traffic 5 27.8 No tourist traffic in this business 2 11.1 No Answer 0 0.0 TOTAL 18 100.0%

43 b. Factors that describe present business planning, (multiple responses with percentages reflecting percent of responding businesses). Planned expansions are moderately encouraging as 22% reported they were considering expansions of goods and services with only 13% considering hiring new employees. There were two (2) responses indicating closing or selling and 48% were not considering any changes presently

CURRENT PLANNING Tunkhannock Borough # % Considering a physical expansion of my business’ physical plant 2 8.7 Considering expanding my offering of goods or services 5 21.7 Considering hiring new employees 3 13.0 Considering selling or closing my business 2 8.7 Not considering any changes at the present time 11 47.8 No response 0 0.0

Future Enhancements: Respondents were asked to identify no more than the three (3) top improvements they think would improve the community as a business or tourism destination. Multiple responses were encouraged with percentages reflecting percent of the total respondents favoring each type of improvement. a. Results suggest mostly non-structural improvements, with lesser but notable interest in structural enhancements. The most popular improvements that are seen as enhancing the community as a business or tourist destination are: 33% of the respondents identified seeing new types of businesses among the top improvements; 33% of the respondents identified some type of coordinated advertising/promotion among the top improvements; 33% of the respondents identified seeing better signage to businesses/destinations among the top improvements; 33% of the respondents identified another type of improvement, these include, that together may include additional parking, more existing stores having later and Sunday hours and prohibiting large trucks on Business Rt. 6 28% of the respondents identified seeing Storefront/façade improvements among the top improvements; and 28% of the respondents identified having improved property maintenance among the top improvements.

44 TYPE Tunkhannock Borough

# %

New types of businesses 6 33.3

Coordinated advertising/promotion 6 33.3 Better signage to businesses/destinations 6 33.3 Other: - More Parking - Existing stores having later & Sunday hrs 6 33.3 - Traffic Improvements - keep semi trucks off of Business Rt. 6 Storefront/façade improvements 5 27.8 Improved property maintenance 5 27.8 More events and festivals 4 22.2 Streetscape (i.e. benches, landscaping) 3 16.7 A local visitors information center 3 16.7 Additional Tourist destinations/activities 3 16.7 Better Access to/from the River 2 11.1 Improved street maintenance 2 11.1 Hospitality training for business employees 2 11.1 Streamlining ordinances/regulations 1 5.6

Rehabilitating and maintaining the large older homes 0 0.0

b. New business development is a popular enhancement as noted above. The following types of new businesses were noted as being needed and could be sustained in the community (NOTE: due to multiple answers; percentages reflect the total respondents for each type of business): There is a small specialty retail orientation prevalent among respondents, with notable need for recreation and entertainment service establishments and appreciable interest in additional eating/drinking establishments.

TYPE Tunkhannock Borough # % Smaller specialty stores (i.e. antique, gifts, crafts, etc. 9 30.0 Recreation and entertainment services 7 23.3 Eating and drinking establishments 6 20.0 Other - Delivery Service 4 13.3 - Motels Professional services 3 10.0 Larger retail stores (i.e. appliance, auto, etc) 1 3.3 Personal services 0 0.0 Convenience stores 0 0.0

45 Community Inventories - Physical and Non-Physical Conditions

This subsection provides an overview of various physical characteristics, facilities and services available in the Tunkhannock Area, with attention emphasized on those most affecting the traveling public. The source of the information is the service provider’s web sites, the Tunkhannock Borough web site, PAMunicipalities.com and local input.

Public Safety Services

 Fire Protection – The Triton Hose Company has served the Tunkhannock area since 1871. The Company is located at 116 W. Tioga Street in Tunkhannock Borough and provides protection to the Borough, Tunkhannock Township, Eaton Township and Lemon Township. This is a combined area of approximately 87 square miles. www.tritonhose.org/

 Ambulance Service – The Tunkhannock Community Ambulance Association located at 195 N. Bridge St. in Tunkhannock Borough provides Ambulance and Emergency services to the citizens of the Borough and surrounding areas. www.tunkhannockambulance.com

 Police Service – Tunkhannock Borough Police Department, located at 126 Warren Street, provides a full time law enforcement services to the Borough of Tunkhannock and 20 hours of coverage per week to the residents of Washington Township. Tunkhannock Township maintains its own police force. The Tunkhannock Borough Police Department meets has a staff of full and part-time Officers including a Corporal and Sergeant as first-line supervisors with overall guidance by the Chief of Police. The Department also maintains a responsibility to immediately augment the resources of the Courthouse and the County Jail. http://tunkboro.com/police

Educational/Cultural

 Tunkhannock Area School District – The 292 Square Mile District serves thirteen municipalities including Tunkhannock Borough, Tunkhannock, Eaton, Falls, Forkston, Lemon, Mehoopany, Monroe, North Branch, Northmoreland, Overfield, Washington and Windham Townships. The District operates six schools including the Roslund Elementary located at 99 Digger Drive, Tunkhannock Area Middle

46 School located at 200 Franklin Avenue and the Tunkhannock Area High School located at 135 Tiger Drive all in Tunkhannock as well as the Mehoopany Elementary in Mehoopany Township, Mill City Elementary in Dalton and the Evans Falls Elementary in Monroe Township. The District enrolls approximately 2,800 students with enrollment at the Tunkhannock Area High School being approximately 1,000 with enrollment at the Middle School being approximately 850 and at Roslund being approximately 340. The Pennsylvania Department of Education projects the District enrollment to decrease slightly in the next ten years with total enrollment closer to 2,600 by 2014-15 with that same 2,600 enrollment level projected to be maintained through to 2019-20. Because the Department of Education does not account for immigration in its projections, these numbers may be low.

 Tunkhannock Public Library - Residents of Tunkhannock and Wyoming County have access to the resources of the Tunkhannock Public Library, which is an important community center that provides free access to information, education, and entertainment for all the residents of Wyoming County. The Tunkhannock Public Library is located at 220 West Tioga Street in Tunkhannock and is opened from Monday - Friday from 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. and on Saturday’s until generally the end of August from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. The library has over 30,000 catalogued items including books, books on tape, videos, and CD's. It has twelve computers for public use, all with Internet access. It has a Community Room that seats up to 100 and is available to be used by local organizations. Public Libraries are also located in Factoryville and Laceyville both located near Rt. 6 in those communities.

 Wyoming County Cultural Center at the Dietrich Theater – The Dietrich Theater, located at 60 E. Tioga Street in Tunkhannock, is a performance and four-screen first run movie Theater, and essentially an all round community cultural center providing a venue for art related classes, cultural events and exhibits, birthday parties, a Children’s Theater as well as the annual Film Festivals. The Theater also has numerous heritage-related displays that feature important aspects of the community life and history of Tunkhannock, and has become a Downtown anchor and a critical and recognizable part of the identity of the community.

 Endless Mountains Council of the Arts (EMCA) – The EMCA is located at 302 W Tioga St. in Tunkhannock is a hub of cultural activity that provides an opportunity for residents and visitors to experience all the arts from visual to performing to literary by offering classes, workshops and performances in painting, drawing, sculpting, drama, poetry reading, vocal and music, literary, and dinner Theaters for both children and adults. The EMCA is opened Friday – Sunday from 1:00 - 5:00 PM. In addition, local information shared with the HCP planning team shows at least seven (7) artist studios and galleries in the immediate Tunkhannock area, in various media including glass sculpture, fine art, digital image reproduction, quilts, framing, sculpture and baskets.

47 Water Systems

 The Tunkhannock Borough Municipal Authority provides water to approximately 2,240 residents in Tunkhannock Borough and a small portion of Tunkhannock Township between the western edge of the Borough and the Rt 6 - Business Rt 6 split which includes the residential areas along Hilltop Drive and Maple Lane.  Source water for the system comes from 4 ground wells and 1 reserve well.  The remainder of Tunkhannock Township receives water from private wells.

Sewer Services

 The Tunkhannock Borough Municipal Authority provides public sewerage collection and treatment for all of Tunkhannock Borough.  Meshoppen Borough, Nicholson Borough and Mehoopany Township have central sewer systems.  All of Tunkhannock Township is served by on-lot septic systems.  According to the Tunkhannock Borough Municipal Authority, the following is noted: o Various areas in Tunkhannock Township have been discussed for future public sewage service with various forms of treatment options including connection with the Tunkhannock Borough Treatment Plan and new treatment plant construction but no imminent projects are proposed. o The Authority is currently undertaking a engineering study to determine the capacity of the Plant and ability to accept additional sewage flows.

48 Transportation System

Area highways carry a significant amount of traffic and provide key north/south and east/west connections. The major roads in and around Tunkhannock Borough are narratively described and all are described on Table 6 in terms of traffic volumes by segment.

Interchange Areas Just west and east of Tunkhannock Borough Rt. 6 diverts into the Rt. 6 Bypass which carries traffic around the Tunkhannock business district and Business Rt 6 which carries traffic through the center of the Borough and the business district. As a result three Interchange Areas have been identified including the Western, Eastern and Central Interchange Areas. The Western Interchange area is that area to the west of the Borough near MP 310 where Rt. 6 splits into the Bypass and Business Rt 6. The Eastern Interchange area is that area to the east of the Borough near MP 312 where Rt 6 splits into the Bypass and Business Rt 6 and near the intersection their intersections with PA Rt. 92. The Central Interchange area is that area along Bridge where Rt 6 and Business Rt. 6 intersect with PA Rt. 29.

Pennsylvania U.S. Route 6 -Rt 6 Bypass Route 6 is a major east/west arterial highway in the County and region and carries a significant number of vehicles a day as noted on Table 6. It is an important transportation corridor for Pennsylvania as it is for Wyoming County. Economic development, tourism, connectivity, and local/regional heritage are all impacted by Route 6.

49 From the east, Route 6 enters the county at Mile Post 294 near Laceyville and bypasses through Tunkhannock and exits Wyoming County at Mile Post 321 near Factoryville a distance of approximately 27 miles. There are approximately 26 miles of Rt. 6 roadway in the County that excludes the Route 6 Bypass of Tunkhannock (i.e. includes Business Rt. 6 through Tunkhannock’s Business District). The Route 6 Bypass carries approximately 8,000 – 10,500 vehicles each day around the Borough’s Business District intersecting with PA 29 (Central Interchange) and PA 92 along the way. Near the Western Interchange Rt 6 volumes are approximately 13,600 vehicles a day (11% truck) and near the Eastern Interchange volumes are less at approximately 9,600 (11% truck) vehicles per day.

Business Route 6 As noted above, Business Rt 6 splits off of Rt 6 to the west and east of the Borough and parallels Rt 6 as it carries traffic through the Tunkhannock Business District. Business Route 6 also intersects with PA 29 in the center of the Borough. Volumes on Business Rt. 6 vary from approximately 8,200 (9% truck) immediately west of PA 29 and approximately 6,500 (5% truck) further west closer to the Western Interchange to approximately 6,500 east of PA 29.

Bicycle Route Y, one of six long-distance bicycle touring routes in the state diverts off of Route 6 near the Western Interchange and follows Business Rt. 6 to PA Rt. 29 where it then rejoins Rt. 6.

Pennsylvania Route 29 This north/south highway connects Tunkhannock with Montrose, the County seat of neighboring Susquehanna County, to the north and southward in Luzerne County it intersects with US Rt 11 and Interstate 81 near Wilkes-Barre. In Tunkhannock Borough, PA 29 intersects with both the Rt. 6 Bypass and Business Rt 6. Volumes are relatively high in the downtown area with approximately 6,300 vehicles a day (12% truck) traveling between the Bypass and Business Rt 6 and over 7,500 vehicles day (5% Truck) taking Bridge Street across the Susquehanna River bridge. South of the Susquehanna River volumes on PA 29 increase to approximately 9,300 vehicles a day (10% truck). North of the downtown area volumes are lower but still relatively high at approximately 5,000 vehicles a day (9% truck).

Pennsylvania Route 92 This east/west highway takes more of a northeast/southeast alignment in the Tunkhannock area providing connections with Interstate 81 north of Scranton and US Rt. 11 to the south between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. The Route joins Route 6 near the Eastern Interchange area and follows the same corridor eastward for approximately 3 miles before it splits of and heads north-eastward

50 towards Nicholson and the Tunkhannock Viaduct. Volumes on PA Rt. 92 south of Tunkhannock are approximately 4,800 vehicles a day with 6% of that being trucks. PA Rt. 92 northeast of the Borough towards Nicholson carries approximately 2,000 vehicles a day.

State Route 3005 – Eaton Road SR 3005 is also known locally as Eaton Road and follows the south bank of the Susquehanna River and connects with PA Rt. 92 just south of the Susquehanna River Bridge. While it carries a very low traffic volume and is a dead end this road is identified because it is referred to as the route for the potential Eatonville Road Bicycle Tour in the Recommendations section of this WorkPlan.

State Route 3009 – Franklin Avenue SR 3009 is known locally as Franklin Avenue connects the Department of Transportation Maintenance facilities and Business Rt. 6.

51 TABLE 6 Major Highway Profile/Traffic Volumes Tunkhannock Heritage Communities Program

Route Location Segment AADT Truck Volume US Rt. 6 West of Rt 6/Bus. Rt 6 Western Tunkhannock Township 13,600 11% West Interchange Between Rt 6/Bus. Rt 6 10,520 18% Western Interchange & PA 29 US Rt. 6 Tunkhannock Borough Between PA 29 and PA 92 8,930 13% Central and Township Between PA 92 & Rt 6/Bus. Rt 7,882 13% 6 Eastern Interchange US Rt. 6 East of Rt 6/Bus. Rt 6 Eastern Tunkhannock Township 9,661 11% East Interchange Between Rt 6/Bus. Rt 6 Western Interchange & Franklin 6,010 5% West of PA 29 Ave (SR 3009) Bus. Rt 6 Between Franklin Ave (SR 8,296 9% 3009) & PA 29 Between PA 29 & Sunnyside East of PA 29 6,522 6% Rd Between Bus. 6 and Stony Mtn North of Bus Rt 6 4,999 9% Rd (SR 4021) Between Bus. 6 and Rt 6 Bridge Street 6,352 12% Crossing Susquehanna River - PA 29 Between Rt 6 and Eaton Rd 7,514 5% South of Rt 6 (SR 3005) Between Eaton Rd (SR 3005) & 9,374 10% Koelersburg Rd (SR 2007) South of Rt 6 4,848 6% Between Bus. 6 and Rt 6 Select segments near 4,468 8% PA 92 Northeast of Tunkhannock 2,032 9% Tunkhannock SR 3005 Tunkhannock Township Eaton Rd 367 8% SR 3009 Tunkhannock Borough Franklin Ave 374 18%

52 29

mp314 X 6 SR 1001

ÙÚ Ü

mp310

ÙÚÜX

ÙÚ Ü 04

80

mp313 Ü SRÙÚ X

Bus 6 TUNKHANNOCK TOWNSHIP

9 0 0 mp311 3 X

S 6 R ! Bus R S SR 3006

Tunkhannock 6 X ÚÜÙ 6 3 0 mp312 0 8

NA RIVER SUSQUEHAN 05 SR 30

Average Daily Volume 10,000 plus EATON TOWNSHIP 8,000 - 10,000 92 6,000 - 8,000 3,000 - 6,000

29 1,000 - 3,000 Less than 1,000
Tunkhannock Borough Region 0 0.5 1 Traffic Volume Map Miles Rt 6 Corridor HCP Air

Tunkhannock area residents and visitors rely on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport for commercial air service. The airport, located approximately 30 miles southeast of Tunkhannock, is the hub of commercial air transportation for northeastern Pennsylvania. The Airport is served by American Airlines/American Eagle, Continental Connection, Delta Connection, United Express and US Airways/Us Airways Express which collectively offers approximately 40 daily Arrivals and Departures to Five Destinations including Chicago, Newark, Philadelphia, Charlotte and Detroit with One Stop Service to Over 450 Destinations Worldwide. Public use and general aviation air service is provided locally at the Skyhaven Airport located approximately 1 mile south of Tunkhannock.

Public Transportation

The Luzerne-Wyoming County Transportation Department provides only Shared Ride services to residents of Wyoming County. Martz Trailways provides daily scheduled departures from its Scranton and Wilkes-Barre terminals to regional destinations including various points in New York City and Philadelphia and locally to the Mt. Airy Casino & Resort. In addition, Greyhound Bus Lines provides intercity bus transportation out of their Scranton and Wilkes-Barre locations.

Rail

The Reading & Northern Railroad Company operates a Branch Line through Tunkhannock. While historically known for their historic roots in the anthracite coal region, the railroad currently hauls coal, plastics, wine, lumber, paper, grains, chemicals and minerals through the region.

There is no Intercity Amtrak Passenger Rail service to Tunkhannock. Amtrak’s Pennsylvanian line does travel daily between New York City and Pittsburgh. The closest stations to Tunkhannock would be in Harrisburg, PA and Downingtown, PA which are both over 2 hours south of Tunkhannock. Amtrak’s Empire Service provides daily service between New York City and Niagara Falls and the Lake Shore Limited serves the Boston-New York-Chicago route. The closest station for these latter two routes is in Syracuse, approximately a two hour and fifteen minute drive to the north.

54 Transportation Planning

The Northern Tier Regional Planning & Development Commission is responsible for regional transportation planning for a five county region including Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga and Wyoming. The Commission is responsible for developing state capital improvement highway projects for the region in conjunction with PennDOT.

55 Community Inventories - Community Visual Conditions and Design Analysis

During the preparation of the Pennsylvania Route 6 Tourism Infrastructure Plan (PA Rt. 6 Heritage Corporation; 2008), a nineteen (19) Route 6 communities underwent a visitor readiness study that was carried out by the Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC) staff, rating and ranking each community in terms of 28 facilities or characteristics especially important to likely tourists, embracing appearance, wayfinding, public space, safety and parking. Tunkhannock was one of the communities visited by PDC and was found to have 21 of the 28 characteristics or features inventoried, lacking only in town wayfinding, restrooms, public phones, wide shoulders/areas for bike lanes, bike racks, metered parking and parking garages. In fact, Tunkhannock was among the communities having the most features or characteristics associated with visitor readiness. Specifically, PDC found:

Appearance:  Sidewalks appear clean and safe  Welcome signs from the south and the east  Wayfinding signage outside of town and to tourist destinations

Public Space:  Visible public spaces/parks  Visible benches  No visible public restrooms  No visible public phones  Visible public areas to have a picnic  Visible public areas to walk a dog  Well-maintained sidewalks throughout the business district and the rest of town  Well-marked crosswalks with signals  Reasonable posted speed limit  Well-marked bicycle routes, but questionably wide shoulders in some areas of the business district  No visible bicycle racks  Well-marked street signs  Additional street lighting  Easy to find parking: free; some parking lots behind businesses; easily accessible  No visible parking for tour buses or RV’s; parking may be available on side streets

Visitor Impression: Tunkhannock is another community essentially bypassed by Route 6. The Bypass is known as the Gateway to the Endless Mountains Byway. Business Route 6 traverses a major portion of the community and its business district. When entering Tunkhannock from either direction of Business Route 6, visitors are greeted with a welcome sign and tree-lined streets in both the residential and business district. The business district is inviting to travelers with its attractive street lamps, flags, and building facades, in addition to the

56 interspersed benches, street trees, and trash receptacles throughout. Traffic is heavy, but manageable due to the traffic lights, pedestrian signals and reasonable speed limit.

Overview

Tunkhannock is an important part of a growing County and of a region that is generally viewed positively by travelers and residents alike, according to anecdotal evidence obtained during this planning effort. The planning team was especially impressed with the diversity and intactness of the National Register Historic District. Visual conditions are rather positive especially along Business Route 6, although the sound wall creates a rather generic and stark perception for travelers along the Bypass/Byway, west of Bridge Street. The central business district in Tunkhannock is pedestrian-oriented although with some traffic challenges, certainly not to the degree prior to the Bypass/Byway. The business areas in the western part of town and across the River in Eaton Township are more highway-oriented, thus ―Downtown Tunkhannock‖ offers an alternative experience that is readily apparent to the traveler.

Gateways

Several of the major gateways into the community on Routes 6, 29 and 92 have welcoming signage (Route 6 west of town and Route 29 south of town), which captures the essence of the community, exuding an attractive and clear message that the traveler has ―arrived‖. Signage and some landscaping exists these gateways. However, signage at least at one location (Rt. 92 intersection) it is rather non-descript, and not readily visible to the planning team on Route 6 east of town or on Route 29 north of town. Rt. 29 South of Town

Rt. 92 & Bypass Intersection Area Rt. 6 West of Town

57 A fairly central gateway is at the rather congested intersection of the Rt. 6 Bypass and Route 29 (Bridge Street). Land on the northwestern quadrant of this gateway is well landscaped and appears to be well-maintained as well, providing a welcoming and attractive gateway to the Route 6 traveler. The northeastern quadrant across Bridge Street is fairly developed. The entrance to Riverside Park is at the southwestern quadrant and a utility building is at the southeastern quadrant, both of which are fairly generic in a visual sense.

Landscaped Northwestern Quadrant Generic Southwestern Quadrant

The Community Unfortunately for them, travelers on the Rt. 6 Bypass/Byway miss the charm of Tunkhannock. Business Route 6 travelers, on the other hand, may still have to contend with some traffic but sees tree-lined side streets and fine examples of architecturally intact homes and businesses representing various architectural styles. The Route 29 (Bridge Street) intersection with Business Route 6 (Tioga Street) can be congested with traffic slowed by turning movements and passage of large trucks, and traffic ―calming‖ through the downtown area is accomplished via marked pedestrian crosswalks, parallel parking by shoppers and the Tioga/Bridge Street traffic signal. Again, trees, sidewalks and open spaces are visible, along with homes ranging from modest to grand. The Byway/Bypass along the southern edge of town, no doubt removes much regional traffic flow but perhaps at the cost of isolating Riverside Park and the Susquehanna River from easy pedestrian and vehicular access.

58 The Business District

The prior PDC description really reflects the pedestrian and pleasing scale of Tunkhannock’s downtown business district. Overall facades are in fair-to-good state of repair with many restorations and improvements that enhance and feature the architectural integrity of the respective business. For example, architectural cornices and other details are highlighted, awnings are used and some creative signage is in evidence. In this regard, there is no general evidence of perpendicular/projecting signage, a type that is commonly accepted as being both pedestrian friendly and historic. Sidewalks are of an adequate width, and a recent streetscape project has improved both walkability and aesthetics through much of the downtown. Several groups of businesses share an overhang/roof that shields the sidewalk, while affording some shelter from the elements to pedestrians it also detracts somewhat from the architecture and appearance of the buildings even though some historic photos show what appear to be similar overhangs. The few buildings presenting visual challenges are largely found on side streets off of the Business Route 6 corridor, with some vacant and blighted structures near the intersection of Harding and Warren Streets.

Parking

On-street unmetered parking with a two-hour limit is available along downtown streets, and there are a number of off-street parking lots primarily dedicated for employees and customers of various businesses, with the largest associated with financial institutions. Some lots are located behind or beside businesses in keeping with the traditional urban design and setting of the community, while some of the newer business buildings have drive-up parking. The website www.tunk.com identifies a total of 88 on-street spaces, 80 long-term (12-hour) on/off-street spaces and 52 12-hour off-street spaces after 6:00 PM (shared), in addition to 28 off-street spaces behind The Dietrich Theater. In essence, nearly 250 spaces are identified, close to the approximate 260 spaces identified by the HCP planning Team during the Charrette. While no formal occupancy or turnover studies are part of the Heritage Communities planning effort, there is competition for centrally located parking spaces in the downtown area during prime business hours, and also anecdotal comment on the use of prime spaces by business employees or owners.

59 Signage

There are examples of very good, acceptable and inappropriate signage among businesses in the Tunkhannock area. While signage is an intensely personal matter to most businesses they have a role in the overall visual attractiveness of the business district and the general shopping experience, factors which should temper the ―individual‖ concept. Several key factors should be kept in mind when discussing signage.

 Past studies and theory has shown that on-site signage is the most cost-effective means of advertising, costing as low as $0.06 per thousand readers (and potential customers), when compared to other media;  Perpendicular signage (i.e. projecting signs over a sidewalk) attract both vehicular and pedestrian traffic, while front wall signage is more difficult to see by both;  Signage should promote the product or experience offered rather than just the name of the establishment or organization for maximum curb appeal. In other words, signage should answer the question ―why stop‖ and must do it in approximately four seconds to attract motorists. Obviously, pedestrians have a longer time to study signage; and  Attractive, informative and professionally done signage says something about a business, as does hand written, uninformative, temporary and/or unattractive signage.

Many communities have separate signage regulations apart from zoning, while others address them in zoning. There are arguments on both sides, but many communities like the enforcement flexibility offered by a freestanding ordinance. In the case of the Tunkhannock the signage requirements are in the zoning ordinance. Sign regulations, whether in a zoning or other ordinance, at a minimum addresses the following:

 Type of signage permitted: wall, perpendicular, free standing, awning, window, etc.;  Number of signs permitted and/or maximum square footage of signs;  Location of signs – on buildings, setbacks, etc.; and  Special requirements – flashing, neon, sandwich boards, etc.

60 The portion of the Tunkhannock Borough Zoning Ordinance dealing with sign regulations is rather detailed with extensive definitions and requirements, graphic depictions and photographs of sign types and standards, requirements related to temporary signs, and a section delineating prohibited signs. Business Route 6 traverses two Commercial and the Residential Districts, while the Byway/Bypass abuts the Special Conservation and Residential Districts. Signage requirements in the residential district are fairly standard typically related to nameplates, temporary signs, and development signs. Requirements of interest to this WorkPlan related to signs in commercial districts are summarized as follows: Other requirements and comments on signage requirements are noted below:

 Regulations and standards apply to ―commercial signs‖ in general and do not differentiate between signage types and requirements for the C-1 Downtown Commercial District and the C-2 Highway Commercial District, even though the former is more of a pedestrian-oriented district and the latter obviously more highway-oriented. These types of districts have differing signage needs.

 Regulations limit the total square footage for commercial signs to 160 square feet, again with no differentiation between districts. Alternatively, there are no contextual considerations such as limiting the maximum square footage to building or property frontage, even though there are limitations based on factors such as percent of wall covered, number of ground signs, and square footage maximums by sign type. While the maximum square footages noted in the requirements may be appropriate for highway commercial and industrial districts, it may be too generous for the downtown district where storefronts and properties are rather narrow and concentrated. Some communities differentiate between maximum square footage between highway (usually greater) and downtown (usually less) commercial districts, and/or may use a graduated scale where signage square footage is proportionately related to building frontage length (in downtown districts) or property frontage length (in highway commercial districts).

 Regulations apparently permit projecting or perpendicular signage, a type of sign increasingly (again) popular among pedestrian-oriented commercial districts but limit the projection to only fifteen (15) inches. The definition (page 13-5) adds some confusion since it defines such a sign as one that extends more than fifteen (15) inches. Regardless, there is no maximum height dimension for such signs. The regulations provide no maximum height for these signs. Comment: Many communities that are trying to maintain or create pedestrian scale and pedestrian-friendliness include larger perpendicular signs as permitted signs within the downtown business district. The fifteen (15) inch maximum width is rather narrow, and with the lack of a vertical maximum, sets the stage for only tall narrow ―banner style‖ projecting signs. Many in the field believe that projecting signs may convey information better than wall signs to the pedestrian and even the driver who is typically moving at a slow or moderate speed in a traditional downtown business district. Some communities permit projecting signs in the range of 3-4 feet from the building with a similar maximum vertical dimension as well.

 Certain signs are specifically prohibited, including flashing, portable and moving signs as well as signs that direct or interfere with traffic movement or

61 imitate/resemble an official traffic sign/device. Prohibition of specified signs is appropriate but requires a careful determination, and periodic redetermination as technology changes, to assure that, since prohibited signs are in fact specified in the Ordinance all signs the community wishes to prohibit are in fact specified since a potential litigant may argue that if a specific sign is not prohibited it is therefore permitted.

 The regulations prudently limit billboards/off-premises signs, which include electronic signs, to the Industrial District as a Special Exception (Zoning Hearing Board review/action). In the case of electronic signs the regulations stipulate that they must be equipped with sensors that adjust the light in relation to ambient light.

 Internally illuminated signs are permitted in the regulations, apparently in all districts. While being a proverbial ―matter of taste‖, internally illuminated signs may be more appropriate in a highway commercial district than a downtown district and/or in the National Register Historic District.

 In addition, there are no standards or requirements related to the National Register Historic District, a district that spans several zoning districts, thus there is no differentiation in signage. Some communities with designated historic districts, such as the case with Tunkhannock, have regulations on signage within the district as additional or overlay requirements that reinforce the unique historic, architectural or cultural ambiance of the District.

 Section 1304-2-b prohibits any structure lighting that is ―… directly visible from any adjacent publicly dedicated roadway and surrounding property ….‖ This no doubt eliminates the nuisances associated with those who may use floodlights for outdoor illumination but may also prohibit the outlining of buildings or portions thereof via small decorative lights to highlight unique architectural features, a concept members of the business community suggested during the Planning Charrette. Even the companion section 1304-2-a only relaxes the use of ―unshielded lighting‖ during the month of December.

Of interest of tourism, the regulations do not directly address ―attraction signs‖ although the Ordinance mentions ―directional signs‖ but seems to equate these literally with directions to phones, parking areas, rest rooms, etc., and not tourism destinations. Present tourism signage regulations are found in PennDOT Traffic Engineering Manual (Pub. 46; October 2010), Chapter 2 Tourist Oriented Directional Sign (TODS) Policy. Attractions that qualify for TODS that meet other PennDOT operational, distance (5 miles), access, parking and other general requirements include:

 Airport  Amusement park  Arena (with a seating capacity of at least 5,000)  Business district (area within a city/borough officially designated as a business district by local officials)  Campground (area reserved for at least 20 tents/ RV’s with permit from DEP and open at least 6 months/year.

62  College or university  Commerce Park (at least 25 acres and recognized/signed as a commerce park by local authorities)  Cultural center (a minimum occupancy capacity of 250 people)  Facility, tour location (plant, factory or institution conducting daily or weekly public tours on a regularly scheduled basis year-round)  Fairground  Farmer’s Market (open at least 2 days per week throughout year or harvest season)  Golf course  Historical site (as recognized by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission)  Hospital or Institution  Library  Military base  Municipal buildings  Museum  Off-track betting facility (as authorized by Act 1988-127)  Park  Religious site (i.e. shrine, grotto, or similar type facility)  Resort (minimum of 75 rooms and recreational/vacation amenities  Roadside farm market (open at least 2 days per week throughout year or harvest season)  School  Shopping center (30 or stores with parking facilities)  Ski area  State and National park, recreation area, forest or cemetery (mileage requirement may be extended a reasonable distance)  Transportation terminal (i.e. bus or railroad passenger).  Visitor information (i.e. approved by the Commonwealth and is open at least 6 months each year including 10 hours each day between Memorial Day and Labor day and 8 hours each day during the balance of the open season, with attendant on duty and provide free access to travel literature, rest rooms and drinking water)  Winery (licensed site which produces a maximum of 200,000 gallons of wine per year; maintain a minimum of 3,000 vines or 5 acres of vineyard in Commonwealth; be open for public for tours, tasting and sales a minimum of 1,500 hours per year and provide an educational format for informing visitors)

PennDOT regulations limit TODS to roads having an average daily volume of at least 2,000 vehicles and note that TODS shall not be installed when prohibited by local ordinance. The Tunkhannock Borough does not permit or prohibit these signs, which leave an important tourism resource signing with no clear guidance. This apparent omission that should be considered in future ordinance revisions

63 Zoning and Related

Tunkhannock Borough as well as adjacent Eaton Township enforce zoning regulations within their respective boundaries. There is no zoning in Tunkhannock Township, although there is a free-standing signage ordinance. This subsection reviews the ordinances made available to the planning team during the Heritage Communities Program in terms of matters salient to tourism and not all aspects of land use planning or conformance with the PA Municipalities Planning Code (MPC).

Tunkhannock Borough

The Tunkhannock Borough Zoning Ordinance governs land uses within the Borough. The ordinance reviewed is a new revision, having been adopted in June 2011. The ordinance essentially divides the Borough among two Commercial Districts (C-1 Downtown and C-2 Highway), an R-1 Residential District, an I-1 Industrial District and a S-1 Special Conservation District. The Zoning Map is reproduced on the following page. The C-1 District is the ―downtown‖ area centered on Tioga and Bridge Streets, while the C-2 District generally encompasses the southeastern section of the Borough. Both abut Business Route 6.

The ordinance was reviewed in relation to possible impacts on Route 6 and related Heritage Communities and tourism issues:

 Uses in the C-1 District generally reflect what one would expect in a pedestrian scale downtown, including art studios and galleries, eating/drinking establishments without drive-in service, hotels/motels, banks, offices and retail stores, with the possible exception of single- and two-family residences (including mobile homes) that are permitted uses. Similarly, a number of uses in the C-2 District reflect a highway orientation, such as car/truck washes, automotive related activities, contractors offices, convenience stores, etc., although 60% of the uses in this District are also permitted in the C-1 District. Of course, the dimensional requirements differ between the Districts, as noted below. Adult entertainment may occur in C-2 but only via a Conditional Use (review/action by Borough Council). Uses in the R-1 are fairly typical, and allow a B&B as a Special Exception (review and action by Zoning Hearing Board).

 Dimensional requirements (i.e. setbacks, lot sizes, lot widths, etc.) largely reflect what may be expected in an earlier developed borough with an urban core, with small lot sizes (5,000 sf) and narrow (or zero for buildings fronting Tioga and Bridge Streets) setbacks in C-1 and larger lot sizes (10,000 sf in C-2) and wider setbacks in C-2 and R-1. Contextual factors such as the potential for a ―floating‖ front setback for new construction (i.e. buildings, additions, etc.) in the Districts whereby the existing front setback may be set by adjoining existing buildings (i.e. helps preserve historic appearance), are not mentioned.

64 65  Home occupations (i.e. work carried out in one’s residence) are typically included in residential sections of zoning ordinances. Tunkhannock applies certain restrictions for these by specifying the requirement for a Special Exception for home occupations and limiting the number of non-residential employees (i.e. one) but affording some flexibility in specifying allowable and non-allowable uses as ―guidelines‖, thereby giving the Zoning Hearing Board some discretion.

 The Route 6 Byway/Bypass abuts the S-1 District, which is largely a public conservation District, and in fact includes Riverside Park, but certain group homes and fracturing water withdrawal facilities are also permitted uses and oil/gas wells are also allowed as a Conditional Use.

 The Definitions section is rather detailed providing definitions of critical terms, and as noted earlier, the signage section has its own definitions subsection.

 Parking requirements are given for various land uses. Required spaces for retail uses are somewhat stringent, requiring approximately 50% more spaces typically required for certain uses as in comparably sized communities. In addition, the requirements do not provide exemptions for all or part of the off-street parking requirements for businesses in areas having on-street or other public parking spaces, an exemption offered by some communities. However, the Ordinance does allow Borough Council to reduce parking space requirements as a Conditional Use, thus exceptions are possible but not certain.

 There are no special requirements or standards related to the National Register Historic District which spans several of the Zoning Districts. Some communities have addressed historic districts and resources via an overlay district offering protection via certain standards and additional requirements that cut across the conventional underlying districts.

Tunkhannock Township

Tunkhannock Township abuts Tunkhannock Borough on all but the south side. While there is no zoning ordinance, there is a fairly detailed sign ordinance with regulations and a permitting process.

 The ordinance provides a maximum size of 32 square feet for a business sign for a single business on one lot, and 124 square feet for multiple businesses on one lot. Wall/façade signs are limited to 25% of the building wall area it is mounted, up to 40 square feet. The maximum sign square footage is identified for business and wall signs and are not expressed as a context related to lot frontage.

 Regulations allow one wall sign per business and one free-standing sign per frontage/property.

 Sign setbacks are ten (10) feet for front, side and rear. Maximum sign height is 26 feet, and the method of measurement is defined.

 The only illumination requirement is that signs over 10 feet in height that are indirectly illuminated shall be illuminated with a downward facing light source.

66

 Mobile signs are prohibited, along with several others specified in the ordinance. Prohibition of specified signs may be appropriate but requires a careful determination and periodic redetermination, especially as technology changes, to assure that all signs the community wishes to prohibit are in fact specified since a potential litigant may argue that, since prohibited signs are in fact specified in the Ordinance, if a specific sign is not specifically prohibited it is therefore permitted.

 There is no specific mention or regulations pertaining to ―attraction signs‖.

 Billboards are limited to a maximum of 300 square feet, which would allow several of the standard billboard structures, including 12’X24’, 9’4‖X32’ and 10’X30’, with the latter standard structure size very popular in rural markets where the outdoor company cannot command large enough rates to justify building the popular 14’ x 48’ structure. However, the regulations do not deal with electronic/changeable copy signage.

Eaton Township

Eaton Township is south of Tunkhannock Borough and the Susquehanna River, and not on Route 6. Given the very active and growing highway commercial area along Route 29 just south of the bridge and its relevance to the visitor, this zoning review emphasizes this area. Eaton Township has a Joint Zoning Ordinance with Monroe Township, southwest of Eaton. The Ordinance places all land within four (4) zoning districts and an additional Floodplain Overlay District. The latter requires floodproofing and other special construction standards. The conventional Districts include Residential (R-E), Rural Agricultural (RA-E), Industrial/Commercial (I/C-E) and Village Commercial (VC-E). All are present in the general vicinity of the Route 29 corridor south of Tunkhannock.

67  The Route 29 corridor may sustain a myriad of uses since the VC-E, RA-E and C/I-E Districts each allow an assortment of retail, service and other commercial uses. Generally retail business with 10,000 square feet or less of floor area are permitted in the VC-E and C/I-E Districts, although businesses with between 10,000 and 20,000 square feet and shopping centers may be permitted in the C/I-E with a Conditional Use. Businesses with 20,000 square feet or less of floor area are permitted uses in the RA-E District, which also permits offices, clinics and service establishments.

 In essence, all districts appear to be mixed-use districts with the exception of the R-E District that essentially permits residential and accessory uses. Overall the VC-E District appears to favor smaller commercial establishments alongside residential ones, but single and two family homes are permitted uses in all four of the districts. In this sense, the Eaton requirements are rather flexible with perhaps a greater sense of control over density of use rather than use alone, but a greater degree of review by the Township Supervisors since many uses may be subject to the Conditional Use process.

 Signage regulations are included in the Zoning Ordinance: o The only illumination requirement is that signs over 10 feet in height that are indirectly illuminated shall be illuminated with a downward facing light source. o Mobile signs are prohibited, along with several others specified in the ordinance (i.e. flashing, awning, canopy, marquee, projecting over 15‖, etc.). The possible concern related to prohibition of specified signs noted in Tunkhannock Township’s case would apply here as well. o The ordinance provides a maximum size of 32 square feet for a freestanding sign and 40 square feet for a wall sign for a single business, and 32 feet for a wall sign per business in a development plus one freestanding sign for the development as a whole up to 40 square feet. The maximum sign square footage is identified for business or development and wall signs and is not expressed as a context related to lot frontage or percent of wall covered. o There are some basic requirements for changeable message (i.e. electronic) signage, such as a 32 square foot limitation and 15 foot setback, but the regulations do not stipulate that they must be equipped with sensors that adjust the light in relation to ambient light. o Billboards are permitted in the CI-E District only and subject to a 10 foot setback, 26 foot maximum height, a 300 square foot maximum (with 12’X25’ being the largest) and spacing requirements from other billboards (1,500’), dwellings/residential districts (300’) and certain public uses (i.e. school, park, church, etc.).

 The Ordinance requires a Traffic Impact Study for residential and non- residential developments generating more than 150 vehicles per day, and other specified generators of truck traffic.

68 Historic District Ordinance

Tunkhannock Borough does not have a free-standing ordinance that provides supplementary requirements for building permit activities within the Tunkhannock National Register Historic District. Some communities (i.e. Milford, PA for example, another Route 6 Heritage Community) have adopted an ordinance that mirrors the Model Historic District Ordinance developed by Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission (PHMC) and provides a means and a process for a review body, such as an Historic and Architectural Review Board (HARB) to make recommendations to the Borough Council regarding the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness for granting or refusing permits for the erection, alteration, restoration, reconstruction, demolition or razing of any building within a District. In addition to its advisory role for permits, a HARB may also have duties related to historic resource surveys, revisions to existing districts, new districts, historic/architectural informational and educational roles and technical assistance. In carrying out its advisory capacities, the HARB considers various factors:

 Relationship of building to history/heritage values, persons and events  Architectural type, style and period of the structure  Impact of planned improvements on historic/architectural nature of district  Design and architectural features, including spacing and rhythm of buildings/features, proportion of facades and windows/doors, relationship of exterior materials and textures, relationship of roof shapes and architectural details, continuity and scale.

In essence, the process may be a dialogue between applicant and HARB with opportunities for revisions, economic hardships and documentation. Two factors seem to guide the process, the protection of the character of the historic district and of the building or structure involved.

69 SYNTHESIS OF INFORMATION

Information from various sources was gathered and reviewed, summaries of which appear in the inventories. The interpretation, application and use of this information is critical in this localized heritage tourism planning effort. This phase starts with a review at public comments at various Community Workshops and a planning charrette, then proceeds to the determination of issues and opportunities.

First Workshop – The “Wish List”

Representatives from the community actively participated in a workshop designed to solicit ideas on how to improve the communities as tourist destinations. The Workshop was held in April 2010 and focused on (1) activities available for residents and visitors presently and (2) to identify the types of attractions, improvements and events that would enhance the area as a tourist destination. The existing attractions and things valued about the Study Area were reviewed earlier in this report while the following represents a summary of popular destination needs that represent actual votes by attendees that address the question “What is needed to make Tunkhannock a more attractive destination?”

What is Needed: While there was a range of responses there was consensus on just a few, reflecting voting. The following page summarizes all “wish list” items while the following ones were the consensus favorites:

Community needs to address improving the “welcoming” state of mind
More retail choice after 5:00 PM

The following lists the most popular items as voted on by the participants:

Riverside Park Access/Walkover
Rivertown/Kayak/Canoe
Accommodations/Hotel
First Friday Events
Later Openings
Walking/Hiking/Biking Trails

70 Tunkhannock Community Workshop Summary – Wish List to Enhance Area as Destination

Group 1 Group 2

Proposed Improvement Votes Proposed Improvement Votes Safe walkway access to Riverside Park 7 Accommodations – Hotel Chain 8.5 ―First Friday‖ events – sales/activities 6 Adopt a ―Rivertown‖ concept 5.5 Shopping – Late openings (1-2 nights/week) 6 Bypass ―Walkover‖ 3 Walking/Hiking/Biking Trails 4 Build/Expand on Arts Concept 2.5 Pizza/Beer-type of restaurant 4 Façade enhancements Downtown 2 Public Restrooms 4 Hiking/Walking/Biking Trails 1 Better signage – shops/parking areas 3 Kayak/Canoe Rental 1 Kayak/Canoe rental 3 Landscaping/Flowers (esp. Spring) 1 Better Farmers Market Location 2 Parking 1 Ice cream shop 1 Ethnic Foods 0 Greater Credit Card acceptance 0 Public Park w/Playground 0 YMCA 0

71 Second Workshop and Planning Charrette

A second set of Community Workshops was held in conjunction with a three-day planning charrette during June 15th – 17th 2010 for the purpose of reviewing the planning process and findings to date, interactive field work, key person/focus group meetings and receive local input on preliminary recommendations. A total of 45 people participated in the Charrette

Planning Team Review 6/15/10 Attendees: 6 Presentation: Overview of mapping and six overall localized themes

Discussion: Review of significant heritage elements – Tunkhannock as a commerce center (past, present & future), the arts – visual/performing, the River and ―Rivertown‖, historic district/architecture resources – built to last, Tunkhannock as a multiple gateway and the identified desire for more events and activities.

Public Session #1 6/15/10 Attendees: 8 Presentation: Rt. 6 and HCP Overview; Tourism Primer, ―Uniqueness‖ description and localization, Connection of resources, physical & non-physical elements under consideration and potential markets

Linking heritage and stories yields the following central concepts: The Historic District – large, high quality, incredibly intact, diverse and self- policed – is Tunkhannock’s major unique resource – ―built to last‖ o Needs to be better connected with people and stories o ―This Old Tunkhannock‖ has a lot it can teach other communities. Ideas growing from this include: . Hosting an historic rehabilitation workshop/institute showing others ―how it is done‖ without heavy-handed regulations – targeting preservationists, homeowners and business/commercial owners . Developing an annual building enhancement recognition program whereby different rehabilitation projects receive awards . There are ―subsets‖ of rehabilitation – residential, commercial and professional . Landscaping appears to be complimentary with the historic architecture and ambiance . Historic District should be incorporated into events

72 Walkover/Crossover o Pedestrian access between downtown, proposed Comfort Inn and park (NOTE: present West St. tunnel is too far from downtown to serve as the link) o A viewing platform is suggested so that the crossover itself interprets the area and becomes an attraction o Sidewalk is on opposite side of bridge from Riverside Park entrance

Riverside Park – noted as an important but underutilized and under- maintained resource o Access (pedestrian & vehicle) to downtown is an issue o Directional signage is nearly non-existent o Lighting and roadway conditions are issues o Trail development would enhance Park as a resource

Public Input: The ―welcoming‖ spirit was noted as ―improving‖ Community pride is reflected in the care of homes and the sensitive rehabilitation without design standards or a HARB There have been largely positive impacts from the Route 6 Bypass, also known as the Gateway to the Endless Mountains Byway . It is noted that events serve as ―feeders‖ for businesses in that visitors at the events may come back for shopping/dining

Government/Heritage Focus Group 6/16/10 Attendees: 7

Discussion: ―Hard Hat Tour‖ component of the historic rehabilitation workshop/institute Consider a Walkover at Warren Street away from the congested 6/29 intersection o Warren Hotel (partially used as apts.) and two nearby structures can be part of a renewal effort focused on Warren Street o 33 municipal diagonal parking spaces adjacent Tunkhannock as a gateway to east and west Other aspects of heritage not previously mentioned o Spiritual heritage; reflected in churches, many of which are in the Historic District o Sports heritage including Christy Matheson, Tewksbury, Hudak (Namath’s Center), Little League fields o Prince Hotel heritage – reported as longest operating hotel between Buffalo & NYC o Gay’s Hardware – mill, silk, spools & bobbins o Native American – (2) annual Pow-Wows locally (EDN & Seneca) Lake heritage is critical, especially Lake Carey and Winola Lake to an extent

73 Annual Founders Day has a ―theme‖ o 2010 – The River o 2011/12 – Historic District (?)

Planning Team – Review and Synthesis 6/16/10

Tunkhannock Business and Professional Association Sponsors events and grant application Advocacy for the business community Educational efforts Promotions Projects under consideration: o Decorative lighting of historic commercial buildings on Tioga St ($100,000) o ______day Festival (pick a day - comparable to 1st Fridays) Has discussed hospitality training and interior store display training Christmas decorations

Dietrich Theater – planning streetscape enhancements (trees & benches) at corner lot at Tioga/Bridge Streets (Bus 6/29)

Museum Tannery Display (by PHMC) is probably the best display in the museum Archeological digging from Bypass construction Countywide orientation (i.e. some but not all Tunkhannock) Carpenter Tool display (possible interface with historic rehab component) Issues – hours, accessibility and wayfinding signage Curatorial/collection cataloging assistance is needed – possibly a software package can help in this

Historic District – small interpretive plaques can augment printed material and enhance the walking tour

Business Group 6/16/10 Attendees: 8

Concepts and Reaction Ideas growing out of discussions:

The River o The river and Riverside Park are viewed as being underutilized o Fishing locally is good and seen as gaining in popularity o Town needs a restaurant/dining experience on the River o Access between River/Riverside Park and town a problem

74 Events o Incorporate a train trip within Founders Day o Rubber-tired trolley to connect parking and venues during big events o Need for a (pick-a-day) ____day (like Scranton, Towanda, etc.) and classic car night ―One Thing‖ needed for community to be better positioned for tourism o More business friendly signage regulations (i.e. perpendicular) o More than ―just restaurants‖ - More specialty shops to keep people busy longer o Improved off-street parking and directional signage to it (depends on use of bank parking lots) o County Zoning in unzoned areas (i.e. Tunkhannock Township) o Attract more local residents as shoppers, diners, etc. o Upscale upper floor residential ―Gaps‖ include: o Keeping people/shoppers busy all day o Small retail o Additional art galleries o Historic Discovery Center o Upscale bar/lounge ―This Old Tunkhannock‖ concept did not seem to connect with business people – most present appeared to feel nothing is special about local historic district

Discussion

Theater revitalization triggered interest in historic restoration/preservation Concern over long-term impacts from gas drilling o Many unzoned rural areas o Considerable relocation/transients Need for parking deck/garage in Warren Street area There appears to be a ―we‖ vs. ―them‖ perception among new and old businesses o There is a feeling that not all locals welcome or patronize local businesses Traffic impacts on Rt. 29 south of River – Super Wal-Mart, Comfort Inn and the discussed Frac Water Treatment Plan Need for a ―vehicle‖ for private sector donations/tax benefits, especially associated with ―gas money‖ (i.e. companies and newly affluent landowners) o TB&PA considering a 501-C-3 o Susquehanna/Wyoming Counties Community Foundation o Route 6 Heritage Corp. Possible landowner issues with new trail

75 Stakeholder Group Session 6/17/10 Attendees: 11

Recommendations Events o Fall Harvest Festival (historic district orientation) – expansion of existing wine festival o January-March – Historic Rehabilitation Workshop/Institute o 1st/Last Friday/Saturday – aimed at locals; tied in with classic car component

Historic District o Signage/interpretation – connects with people o Annual Enhancement Recognition Award o Annual Historic District Rehabilitation Workshop . ―Hard Hat Tours‖ . Residential, Commercial and Professional subsets o Church Tour Component o Historic Commercial Building lighting project o Founders Day Theme for 2011

Rivertown Components o Walkover Linkage (Town/River/Eaton) . Viewing Platform . Preferred location – Rt. 6/29 or Warren St. . Key Revitalization Area - Warren Hotel and nearby properties o Riverside Park . Walkover linkage . Development & expansion of trails focused on river . Improvements – directional signage/lighting/roadway conditions . Access – consider a ―right-in/right-out‖ alternative on Bypass o Riverfront Dining Potential (NOTE: May be part of Comfort Inn on fronting outparcel)

Auto/Bike Tours and Trails o Nicholson/Tunkhannock Viaduct – via Routes 6/92 & 11 o Lake Carey – via Rt. 29 and SR’s 1001, 1003, 1005 & 1007 o P&G and Mehoopany – via Rts. 6 29 & 87 and SR 3003 (NOTE: in place of Rts. 6 & 87 and SR 4015 as per local comment) o Lake Winola, Stonehedge and Falls – via Rts. 6 & 92 and SR’s 2017, 2010, 2031 & 2035 o Eatonville Rd. – via SR 3005 (NOTE: turnaround needed) o Planned Iroquois Trail and discussed Riverside Park Trail

76 Gateways o Enhancements focused at northern and eastern entrances to community o Remedy the lack of identification signage for The Gateway to the Endless Mountains Byway (NOTE: Seen as reinforcing Tunkhannock as a ―gateway‖ concept; Local discussion suggests PennDOT was supposed to provide this signage)

Downtown Revitalization o Small Specialty Store recruitment and retention – focusing on keeping people busy longer o Discovery Center – interactive focus on local heritage o Upscale Upper-Floor residential reuse o Parking – better signage and/or supply (NOTE: Local discussion noted 240 +/- public off-street spaces [Borough & County] in addition to bank lots) o Signage regulation revisions – especially for perpendicular signage (NOTE: Noted as being pedestrian and driver friendly) o Consider downtown decorations for more than Christmas holidays (i.e. autumn, summer, spring, etc.)

Incorporate the ―untapped‖ resources o Gays Hardware (and prior businesses) Heritage o Railroad accommodations (Prince Hotel) Heritage o Sports Heritage (In proposed Discovery Center) o Church and Stained Glass tours

Museum o Seek funding for software that would digitize files/collections o Other recommendations to follow

Hospitality Training o As an alternative to training sessions/seminars, consider a locally produced DVD (by Dietrich?) to alleviate issues associated with individual free/busy times by different types of businesses and the general availability without disrupting business o Obtain business owner/manager buy-in and involvement to assure participation and success

Questions o Gas drilling long-term impacts o Rt. 29 impacts due to planned/likely development – corridor analysis o Determination of the most appropriate ―vehicle‖ for donations using tax incentives of a 501 (C) 3 - Potential . The Community Foundation of Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties . Northern Tier Regional Planning & Development Commission . PA Rt. 6 Heritage Corporation

77 Public Session #2 6/17/10

Attendees: 5 Brief recap of charrette process and its role was carried out. Discussion then focused on recommendations noted above, especially as they may have changed or become refocused during the charrette. Only comment was a public comment that the Right- in/Right-out concept for Riverside Park access is good but would require an at-grade railroad crossing. This may create an issue for the Railroad based on the past experience with the at-grade crossing on the trail near the West Street Tunnel, which he Reading and Northern apparently fought.

Recommendations noted in Stakeholders group were unchanged.

A total of 45 people participated in the Charrette

Final Workshop – Draft Presentation and Comments

The final workshop was held on May 24, 2011, with nine (9) persons signing the attendance sheet. Greater detail on the recommendations were given building on (1) Tunkhannock as a specialty retail & entertainment center, (2) Tunkhannock as an emerging hospitality center giving better connections, guidance and contact with numerous area resources, (3) Tunkhannock as a river town. Question and comments by the public included:

 The Sound Wall – o Chosen as one of the ―Gateways‖ for concept drawing o Endless Mountains Byway Sign is needed o Park & ride being planned behind wall on Harding Street

 Pedestrian Overpass - o Plan for Federal Highway Administration Scenic Byway funding next year o Definitely include in WorkPlan o In landscaping consider possible role for Tunkhannock Tree Association

 Riverside Park enhancements should include a bandshell, roadway & access improvements

 Local/regional discussion is focusing on coordination of recreation areas via a recreation commission

In addition, it was noted that the Borough is refining the International Property Maintenance Code for adoption in future (tentative late-2011). This relates to the Litter Indexing component of the WorkPlan.

78 Issues and Opportunities Statement Overview

The matrix below summarizes discussion items encountered during the Heritage Communities planning process. Based on the inventories, the review of input, the discussions involving the Stakeholders, a succinct statement of issues (i.e. challenges) and opportunities (i.e. strengths to build on) is difficult to do and subject to being general. Nonetheless, the following summarizes these: Issues Opportunities

Byway/Bypass makes it easy for casual Byway/Bypass removed a great deal of travelers/regional traffic to bypass much traffic congestion involving regional traffic of the business district that merely wanted to ―get through‖ town Much of the retail base that attracts year- Downtown Tunkhannock is an intact, round residents from a large area offering visually pleasing & busy pedestrian-scale comparative shopping goods is located in downtown offering dining, entertainment the adjacent townships and specialty retail Gaps – inconsistent hours among Large retail base in Borough & nearby businesses and after-5:00 choices townships given local population Traffic circulation concerns, perceived Numerous regional tourism resources & parking problems & wayfinding issues strategic geographic location Marcellus Shale impacts – truck traffic Marcellus Shale impacts – employment, disrupts pedestrian scale of CBD and royalty payments to landowners, new drilling may create visual quality issues in motels and spendable income countryside There are few standards regulating National Register Historic District is intact development in the National Register & relatively large embracing residential, Historic District commercial & office areas Byway/Bypass & railroad tracks provide a Relative proximity to the Susquehanna barrier that separates Tunkhannock from River/ North Branch Susquehanna River River; historically the River appears to Water Trail have been neglected as a resource Riverside Park access is inadequate and Riverside Park is uniquely situated to be not signed that well; internal park the community’s river connection, has one improvements needed a of a few public river access points Minimal activities & events scheduled Numerous signature events & smaller between January & March events scattered throughout much of the year Perception by some in the business Dietrich Theater serves as anchor & major community that locals may not support or draw for the downtown business district feel connected with some of the newer entertainment/dining options Sound wall on byway/bypass & major Unique architecture and historic ambiance gateways are rather generic within the community

79 Synthesis

The elements of a local heritage effort are premised on an approach that provides understandable and interesting linkages with the community’s rich social, cultural and economic past and the present, embracing such disparate elements as the proximity of the Susquehanna River, the past and present economic base, a commercial center for the County, region and the traveling public, and a distinctive and intact architecture. This requires:

 In-town development and redevelopment that helps fill the disconnect between the town and the River, making Tunkhannock a ―River Town‖ and further enhances Tunkhannock as a pedestrian-friendly entertainment and shopping area;

 Physical improvements to select gateways that reflect the charm and identity of Tunkhannock while telling the traveler that she or he has ―arrived‖ in a special place.

 Connectivity among existing cultural and nature heritage resources such as the such as the Tunkhannock Viaduct, Endless Mountains Nature Center/Camp Lackawanna, Wyoming County Historical Society Museum, Howland Preserve, nearby lakes, agricultural lands, Susquehanna River North Branch Water Trail, as well as Tunkhannock’s own historic district and Dietrich Theater.

 Non-physical improvements to the downtown including later and common hours, better utilization of on- and off-street parking, recruitment of additional specialty retailers, locally produced hospitality videos and maintenance of visual quality;

 Interpretation of the past via a non-structural and decentralized ―visitor’s network‖ that interprets and links the community and regional tourism resources and attractions for visitors, rather than a centralized physical ―visitor’s center‖;

 Greater focus on the National register Historic District as a resource and draw, including sponsoring workshop/laboratory on historic rehabilitation, a commercial building lighting project that highlights select buildings/features, interpretive signage/markers on/at especially significant structures and a walking tour of the District and churches therein;

 Regulatory and related enhancements including ordinance revisions, new regulations that enhance/preserve tourism resources and a traffic study; and

 Localized marketing and promotion effort, keyed to a coordinated and coherent message, linking Tunkhannock, Wyoming County and the larger region.

80 IMPLEMENTATION

The planning process has identified a number of localized implementation measures aimed to enhancing the Tunkhannock Area as a better tourism destination and as a community. It is often easy to overlook the latter, but one major goal of heritage-tourism is to stabilize and enhance the community’s economy.

Heritage Route 6 Economic Impacts

Heritage PA sponsored a study of the economic impact of State Heritage Areas (SHA) in Pennsylvania. The study analyzed the economic impact of heritage areas and in Pennsylvania six SHA’s including PA Route 6 participated. Surveys were conducted at several sites in August through October 2008. Survey data was paired with visitation statistics for specific sites within each heritage area and fed into an economic impact model developed by the National Park Service called Money Generation Model (MGM2). The results released in 2010 revealed that visitors to participating SHA’s in Pennsylvania spent a total of $300.9 million in 2008, generating an estimated $255.8 million in direct sales, which supported over $95 million in salary and wages for Pennsylvania residents. Approximately 56% of the spending ($168 million) was generated by overnight visitors staying in hotels, motels, B&B’s, inns and other lodging, 29% ($88 million) by those either staying with friends/family or in campgrounds and 15% ($45 million) by out-of-town day visitors.

According to the Route 6 SHA portion, released by the PA Route 6 Alliance, Route 6 attracts 3.5 million travelers a year, who spend approximately $91.1 million dollars, supporting over 2,000 jobs. The study also revealed the following:  55% of the visitors to Route 6 were first-time visitors to the SHA;  Over 67% of the 407 respondents, or 274 persons, were staying overnight with the following major characteristics: o 118 (43.1%) in hotels, motels, bed & breakfasts or inns o 95 (34.7%) in campgrounds o 40 (14.6%) with family/friends in area o 21 (7.7%) staying overnight outside the area.  The average stay along Route 6 was 2.9 nights.  The typical Route 6 travel party is one to four adults traveling without children, in fact 84% of the travel parties are without children under 18 years of age.  Approximately 32% of the visitors reside in a different state, 17% reside in a county within the Route 6 SHA and 51% in a county outside of the SHA.  The average number of facilities or attractions visited along Route 6 is 2.8.

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Tourism and Economics

A recognized source for economic/tourism thought and strategies is The 25 Immutable Rules of Successful Tourism (Roger A. Brooks and Maury Forman; Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co., 2003), which coincides very well with the Pennsylvania Route 6 Heritage Communities Program. This referenced work begins with a simple statement that earning money in a given town and spending it elsewhere is ―leakage‖. Tourism as a part of an economic development strategy that seeks to avoid leakage, since it should accomplish the following:

 Diversifies local economy helping avoid over dependence on a few businesses;  Creates multipliers on all local businesses;  Brings in ―new money‖ to the community;  Helps tax base that in turn pays for community services and facilities;  Creates jobs and opportunities at the entry level;  Promotes business development especially when a visitor becomes an investor or future business person; and  Enhances community aesthetics.

Successful tourism is premised on getting visitors to stop and keep them in town longer, especially overnight. ―Visitors‖ may include tourist and business travelers. A few ―rules of thumb‖ help understand the tourist-visitor a little better:

 State estimates suggest that 44% of all visitors stay with relatives, thus a large part of tourism occurs literally at the ―kitchen table‖ (earlier Rt. 6 SHA data suggest this percentage is much lower within the SHA);

 The visitor experience is shaped by destinations or ―lures‖ that in turn create a potential visitor market for attractions or ―diversions‖ (i.e. those amenities that may depend on the lure);

 There are a number of shifts occurring in the tourism industry due in large part to the maturization of the ―baby boomer‖ generation: o the prime season is expanding from the June-August period to a longer April – October period (something already recognized in Tunkhannock); o ―boomers‖ generally do not prefer motor coach/packaged tours but prefer to be in greater control; and o High gasoline prices notwithstanding, the RV industry appears to be healthy (RV’s are premised on ―control‖ not necessarily costs)

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Visitors spend only a portion of their time at “typical” tourist lures: o nationally, people spend 20-40 minutes in a museum o the typical lure captures people for no more than 4-6 hours per day, leaving 8-10 hours for other attractions and diversions, and 80% of tourist spending occurs at these attractions and diversions o the “scenic vista” experience usually lasts no more than 15 minutes

Brooks and Forman often cite the “4-Times Rule” in their discussion on tourism, in that travelers subconsciously must be kept busy at a destination for a period 4 times the travel time to get there. Simply stated, one would probably not travel to Europe or Hawaii for a weekend stay, due to the travel time involved. To localize this to Tunkhannock, driving time suggests that a visitor from the nearby Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area could justify a trip to Tunkhannock with just under 3 hours of activities; while the visitor from Williamsport would require approximately 7 hours of activities while visitors from Philadelphia or Harrisburg would need 10 hours of activities (and perhaps lodging).

Obviously, experiences from an area larger than the Tunkhannock area (i.e., the Endless Mountains) can be “bundled” into the visitor experiences. Finally, this latter bundling issue is reflected in the fact that people generally travel for experiences and not geography. An edited summary of their following 25 rules help assure success and are critical in the Route 6 tourism effort (with local relevant notations in parenthesis):

A good plan that takes into account local resources and likely visitors who may be attracted by various features, such as natural resources [i.e. forests, recreation, etc.], cultural resources [i.e. history, ethnic heritage, etc.], human resources [i.e. performing arts, crafts, etc.] and capital resources [transportation, hotels, etc.]. (These are the foundation of this Heritage Community Planning effort.)

Partnerships among visitor, development, business and other organizations, representing the private and public sectors, much like the Tunkhannock Stakeholders Group;

Billboards and signage that “tease” and tempt or give a reason for visitors to stop, avoiding overused words and phrases [i.e. gateway, something for everyone, etc.]. Signage should use the right words, be brief, have a simple design and be maintained. (Tunkhannock’s gateway signs provide a mixed message.)

Adequate, clean and conveniently located comfort facilities that may include a visitor information kiosk. On the commercial side, national chains have found that restrooms actually attract customers, with approximately one-half of those purchasing something there doing it out of convenience and the other half out of guilt. In short, since everybody “has to go” why not take advantage of it as business decision?

Take community design into account especially at entranceways focused on places that will make the best first impressions, keeping signage uncluttered and

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professionally done. (Some of Tunkhannock’s gateway signs do not project the charm of a community on a river/water town with a visually pleasing historic district.)

 As a corollary, communities need adequate and user-friendly wayfinding signage. (Some examples in Tunkhannock for major attractions only.)

 Consider perpendicular signage with appropriate sized letter fonts for ease of reading by drivers and pedestrians, advertising the type of store not just the name that may be unfamiliar and meaningless for visitors. (Certain projections are permitted/others not.)

 Address parking issues with special ―forgiveness‖ for parkers/shoppers, providing facilities with signage for RV parking and other local incentives. (Enforcement has been noted as an issue in Tunkhannock, as well as competition for conveniently located on-street spaces and use of on-street spaces by employees.) By the way, studies show that most visitors need up to 4 hours of parking at a given location.

 Make the ―frontline‖ employees such as retail clerks, waiters/waitresses, etc. part of the sales and attraction effort. This requires hospitality training, ―adoption‖ of resources [―while you’re in town you need to see ….], cross-promotions or other local efforts.

 Visitor information availability 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, with informational kiosks augmenting staffed visitor centers, all of which should be conveniently located and well maintained. (Presently scattered among various websites/publications.)

 Create a conveniently located cluster of visitor oriented retail shopping opportunities that in turn attract a critical mass of shoppers that benefit the clustered businesses. (Presently there is a clustering of dining, specialty retail and entertainment downtown, and some big-box, highway commercial and convenience stores across the River along Route 29 in Eaton Township.)

 Creatively convert any negative characteristics into positives, [i.e. pointing out parking and walking to avoid periodic congestion].

 Develop a unique idea or concept that sets the community apart and becomes intrinsic in its theme (This is a basic component of the Heritage Communities Program). This may be one of the most critical and difficult elements, since many communities can claim to be a friendly small town that is a ―gateway‖ to various resources.

 Gather third-party endorsements that reinforce the local pitch to visitors. This can be as simple as welcoming comments at visitor’s register at a Visitor’s Center or website.

 Pursue business attraction and retention that complements the local tourism resources and helps attract visitors and keep them longer. Simply stated, focus on businesses that fit in with community image, goals and context and avoid those that may disrupt the setting or context.

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 The most successful museums and the ones most remembered tell stories and give a context and do not merely show artifacts (The local museum has limited hours.)

 Keep people interested and occupied so that they are busy four times longer than it took them to get there as noted earlier, so that they can say that ―… it was worth the drive‖. This requires an understanding of the potential visitor market, the concept of bundling and the relationship between accommodations and other hospitality resources. (Tunkhannock is relatively close to several population centers.)

 Understand the importance of ―product development‖ not just marketing in terms of the local economic impacts of tourism. This may require a community to address certain issues such as attractions, business development, visual quality and the development of other diversions. Visitors need ―something to do‖, especially after 5:00.

 Promote activities not just the place, perhaps in an ―activities guide‖ where the experience is addressed. This can be on the State tourism website, local websites, niche markets, etc. (Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau [EMVB] website focuses on the four counties, listing and locating shopping, dining, lodging cultural, recreational and other tourism resources and attractions.)

 Promote the community in terms of what is that sets it apart or is unique. Again, the uniqueness sells the community. When one hears of Salem, MA or Williamsburg, VA one has an image. While these communities may be the extreme, they do illustrate the need to have a recognizable theme or perception.

 Photographs should show the activities not just the resources or attractions. Again, sell the experience and not the location. (EMVB website does this very well).

 Promotional items should create a positive image and provide a simple way to respond or call for more information.

 Carry out a public relations effort in various types of media, since it is usually more effective than advertising alone.

 Use the Internet to attract visitors with a quality and user-friendly website [i.e. coordinated and recognizes the value of search engine optimization]; and

 Advertising should be frequent and consistent. (Part of recommendations)

Taken together the above reinforce two critical components of any local heritage community effort, simply stated what is unique about the Tunkhannock area and how does the community setting (i.e. visual quality, retailing, attractions, diversions, etc.) interface with the area as a destination.

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Tourism Factoids

The following factors have been identified by Destination Development International and premise this Heritage Community planning effort:  #1 tourism activity worldwide – shopping, dining and entertainment in pedestrian- friendly setting having a critical mass of food, specialty retail and stores open after 6:00 (when 70% of spending occurs)  Tourists are active 14 hrs/day – 6 hours in the primary activity that brought them to a place and 8 hours in secondary/diversionary activities  Secondary or diversionary activities account for 80% of visitor spending  Curb appeal accounts for 70% of most recreation and accommodations and food services sales  Overnight visitors spend three times more per day than day-trippers

Building on the above the keys for success include getting visitors and passersby to stop and create and maintain ways to keep them here longer. In other words, the community needs to enhance its role as an overnight destination. Thus, the WorkPlan should:  Develop, revitalize and maintain – things to do and keeping people busy  Inform and direct – personal contact not just signs, websites and brochures  Become a destination - Sell the experience not just the place  A good first impression – aesthetics and community design

Implementation Matrix

The various recommendations are interrelated and all oriented towards addressing and reinforcing those two critical elements underlying this planning effort, namely focusing on unique qualities and enhancing the community setting. The matrix on pages 94-98 describes and relates the recommendations, and places them into a suggested implementation timeframe.

Central to the implementation is a local responsible and coordinating party assuming the role initiated by the Tunkhannock Stakeholders Group that spearheaded the process. Pragmatics should rule here, in that as is the case with smaller communities, there are only so many people to go around. At the same time there are several organizations in Tunkhannock that play critical civic roles and carry out important betterment projects. A local decision, and a critical one at that, is if this role is to be by a separate individual body or a part of another. The implementation process is complex and interrelated, and depends on applying for and receiving a certain amount of public and private funding. The final plan will be placed before a State Oversight Committee in an effort to see that this occurs. Central themes are carried forward as an attempt to reinforce Tunkhannock in relation to Route 6 and other regional themes.

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Administrative - Framework/Institutional Issues

A central recommendation critical for follow-up and implementation of the Heritage Communities Program concept is the institutionalization of a steering committee or task force that will be the central focal point for localized tourism activities recommended in this Plan. This group can bring together various elements of a small but diverse community, and in bringing together a potential funding mechanism. The steering committee or task force is recommended to meet the following:  It should be representative and focused, embracing the community, area tourism resources and focused on furthering the recommendations of this Plan;  It may include various existing groups and committees;  It may also include County and regional planning and development agencies; and  It should be officially sanctioned by municipal governing body as in charge of Plan implementation.

The steering committee or task force is seen as a facilitator and coordinator focused on the implementation of WorkPlan recommendations. The steering committee or task force essentially ―keeps things moving‖, carries out activities and monitors the community agenda and encourages actions. In either case, the steering committee or task force also has annual reporting responsibilities to the Pennsylvania Route 6 Alliance, so that the Alliance is kept abreast of progress towards carrying out the WorkPlan.

Administrative – Regulatory Issues

The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) is the framework for local- level land use and land development plans and ordinances within the Commonwealth, and clearly recognizes municipal governments as the land use/land development regulator. Simply stated, MPC allows communities to exert as much or as little of a regulatory framework, within some rather general guidelines. Both Tunkhannock Borough and Eaton Township have enacted and enforce land use regulations. Pages 64-68 of this WorkPlan review present zoning and land use regulations, as well as comments on these regulations especially as they relate to recognized and localized Route 6 heritage resources in relation to Route 6 themes. Tunkhannock Township does not have land use regulations in effect. The steering committee/task force or other variation of a Heritage Community Program implementation vehicle, while having no formal role in such regulations, may serve as a point of coordination and advocacy with the municipalities in a coordinated approach to revisit/revise, or in the case of Tunkhannock Township to enact, land use regulations in the interest of tourism considerations. Signage regulations exist in all three communities, similarly the steering committee/task force may also serve as an advocate in revisions to these requirements that affect tourism. There are a number of specific recommendations in relation to the local regulatory framework:

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Consistency in requirements along Route 6: As the review of the regulatory framework suggest, existing practice allows a number of types of land uses along the Route 6 corridor, especially since no zoning exists in Tunkhannock Township. MPC essentially makes the choice of developmental regulations a local decision, and it is not the intention of the WorkPlan to circumvent this concept. While each municipality no doubt enacts and enforces regulations it feels is in its best interest it is worth noting that a community deciding not to have zoning regulations has no influence over land uses and potentially conflicting land uses and development. Thus there is the potential for conflicting land uses abutting the Borough on Route 6 and there is little in the way of a regional land use perspective. There are ways to inject this into the process.  MPC affords the option for Joint Municipal Zoning by two or more municipalities, and includes procedures and requirements if this option is followed. MPC also allows for joint administration and enforcement. Eaton Township is involved in this type of zoning with Monroe Township. A similar arrangement is possible between the Borough and Township of Tunkhannock, as well as among additional municipalities.  Short of outright joint zoning, municipalities may craft individual ordinances that have commonalities with those in adjacent communities, and further regional planning, land use, development and design goals. It may be ―selfish‖ but this is seen as beneficial for the concept of a consistent and compatible Route 6 corridor as a destination and as a contributor to the regional economic base. Of course this would require a local decision to have zoning in Tunkhannock in the first place.

Consideration of design standards and/or guidance in land use and other local regulations: Simply stated, design standards are defined procedures, dimensions, materials, or other components that directly affect the design of a facility. In essence in land development they deal with layout and appearance. The existing local developmental regulations tend to outline specific design standards in terms of landscaping and buffering requirements or general appearance, certainly prudent considerations in defining and retaining the community’s sense of place. There are other forms of design standards that may be incorporated into local zoning ordinances. For example, new development on vacant land or in-fill development in the Borough or between developed parcels may be guided by architectural design standard illustrations, as conceptually depicted above, in an attempt encourage buildings to relate in scale and design features to other surrounding buildings, showing respect for

88 local context. Some standards relate to the layout of buildings in highway commercial areas, such as those in the Townships. A number of communities provide guidance on the other design considerations, such as the City of Sparks, Nevada, which outlines guidance on everything from building site layout to light standards as depicted below.

 Alternative Highway Commercial Layout – 15% of total building frontage at/near front setback line, reinforcing streetscape and screening parking.

 Parking and circulation standards that illustrate written requirements, depicting a hierarchy for driveways, landscaping and other site planning considerations,

 Illustration of design and site amenities for entry driveways.

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 Alternative methods of achieving the screening of parking areas via perimeter buffering

 Addressing the often overlooked concept of screening utility and mechanical equipment.

Such standards are in fact written in narrative form with the graphic depictions as a means of providing examples that transcend some of the more subjective design statements found in numerous local ordinances.

Other Regulatory Considerations: A review of the existing regulatory framework as it affects the tourism orientation of this WorkPlan is as follows:

 Attraction Signage Consistency: There is no real mention of signing for attractions in the two municipal zoning ordinances (Tunkhannock Borough and Eaton Township) or the signage ordinance (Tunkhannock Township) reviewed. Consideration of these signs or even a citation to the PennDOT regulations is suggested in future updates of these ordinances. This is an area where a regional approach may benefit the communities and the attractions that help define the region, in the form of common language, requirements, etc.

 Borough Dimensional Requirements: Within Tunkhannock Borough, dimensional requirements (i.e. setbacks, lot sizes, lot widths, etc.) essentially reflect what may be expected in an older and earlier-developed borough with an urban core, but may not relate them to certain contextual factors such as adjacent setbacks, massing, etc. This is critical for in-fill development (between two or more existing structures) and in physically expanding buildings. Specifically, the Borough may want to consider the following when revising its zoning regulations: o Consider the potential for a ―floating‖ front setback for new construction (i.e. buildings, additions, etc.) in the Commercial Districts whereby the existing

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front setback may be set by adjoining existing buildings or average setback of the block (i.e. helps preserve historic appearance) o Consideration of a maximum setback especially in the C-1 District to avoid the break-up of urban design with parking areas and out of character large front open space.

 Borough Business Districts: There are several areas where some attention is encouraged, specifically: o Consider eliminating single- and two-family residences from permitted uses while maintaining the possibility for upper floor residential uses, in the interest of preserving the relatively compact traditional retail business area and averting conflicts between and for commercial and residential uses. o Consider differentiating motels and hotels by definition permitting hotels in the C-1 and motels in the C-2 Districts, with some suggested definitions as follows: . Hotel: A multi-level commercial establishment offering transient lodging accommodations on a daily rate to the general public and often having restaurants, meeting rooms and stores that are available to the general public. . Motel: A roadside building or group of detached or connected buildings designed or used primarily for providing sleeping accommodations for automobile and truck travelers and having a parking space adjacent to a sleeping room.

 Borough Signage: Borough requirements deal with ―commercial signs‖ in general and do not differentiate between sign requirements in C-1 vs. C-2 Districts: o Consider permitting only externally illuminated signs in the C-1 District as a means of reinforcing the pedestrian and historic scale of the District, perhaps confining internally lit and changeable electronic variable message (digital) signs to the C-2 District, more in keeping with the highway commercial character. o Consider a lower maximum square footage for signs in the C-1 vs. C-2 District, in keeping with the pedestrian scale of the former. Another consideration may be to relate maximum square footage to the lineal frontage of the building (C-1) or lot (C-2). o Consider permitting projecting/perpendicular signs that project more (3-4 feet) from the building wall, especially in the C-1 District. Also consider a maximum height for this variety of signage. o Reconsider the notion of prohibiting certain signs and define what is permitted, in the interest of unintentionally permitting a sign type otherwise not desired but not specified. Another approach is the insert language in the litany of prohibited signs that specify that signs not listed as prohibited are not deemed to be permitted. o Consider amending Section 1304-2-b to permit the outlining of buildings in the C-1 District by small low-wattage decorative bulbs.

 Parking Requirements: A review of off-street parking requirements for retail uses in the Borough zoning ordinance suggests that it may be somewhat stringent. o The Borough requires 1 space per 200 square feet of retail space, while some communities have found that 1 space per 300 square feet meets the typical retail parking need.

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o Likewise, the Borough requires 1 space per 200 square feet of office space, while some communities have found that 1 space per 300 square feet meets the typical retail parking need. o Some urban cities and boroughs with on-street parking exempt all or at least a portion of off-street parking requirements (i.e. no required spaces for stores up to 5,000 square feet) in traditional downtown areas as a means of recognizing/encouraging multiple shopping destinations for parkers and discouraging off-street parking consuming the frontage of a store in an urban area. Tunkhannock’s ordinance does not specifically provide blanket exemptions for retail businesses in the C-1 District although it affords the possibility of a reduction via a Conditional Use (review/action by Borough Council). While it can be argued that a case-by-case review is a balanced approach, it also creates the potential for uncertainty that may impact new retail development. . It is suggested that Tunkhannock Borough consider revisiting parking space needs per square foot of retail and office area, and the Borough consider at least some level of off-street exemption for retail and related businesses in the C-1 District.

 Borough Historic District: Certainly the historic district and other historic resources are recognized among critical and defining characteristics of Tunkhannock Borough. The Borough does not have a Historic District Ordinance that augments the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance, and does not directly treat the District in its zoning ordinance. Consideration of one or both of the following protective measures is suggested when the Borough reviews the regulatory framework: o Consideration of a Historic Overlay District that embraces the historic district within the Borough, which in turn spans several zoning districts. The overlay concept is rather simple in that whatever resource is to receive special attention (i.e. some communities have conservation overlays encompassing floodplains, steeply sloping areas, critical viewsheds, etc.), a certain subset of requirements, especially Permitted, Special Exception or Condition Uses, apply to that overlay over and above what may be called for in the underlying district or districts. In this way the historic districts receive further protection from certain potentially undesirable uses or uses that would dilute the historic district. In addition, certain design standards and demolition standards/approvals may also be incorporated. o Alternatively, specific design standards can also be incorporated into a Historic District Ordinance, which may also address design and architectural features in terms of spacing and rhythm of buildings/features, proportion of facades and windows/doors, relationship of exterior materials and textures, relationship of roof shapes and architectural details, continuity and scale. Design standards and illustrations serve to put a firmer meaning into this role.

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 Eaton Township: Essentially the Districts in the Township allow a mix of uses, differing mainly in density. The Route 29 corridor has become a major highway commercial business area and it appears that this trend will continue. The Ordinance requires a Traffic Impact Study for traffic-intensive uses. o Presently this corridor traverses or is adjacent to four (4) Zoning Districts, which appear to meet present land use needs. Consideration of a Highway- Commercial District is suggested in any future revision of the Ordinance. o Consider eliminating single- and two-family residences from permitted uses in the essentially highway-oriented districts in the interest of preserving the growing retail business area and averting conflicts between and for commercial and residential uses. o Consider adding language to requirements for changeable message signs (i.e. electronic) stipulating that they shall be equipped with sensors that automatically adjust the emitted illumination in relation to ambient light. o Consider relating maximum square footage of signs to the lineal frontage of the building (VC-E) or lot (RA-E and C/I-E). o Reconsider the notion of prohibiting certain signs and define what is permitted, in the interest of unintentionally permitting a sign type otherwise not desired but not specified. Another approach is the insert language in the litany of prohibited signs that specify that signs not listed as prohibited are not deemed to be permitted.

 Tunkhannock Township Signage Ordinance: The Township does not have zoning but several suggestions are offered for signage regulations: o Consider regulations related to changeable message signs (i.e. electronic) such as maximum square footage, setbacks and equipped with sensors that automatically adjust the emitted illumination in relation to ambient light. o Consider relating maximum square footage of signs to the lineal frontage of the building and/or lot. o Reconsider the notion of prohibiting certain signs and define what is permitted, in the interest of unintentionally permitting a sign type otherwise not desired but not specified. Another approach is the insert language in the litany of prohibited signs that specify that signs not listed as prohibited are not deemed to be permitted.

In summary, a combined and coordinated review and revision of the municipal regulatory framework is suggested, in the interest of maintaining the special qualities of the Tunkhannock area. Obviously, the perspective of the WorkPlan coincides with a tourism orientation and does not attempt to inject other conditions or community needs that may also be served by such a coordinated and cooperative process. Up to the budget year that began on July 1, 2010, the Commonwealth provided matching funding for land use/land development planning via the Land Use Planning and Technical Assistance Program (LUPTAP). The Commonwealth is expected to unveil its Municipal Assistance Program (MAP) in 2011, which replaces LUPTAP and will provide 50/50 funding for results-oriented planning. MAP may then be a source for assistance in ordinance revisions.

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Short-term (first 12 months after adoption)

Recommendation/Action Implementation Description Comments Category Determination of proper implementation vehicle and Building on the Stakeholders Group membership, the framework expanded group needs to decide the form and format of the Continuation/Transformation Administrative  Creation of new steering committee or task force implementation vehicle. The possibility of forming a new of Tunkhannock Heritage  Expansion of role of existing steering committee or task steering committee/task force or adapting an existing Community Program (HCP) force committee or agency for a new purpose must be determined. The chosen vehicle reviews the Stakeholders and other  Other new agency/committee recommendations, suggested priorities and involved Early-Action Activities  Expansion of role of existing agency agencies, organizations and individuals and makes An expanded formal group building on the activities of necessary revisions and refinements. Suggested invited the Stakeholders Group charged with the review, agencies may include (subject to local decision):  Endless Mountains Council of the Arts revisions and refinement of recommendations  Endless Mountains Heritage Region  Convene and coordinate various agencies  Endless Mountains Nature Center  Establish/adapt/maintain a Facebook page focusing on  Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau local HCP activities  Northern Tier Regional Planning and Development  Institutionalize connections among area resources, Commission attractions  Residents at-large with an interest in heritage and tourism  Encourage new signage for off-street parking areas  Susquehanna Greenway Partnership  Tunkhannock Area Service Clubs  Encourage business owners in Tunkhannock to adopt and maintain consistent operational hours and at least  Tunkhannock Borough  Tunkhannock Business and Professional Association one common day for late-openings  Tunkhannock Downtown Development Corporation  Coordinate with TB&PA & businesses on building  Tunkhannock Township outlining lighting project (may require clarification with  Tunkhannock Tree Association Borough zoning regulations see page 62)  Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce  Confirm/refine priorities among projects suggested in  Wyoming County Commissioners WorkPlan  Wyoming County Cultural Center/Dietrich Theater  Identify possible future events, festivals and shows of  Wyoming County Historical Society interest to members – 1st or ___-days noted in discussions Will improve coordination among local groups/committees and formulate a direction

Stakeholders develop and maintain or participate on an existing Facebook page on Tunkhannock focusing on local resources, feedback and a call for volunteers

Business hours as an early-action response to comments 94

Short-term (first 12 months after adoption) - continued

Recommendation/Action Implementation Description Comments Category Short-term Visual Quality Physical Continue litter indexing with teams focused on 8 identified Low/no-cost items that are carried out quickly that (1) Enhancements Enhancements areas (Litter Indexing Map, see page 104) and coordinate enhance visible areas and community gateways, and (2) Marketing plantings, landscaping and clean-up at existing welcoming show public that ―something is being done‖. These are gateway signs annual or more frequent events throughout ten-year period. Initiation & implementation of a Gateway enhancement The western and southern Gateways have relatively new & Implementation Physical project focused on improving the visual quality while adding attractive signage, perhaps only in need of some plantings. of Gateways Project Enhancements to the sense of place The next focus is on signage at the eastern gateway & Heritage Resource  Eastern Gateway – signage and landscaping ―softening‖ the appearance of the sound wall on the Route 6 Development  Byway/Bypass Sound Wall – plantings & signage Bypass.  Steering Committee/Task Force decides on the concept

Major attention at this point is to confirm locations & begin of the proposed Gateway projects and explores search for potential state, federal & local funding. availability of Keystone Community Program, Transportation Enhancements, future rounds of Pennsylvania Community Transportation Initiative (PCTI) funding and availability of other funding and partnerships. Costs likely in the $15,000 - $25,000 range, pending scope/length along the Bypass.  Signage identifying The Gateway to the Endless Mountains Byway should be requested via PennDOT Steering Committee/Task Force dealing with administrative Two major websites are of interest to Tunkhannock, those of and marketing components central to the WorkPlan keyed the Tunkhannock.com and Endless Mountains Visitors to building on central concepts: Bureau (EMVB). Coordination, Identity and Marketing  Tunkhannock as a shopping, dining & arts center  ―Tunkhannock‖ is not a common name - Internet Clear Message Administrative  Tunkhannock as a Rivertown & Gateway searches identify Tunkhannock.com first. This site  Tunkhannock’s large, diverse & intact Historic District essentially lists local businesses. Tunkhannock’s identity as shopping, dining, arts & river  The EMVB website calendar gives an excellent overview town must get out more forcefully. Localized cultural- and of attractions and resources throughout Wyoming nature-heritage information must be added to local County, and there are links to local websites. websites in a ―decentralized‖ but complete ―virtual visitor’s  Other websites list specific events of the hosting agency center‖. (i.e. The Dietrich, TB&PA, etc.) Downtown Enhancement Physical Steering Committee/Task Force validates consensus on Project components to be reviewed/revised include (1) Planning Enhancements wide-ranging Downtown/Rivertown enhancements, Route 6 crossover structure, (2) Warren/Harding Streets Heritage Resource determines interest in and availability of Main Street redevelopment area, (3) Riverside Park enhancements, (4) Development Program participation/funding façade/upper floor enhancements and (5) parking

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Mid-term (1-5 years)

Recommendation/Action Implementation Description Comments Category

Focus on creating tours that reinforce & link Tunkhannock Tunkhannock is uniquely located and positioned to be a true Wayfinding as a hospitality center for a range of nearby resources and ―hospitality center‖ with shopping, dining, arts & Loop Tours/Trails Heritage Resource attractions entertainment for those visiting town & surrounding emanating from Development  Loop Auto Tour (Rts. 6/3004/3003/29) signage & resources: interpretation that links Endless Mountains Nature  Loop tours identification and wayfinding signage costs may Tunkhannock - Initiation Marketing Center/Howland Preserve/Vosburg Neck/Tunnel/P&G Plant range from $2,500 - $25,000 depending on number and level  Loop Auto Tour (Rts. 29/1001 & other secondary) signage & of interpretation; partnering opportunities with resources linked interpretation that links Lake Carey Area should be explored.  Loop Auto Tour (Rts. 6/92/11) signage & interpretation that  Auto focused on key resources but begin with & evolve around links Tunkhannock Viaduct & Nicholson Tunkhannock as a ―base‖  Loop Auto Tour (Rts. 6/92/2004 & other secondary) signage  Bicycle Tour features a distinct view of the Susquehanna & interpretation that links Lake Winola & Buttermilk Creek River not typically available locally Falls  Major funding sources for trails include DCNR C2P2 Programs  Eatonville Rd. Bicycle Route signage & interpretation (Recreation & Conservation, Pennsylvania Recreational Trails, traversing agricultural area with River views Rails-to-Trails); most require 50% match.  Iroquois Trail Phase 1 development Initiation of a multi-faceted downtown enhancement effort A wide-ranging downtown effort that together enhance (1) Downtown Enhancements - Physical comprised of various components: downtown Tunkhannock as pedestrian-oriented downtown Initiation Enhancements  Planning/programming of pedestrian crossover linking offering specialty retail, dining, arts & entertainment and (2) downtown with River & Riverside Park Heritage Resource as a ―Rivertown‖. Costs TBD; Potential funding sources  Revitalization of Warren/Harding for commercial reuse (i.e. Development include: specialty retail, arts, accommodations, etc.)  Redevelopment Capital Assistance Program (RCAP)  Façade enhancements to 8-10 commercial structures  PCTI and other transportation enhancement funding  Initiate Riverside Park master planning & programming (i.e.  Rural Business Enterprise Grants (RBEG) Program access, roadway, bandshell, play area enhancements)  Rural Development Housing & Community Facilities Programs  DCED Keystone Communities Program  Local private/public partners  PennDOT 12-Year projects programming Regulatory Revisions Administrative Encourage Borough and Eaton Township to update WorkPlan suggestions: Heritage Resource and refine local zoning/signage regulations &  Design standards, historic overlay zoning, parking, Development Tunkhannock Township to revise signage regulations miscellaneous district and attraction signage revisions into the zoning ordinances. to reflect suggested changes in the WorkPlan  Consideration of zoning in Tunkhannock Township.  Joint effort may create coordinated approach and, enhance State funding via proposed MAP. Revisions estimated cost $5,000-$10,000; new ordinance $20,000-$25,000.

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Mid-term (1-5 years) - continued

Recommendation/Action Implementation Description Comments Category

Steering Committee/Task Force continues maintaining Two major marketing needs are distinct but related: localized cultural- and nature-heritage information on local  ―Frontline‖ hospitality workers are critical in personally websites in a ―decentralized‖ but complete ―virtual visitor’s relaying the message of Tunkhannock. The use of Coordination, Identity and Marketing center‖. locally produced DVD’s address issues associated with Clear Message - Hospitality  Develop a ―business-friendly‖ hospitality training effort interrupting business for training & the high turnover that individualizes training via a locally produced DVD among employees in these businesses; Dietrich Theater Continuation Heritage Resource  Assist Wyoming County Historical Society in the mentioned as possible partner in this matter. Development acquisition of software that would digitize files &  Software would help the Museum ―fill in the details‖ of collections Tunkhannock’s & Wyoming County’s rich history.  Wayfinding of remaining resources perceived as not In addition to private/local funding, sources include the State being adequately signed Heritage Areas (SHA) when refunded. Steering Committee/Task Force focuses on enhancing the NRHD is a practical display of the past, present & future of Historic District as a Marketing image & visibility of the Historic District Tunkhannock. Identification, interpretation & accessibility Tourism Asset Wayfinding  Signs/placards on especially significant buildings, as will not only enhance appreciation of it but further build on Heritage Resource identified in the NRHD nomination forms this unique heritage resource as an attraction. Development  Graphic & geo-referenced building locations on local  Signs, printed locations & website geo-referencing website and map/brochure, with brief description of places the NRHD as a visible & recognizable significance (i.e. owners, historic reference, etc.) centerpiece.  Walking tour of NRHD & churches on local website and  Walking tour reinforces Tunkhannock as a pedestrian- brochure friendly town.

Traffic and Access Studies Physical Steering Committee/Task Force encourages the funding & The development of a traffic impact study focusing on Enhancements implementation of a wide-ranging transportation study automobile & truck traffic, analyzing existing conditions & Administrative  PA Route 29 Corridor in Eaton Township projected conditions based on anticipated changes in land  Tunkhannock Borough use, increased tourism, Marcellus -related traffic, etc.  Link between land use/development in Eaton portion of corridor  Traffic/pedestrian safety/turning movements in Tunkhannock portion of corridor Programming of Smart Transportation approach via PennDOT 12-Year projects programming

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Long- term (6-10 years)

Recommendation/Action Implementation Description Comments Category Focus on finalizing utilizing tours that reinforce & link Tunkhannock’s role as a ―hospitality hub‖ builds, with Tunkhannock as a hospitality center for a range of nearby shopping, dining, arts & entertainment for those visiting town Loop Tours/Trails Wayfinding resources and attractions, as initiated in the 1-5 year cycle. & surrounding resources: emanating from Heritage Resource  Four (4) Loop Auto Tours signage & interpretation along the  All tours/trails have to have interpretive & wayfinding routes & geo-located on website mapping Tunkhannock - Completion Development signage along routes, and graphically & geo-referenced  Eatonville Rd. Bicycle Route signage & interpretation for use on websites and Smart Phone App Marketing traversing agricultural area with River views  Major funding sources for trails include DCNR C2P2 Programs  Iroquois Trail Phase 1 development (Recreation & Conservation, Pennsylvania Recreational Trails, Rails-to-Trails); most require 50% match. Coordinate with Borough on additional segments of the Iroquois Trail, with connectivity enhancing it as a tourism resource Complete multi-faceted downtown enhancement effort A wide-ranging downtown effort that together enhance (1) Downtown Enhancements - Physical comprised of various components: downtown Tunkhannock as pedestrian-oriented downtown Completion Enhancements  Programming & implementation of pedestrian crossover offering specialty retail, dining, arts & entertainment and (2) Heritage Resource linking downtown with River & Riverside Park as a ―Rivertown‖.  Revitalization of Warren/Harding for commercial reuse (i.e.  Pedestrian crossover is important link that ―brings the River Development specialty retail, arts, accommodations, etc.) closer to downtown‖  Completion of façade enhancements to 8-10 commercial  Crossover will require planning/programming via PennDOT structures 12-Year Program process  Finalize/implement Riverside Park master improvements (i.e. access, roadway, bandshell, play area enhancements) Physical Steering Committee/Task Force utilizes NRHD as The NRHD is both a showplace and a workshop for historic Historic District as a Enhancements ―workshop‖, by partnering with property owners in the architectural preservation: Tourism Asset Heritage Resource NRHD and allied groups/professionals:  Numerous ―best practices‖ in existing rehabilitated Development  Historic preservationists buildings in active use  Architects/architectural students  Numerous ―workshops‖ for rehabilitation & restoration  Rehabilitation contractors activities  Educational institutions  Opportunities for rehabilitation training via interactive  Economic development officials rehabilitation & reuse planning, charrettes & volunteer work

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Summary of Recommendations

The graphics in this subsection help depict the recommendations that are appropriately graphically illustrated, cutting across the categories included in the Implementation Matrix on the previous pages.

Regional Resources Map

The graphic on the following page summarizes existing tourism resources as well as suggested resources, including the Susquehanna River and Susquehanna River North Branch Water Trail, Lakes Carey and Winola, the Vosburg Neck and resources located within, the Tunkhannock Viaduct and Tunkhannock itself, a popular stopover and shopping/entertainment area, as well as Route 6, both Business Route 6 and the bypass also known as The Gateway to the Endless Mountains Byway and various other community or tourism resources, The existing and proposed resources are mentioned or alluded to in the recommendations matrix.

The types of visitors the planning process feels that may be attracted cuts across interest and age groups, embracing residents of nearby cities and small towns in search of a unique place for dining, specialty shopping, arts and entertainment; travellers with interest in active and passive recreational amenities in the region, regional traffic on US Route 6 6 and residents/shopppers from a large rural region shopping in certain big-box retailers in the area. This is a large and diverse mix of people with varying interests.

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Tunkhannock Borough Regional Resources 0 0.5 1 Miles Rt 6 Corridor HCP Tunkhannock Borough Local Resources Map

Revitalization recommendations on the following page are premised on enhancing Tunkhannock as a hospitality center, a ―Rivertown‖ and as an architectural treasure, providing an array of specialty goods and fine arts, dining and entertainment for these varied travellers and vistors. Key among them are the following:

 A number of downtown enhancements, building on the ―Rivertown‖ concept but also its existing strengths in specialty shopping, dining and theater:

 Expanding the visually enhganced gateways; and

 Showcasing the National Register Historic District and utilizing it as a part of its economic base.

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Litter Indexing

As part of the effort to enhance Tunkhannock’s appearance as a Route 6 Heritage Community, it and other Heritage Communities have incorporated Litter Indexing as a part of the implementation effort. The Litter Index is a measurement tool researched and designed by Keep America Beautiful that measures the amount of visible litter in a community. Litter indexing is an early-action, inexpensive but effective way of maintaining attractive gateways and other critical areas in Heritage Communities. Clean and attractive neighborhoods are safer, healthier and more vibrant neighborhoods. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and many neighborhoods, organizations and governments use the results to guide litter prevention, education and cleanup efforts. The Litter Index is a great activity for families, small groups, individuals, and students. Groups may volunteer as a team building exercise or service activity, and students may receive service hours.

The areas are to be regularly surveyed by designated teams, and observations of litter recorded, using a scale of 1-4 1 = clean area 2 = needs one or two people to pick up trash 3 = needs an organized effort to pick up trash and beautify 4 = areas of blight. Needs organized efforts and funding to beautify

The concept was reviewed with the Tunkhannock Stakeholders Group at a meeting in November 2010, at which time the program was explained and eight (8) areas were chosen to be monitored by the Stakeholders (see map on following page). In addition, Stakeholders carried out an initial Litter Indexing during the Spring of 2011, with the initial indexing for each identified below:

Area Description Initial Index Rating 1 - Warren and Harding Streets 4 2 - Rt. 29 - Bypass to Church Street 2 3 - Rt. 6 Eastern Gateway 2 4 - Rt. 29 – Church Street to Avery Street 1 5 - West Street 1 6 - Business Route 6 - western commercial area 1 7 - West Tioga Street 2 8 - East Tioga Street 1

The Warren/Harding Street area is the only one deemed to be blighted, with most areas either clean or slightly littered. Follow-up may be in the form of reporting back to steering committee or task force, apprising code enforcement officials and/or periodic volunteer pick-up. This can be family and group events.

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Area # Description 1 Warren St & Harding St 29 2 Rt. 29 Bypass to Church St. 3 Rt. 6 Eastern Gateway 4 Rt. 29 - Church St to Avery St 5 West St.

C 6 Rt. 6 Western Commercial eme tery 7 West Tioga St. St t Dora 8 East Tioga Street S n Dr A ld ve ie ry S f t d t e S t R S y W r e in e c ol v a A u t v Bus A r S t p n S 6 S a l v i e l l z Re u a ed H St S

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Tunkhannock Borough Litter Indexing Areas 0 0.5 1 Miles Rt 6 Corridor HCP Interpretive Planning Statement – What Makes Tunkhannock Unique?

The final step of the Heritage Communities Planning effort is the development of Planning Statements that (1) embody the local heritage tourism effort and (2) relate this heritage to the identified six themes of the Pennsylvania Route 6 Corridor, which include The Warrior’s Road, Natural Opportunities, The Engineer’s Challenge, New Beginnings and Safe Havens, Visionaries, Achievers and Social Entrepreneurs and Outdoor Enthusiast’s Paradise. Popular engagement and discussions during the planning process included all of the Route 6 themes:

 A Warrior’s Road: Among the resources associated with this theme, the major local resource is Sullivan’s Expedition against the Native Americans in 1779, which of course is directly related to the American Revolution in that the alliance between them and those sympathizers with the British was essentially terminated by this action.

 Natural Opportunities: This is a dominant theme given Tunkhannock’s industrial heritage with the canal, river and rail transport of coal and lumber, as well as the processing associated with the Tannery. A present day example of the use of natural resources is the Marcellus Shale gas well activities in the region.

 The Engineers Challenge: Tunkhannock is a short distance from the massive Tunkhannock Viaduct in Nicholson, one of the major regional resources and among the nation’s engineering resources. The construction and operation of the North Branch Canal system and what became the Lehigh Valley Railroad are also prominent examples of the Engineers Challenge.

 New Beginnings and Safe Havens: Tunkhannock successfully rebuilt and reinvented itself following a number of major fires and floods, displaying a sense of pride and determination.

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 Visionaries, Achievers and Social Entrepreneurs: Tunkhannock’s connection with this theme is seen in its well constructed and maintained Historic District, which includes residences, offices and commercial establishments representing a number of architectural styles. Of course, a major personality within this theme is Walter B. Tewksbury, who after achieving athletic honors and acclaim at the University of Pennsylvania (sitting on left) and the 1900 Olympics, returned to Tunkhannock, coached and was active in the community.

 Outdoor Enthusiasts Paradise: The area around Tunkhannock has numerous attractions and resources, including fishing and hunting opportunities, passive recreation and open space, and water and land trails that reflect this theme. Lake Winola is a relatively early example of the outdoors theme. The Susquehanna River is regaining visibility, once associated with the industrial past but now more reflective of recreational opportunities.

In relating the Tunkhannock area to these Route 6 themes and/or in general promotions as a whole, Destination Development International, Inc. has developed a listing of ―phrases to avoid‖, and includes such words as ―explore‖, ―discover‖, ―unlike anywhere else‖, ―so much to see and do‖, ―best kept secret‖, ―gateway‖ (to somewhere), ―close to everywhere/everything‖, ―purely natural‖ (or other play on the word natural), ―fun for the whole family‖, ―retire here‖, and the apparent grand-daddy of them all - ―a great place to live, work and play‖ (reportedly used by 3,500 +/- communities). The message here is simple, stay away from the generic and focus on what makes Tunkhannock special and answer the question ―… what can I get in Tunkhannock that I can’t get somewhere else?‖

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Marketing and Hospitality Planning Statement

The Tunkhannock community should focus its respective uniqueness to attract the traveling public and strengthen itself as a destination. While the location among various natural and environmental features, the cultural heritage and the small town quaintness are all realities, the question still begs, ―What can a traveler get in Tunkhannock that they cannot find in their own backyard?‖ This WorkPlan identifies these unique qualities and Tunkhannock’s attractions and resources should be on the tips of every townsperson’s tongue. Identified early on in the planning process was the need to provide information on local and regional attractions in a consistent location. Information should be easily available on how to get to a given attraction or activity, the best way to experience it, and the history or story related to the attraction.

 Wayfinding signage should be incorporated into the plan and be part of the informational system; it should be easy to read and congruent throughout community.

 The theme and its coordinated message should be center to a localized marketing and promotion effort that is at the same time coordinated with other regional efforts. In this case, it includes the Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau, as well as the PA Route 6 Alliance. Cross promotion of events and attractions should be both community-wide and regionally based.

Recognizing the relationship between Tunkhannock and the larger region is important in marketing. Tunkhannock is a part of a region rich in cultural heritage and outdoor opportunities and a hospitality center where people can shop, dine and be entertained. The matrix includes a number of recommendations on getting these messages out. Identified in the planning project was the need to provide information on local and regional attractions in consistent and convenient locations. Throughout the implementation periods, the WorkPlan identifies the need for participate in local and regional marketing and promotional efforts.

Regional and Local Promotions

The WorkPlan suggests a combined effort that both ties in with those of the suggested tourism promotion partners and further develops local promotional efforts. Websites continue to grow in importance in tourism promotions, and the recommendations in the Implementation Matrix reflect this. Unlike some Route 6 communities, a quick Google search yields fairly ready access to Tunkhannock, PA, with www.tunkhannock.com first, followed by the Wikipedia citation then the Tunkhannock Area School District. A Tunkhannock Township in Monroe County appears before other local websites (i.e. Wyoming County Press

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Examiner, Dietrich Theater, etc.). The County Chamber of Commerce’s website was 16th in order when ―Tunkhannock‖ was searched, and www.tunkboro.com, the Borough’s website, was 24th in order, although www.tunkhannock.com has a link to it describing it as ―Borough’s Official Website‖. Specifying ―Tunkhannock, PA‖ does not change this order of appearance significantly. Other sites such as the http://tunkalive.blogspot.com show up but has outdated events information that may not convey the fact that ―things are going on‖. Even with a rather distinct name, in the day of the Internet and ―Search Engine Optimization‖, Tunkhannock, PA may still need to differentiate itself and/or centralize its message.

 Overall, Tunkhannock events, attractions and other tourism resources appear on the Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau (EMVB), which promotes events in Tunkhannock, as well as and/or the larger region. Some events are listed on the websites of sponsoring agencies such as the Tunkhannock Business and Professional Association and the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce, but the event listings are not all-inclusive.  The website of the Endless Mountains Heritage Region (EMHR) provides general information on the region, special projects funded via EMHR, the Susquehanna River North Branch Water Trail and numerous local and regional website links.  Tunkhannock should be active in the efforts of the EMVB, affording the community the opportunity to participate in other state, regional and local efforts and yield the benefits of cross-promotion.  Create a multi-day itinerary option using the various Loop Tours as unifying forces for activities and visits to the area. These tours focus on the area resources always with Tunkhannock as the center – and the place where people shop, dine, stay and are entertained. In all cases, the experience not necessarily the locations/towns should be emphasized. The itinerary options can be posted on a central website, and as apps, and provided to all local and regional marketing affiliates. The www.tunkhannock.com website has a ―Photos/Events‖ tab and the Borough’s www.tunkboro.com has an ―Events‖ tab, however both are presently underutilized. The EMVB does carry most of the events and has a ―Things to See and Do‖ tab, as well as tabs for Lodging, Dining and Shopping. The resources, itineraries, experiences, etc. would seem to be appropriate on one or more of these.  The development of a locally produced hospitality training DVD, addressing issues associated with interrupting business for training and the high turnover among employees in these businesses, as identified by locals during the HCP planning process. Area post-secondary schools and the Dietrich Theater can be asked to partner with the Steering Committee/Task Force.  Incorporate National Tourism Week (1st full week of May) into the school curriculum by inviting business owners, EMVB staff, Chamber representatives and other local tourism officials to speak about the importance of tourism to high school students.  Consider the development of a Wyoming County or Tunkhannock ―App‖ for area resources, tours and other attractions that focus on Tunkhannock.  Highlight successful businesses through an awards and recognition program.  Maintain participation in the Litter Index in the Keep America Beautiful Program.

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Cross Promotions

Businesses should be encouraged to cross promote their products, services and offerings.  Local accommodations and attractions are recommended to agree on joint packaging, even cooperatively advertising their product. Attractions should not be limited to physical places. For example, guide services, artisans and other specialists can offer their services or learning experiences to lodging guests.  Promotions are recommended to reflect the themes noted in the Implementation Matrix.  Certain signature events and attractions (i.e. Founders’ Day/River Paddle, Bluegrass festival, Christmas in Our Hometown, Film Festivals, etc.) draw sizable crowds, giving the opportunity to connect to those events and attractions and offer something downtown to attract the visitor. Special sales and activities coinciding with these signature events already exist and are recommended to continue. Remember, the shopping experience and the signature events help define Tunkhannock’s uniqueness.

Web Presence

Tunkhannock area businesses and attractions appear to have a varied web presence, with some having exceptionally well planned and user-friendly sites, others with a basic website but some having no presence at all. A number of business websites are linked to the Tunkhannock Business and Professional Association, www.tunkhannock.com and the Chamber of Commerce websites. The recent PA Route 6 Tourism Infrastructure Plan identified the following within Wyoming County (Tunkhannock Area in parenthesis)  54 accommodations/food services (38)  20 arts, entertainment and recreation providers (13)  89 tourism-oriented retail establishments (62)

Wayfinding Planning Statement

Planning by the Pennsylvania Tourism Office’s notes the importance of installing tourist-friendly signage as part of a tourism development and promotion effort. A relatively new approach has been developed that replaces the Tourism-Oriented Directional Signage on State highways. The State signage can let people know where they are (i.e. identify regions, local communities and attractions). Wayfinding signing at a local level is a way to provide a systematic network of directional signs to guide the traveling public from major highway gateways to key civic, cultural, regional and commercial destinations using the minimum number of signs. It is designed to coincide with regional tourism marketing. A common approach to signage regulation for the multi-municipal region is discussed in this WorkPlan. A few guiding principles for wayfinding are summarized below:

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 Wayfinding needs are best resolved during initial planning stages through a collaborative effort by all design professionals, architects, designers and sign makers, to address a project's total environmental communication.  Graphics, such as signs, color-coding, maps, banners, brochures and Websites, provide orientation, direction, identification and regulatory information.  Provide standardized "you are here" maps of the project that include an overall map of the complex and more detailed maps of specific areas.  Local tourism resources should be designated by directional signage that includes a common logo, directional arrow and distance.

The challenges to current resource signing in general include lack of uniformity, message overload, sign redundancy, poor image for tourists, lack of effectiveness/prioritization, lack of background context and lack of maintenance.

Signage System

Color/symbol coded resource signage is suggested for resources, keyed to the following groups:  Natural/Environmental resources– public and private sites  Sporting resources – fishing, cycling, ATV, hiking, swimming, boating, etc.  Community Life resources – churches, library, etc.  Industrial/Commercial resources – past/present businesses and sites  Historic Sites – museums, architecturally significant buildings, etc.  Tourism Services resources – visitors centers, accommodations and food services, tourism-oriented retail/services, etc.

Locally eligible attractions typically included in wayfinding efforts are summarized as follows, some of which are already signed locally  commercial attractions such as local signature downtown businesses, eating/drinking establishments, the highway commercial district and other signature shopping;  cultural/historical attractions such as the Dietrich Theater, the Tunkhannock Viaduct, the Wyoming County Historical Society, Tunkhannock Public Library, etc.  historical/architectural resources such as the National Register Historic District, the Courthouse, the local houses of worship and especially significant Queen Anne, Greek Revival and Italianate homes within the Borough, etc.  recreational/open space attractions such as Riverside Park, public access/launch areas on the Susquehanna River, Endless Mountains Nature Center, the Vosburg Neck resources, the Lakes, Lazy Brook Park; and  transportation facilities such as the right-of-way of the former North Branch Canal, The Gateway to the Endless Mountains Byway, Business Route 6 (as Historic Route 6), etc.

Typically, signed attractions shall be open to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, ancestry, sex, age or handicap; be clean and pleasing in appearance, maintained in good repair; and comply with all applicable code regulations and statutes for public accommodations; be open to the general public a minimum of 30 days per calendar year; and provide sufficient parking and an on-premise sign readily visible from the highway. Signage efforts should consider a signage partnership with attractions benefiting to meet installation,

110 design and maintenance costs. The types of attractions eligible for signing under PennDOT regulations are identified on pages 62-63 of this WorkPlan.

Welcoming signage located at two of the gateways during the HCP planning process is attractive and no major changes are suggested other than the addition of some landscaping. Additional welcoming signage is suggested on Route 6 at the eastern gateway near the Wyoming County Emergency Operations Center and on Route 29 north of town. A conceptual suggestion for the former is depicted on the following page.

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Tours

This WorkPlan recommends four (4) auto-oriented loop tours and one bicycle route that together link various nature and cultural heritage sites and resources, traverse especially scenic areas and assume Tunkhannock as the hospitality center. The inventories of this WorkPlan describe the resources within these tours. The Map on the following page color-codes and graphically depicts these tours.

 The loop tour (color-coded yellow; 22 mi.) involving US Route 6 and State Routes 87, 3004, 3003, and 29 links Tunkhannock with Endless Mountains Nature Center, Camp Lackawanna, Howland Preserve and other Vosburg Neck resources and the Proctor & Gamble Mehoopany Plant;

 The loop tour (color-coded blue; 10.5 mi.) involving State Routes 29, 1001 and other secondary route links Tunkhannock with the Lake Carey area;

 The loop tour (color-coded white; 20 mi.) involving US Routes 6 and 11 and State Route 92 links Tunkhannock with the Tunkhannock Viaduct and Nicholson;

 The loop tour (color-coded light green; 23 mi.) involving US Route 6 and State Routes 92, 2004 and other secondary routes links Tunkhannock with Lake Winola, Stonehedge and Buttermilk Falls; and

 Eatonville Road (State Route 3005; 3.7 mi.) Bicycle Route (color-coded dark green) traversing an agricultural area and offering River views.

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S

R ! ! S

R 4 S

BRAINTRIM TOWNSHIP 0 R

4 1 Avery West Nicholson

S 0 7 S R 1 7 1 R 0 1 4 5 0 2 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1

S ! R ! 008 R SR 1 S

MESHOPPEN TOWNSHIP

1

Scranton Corners Nicholson 0

3

1

5

1

SR 1006 0 S 1

R SR S 40 10 NICHOLSON TOWNSHIP R R

0 8 0 S 8 0 ! 9 4 0 ! Aldovin 0 4 7 02 1 R 0 S 1 ! Lemon LEMON TOWNSHIP ! R Meshoppen S 5 2 Kaiserville ! Nicholson & Tunkhannock Viaduct 0 4 S

R R Starkville

S

1

0 !

0 S Lake Carey

5 ! R S 6 R 10 14 Fleetville

4 7 S 0 0 92 R Myobeach 0 1 ! 1 1 0 9 2 ! R 9 S Lake Carey SR 1010 03 Scottsville 10 WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP SR 1 ! 0 0 ! 1 1002 3 SR WINDHAM TOWNSHIP 2

0 Cooper Corners R 4 S S East Lemon

R R 4 S 0 2 11 1 ! SR 4015 SR SR 4002 1012 Wallsville ! ! ! 005 4 Brookside SR North Mehoopany Marcy CLINTON TOWNSHIP 3 3 0 1

! ! R S ! Factoryville Carpenter Town 7 ! 29 05 0 0 0 Mehoopany ! ! 4 4 Bardwell ! S R R 4 S R MEHOOPANY TOWNSHIP Vosburg 014 S S La Plume 2 R Dixon SR 3004 R 1 0 E E 3 2

V 0 TUNKHANNOCK TOWNSHIP II 0 R R 5 ! S 4 A 00 Carpenter Hollow S N 8 R R 4 N S 0 A 18 6 H 5 ! E 3 0 U 0 1 2 0 Q Bus ! 2 S R R Walls Corners S S ! U 6 87 S Tunkhannock Dalton

! S

R

! Waverly 3 Eatonville Rd 0

0 3 Glenburn 3 1 ! 0 OVERFIELD TOWNSHIP 4

R S Humphreysville

P&G & Mehoopany S R 5

1 ! 0 2 4 0 3 R Eatonville 92 ! 1 S 21 ! 0 7 Osterhout 2 2 9 R 0 ! 1 S 2

0

Lake Winola 2

R 5

Rosengrant S R 2 0 S 2

EATON TOWNSHIP 6 0 R Clarks Green 0 ! S ! 4 2 0 0 R FORKSTON TOWNSHIP 2 S Mill City

! R ! S 7

1

South Eaton 0 Clarks Summit

2

3

R 2 307 S

0 !

2

R Schultzville

29 FALLS TOWNSHIP S

S R

! 2 0 0 36 7 0 Jenks ! 4 Lake Winola R Hoban Heights S

! West Falls SR 2013 8 ! 0 ! Evans Falls 0 2

MONROE TOWNSHIP R Falls S S NOXEN TOWNSHIP R ! EXETER TOWNSHIP 2 5 0 00 2 2 Keelersburg 9 292 NORTHMORELAND TOWNSHIP R S !Newton Center
Tunkhannock Borough Regional Tours 0 2.5 5 Miles Rt 6 Corridor HCP Heritage Resource Development/Physical Enhancement Planning Statement

Physical improvements alone will not assure success in the Tunkhannock area becoming an even better destination as a Rivertown and a hospitality center however their role in establishing and reinforcing the community context should not be underestimated. Input gained from community workshops, the charrette, the Business Survey and the Stakeholder Group meetings all suggested overall that Tunkhannock’s appearance is pleasant with ―small town charm‖ mixed in with a little ―getaway‖ place for dining and entertainment. Building on strengths and resolving weaknesses underlie the enhancements noted in this WorkPlan, which proposes a number of downtown, community and developmental initiatives that not only reinforce Tunkhannock as a place to visit but hopefully a place in which to live. These strategic enhancements attempt to improve the visual quality and ―lure concept‖ by concentrating activities that reinforce the unique qualities of the community. Based on the review of input, discussion and field conditions, the development and community recommendations focus on the following:

“Rivertown” Enhancements: Tunkhannock has many of the components associated with a ―Rivertown‖ (i.e. shopping, lodging, dining, entertainment, etc.) with perhaps two notable exceptions. The River is disconnected from much of Tunkhannock, especially the Downtown area, due to the Byway/Bypass and the railroad. The tunnel at the end of West Street provides a link with the River and Riverside Park, but a circuitous one and one limited by height, width and lack of vehicular access. Another possible gap is the lack of river/water-oriented retailers, perhaps due the structural disconnect between the Downtown and the River. Addressing the disconnection is a prerequisite to attracting additional river based retail. For this reason, a number of options were discussed during the planning process, including better vehicular access, via a right-in/right-out drive off of the Byway/Bypass, but this was dismissed due to (1) it would require the creation of another at-grade rail crossing in close proximity with the existing one and (2) it would only serve eastbound traffic on the Byway/Bypass. Enhanced signage and improvements to the Riverside Park access and access road are recommended. There was greater agreement with the enhancement of pedestrian access between the Downtown and the River via the construction of a pedestrian overpass over the Byway/Bypass, with perhaps room for some type of observation area/platform to afford a view and thereby becoming a destination not just a crossover.

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 An option employed in some locations is a prefabricated steel truss bridge, (see sample to the right in an overland application) components of which can span the estimated 100 foot area needed to clear the Byway/Bypass cartway and railroad. Planning and programming via the PennDOT 12-Year Highway Construction Program is necessary, via the Northern Tier Regional Planning and Development Commission.  For planning purposes, the cost for this type of structure is estimated to be in the range of $500,000 - $650,000, excluding right-of-way costs. Again, this is a rough conceptual cost for planning purposes, subject to refinement as a project would proceed.  Addressing ADA access should be part of the project planning and programming process.

Riverside Park has an important role to play in furthering and living the ―Rivertown‖ concept. It fronts the River, offers one of the few public river access points in the area and represents/interprets the river and industrial heritage of the community. A master planning effort is suggested that identifies facilities, conditions, gaps, strengths and opportunities, refining several noted here including the aforementioned pedestrian crossover, consideration of a bandshell/bandstand, improvements to the access road, and play apparatus and better directional signage. It is beyond the scope of the WorkPlan to review structural recommendations that would ease access into/from the Park, but this matter should be approached in the future, realizing that the Byway/Bypass, the bridge and railroad exert some pragmatic limitations and alternatives.

Related Downtown Redevelopment: A number of ―Main Street Program‖ types of activities in the Downtown that reinforce it as a pedestrian-oriented commercial and hospitality center. Specifically, the WorkPlan suggests the following:

 Redevelopment planning for the area in and around the intersection of Warren and Harding Streets, one of the few blighted areas in the community. Redevelopment can tie into specialty retail, accommodations and river-oriented goods/services given its location. Partnering with the private sector – developers and financial sector – is required for this long-term activity.  Façade enhancements to 8-10 structures in the downtown area and/or above- referenced redevelopment area, with matching individual assistance in the $2,500- $7,500 range.  Focusing business recruitment efforts on the businesses critical for Tunkhannock to be a noted Rivertown, including directly supportive businesses such as boating

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shops, seasonal rentals and outfitters, as well as additional dining and specialty retail.  Landscaping around the sound wall on The Gateway to the Endless Mountains Byway, which can be a low-cost item via local gardening/tree groups, once permission is granted from PennDOT. A concept of this treatment is on the following page.

A host of potential funding sources are included in the Implementation Matrix (see page 96). Perhaps of special interest is the forthcoming Keystone Communities Program, which assists core communities in achieving revitalization. This program essentially consolidates the former Main Street, Elm Street and Enterprise Zone Programs. This program will also support physical improvements to both designated and other communities that are undertaking revitalization to restore deteriorated downtowns, residential neighborhoods, and industrial/manufacturing sites. Guidelines are pending at the time of this writing but should be monitored by the Steering Committee/Task Force.

Historic District as an Asset: During the HCP planning process Tunkhannock participants seemed certainly proud of the National Register Historic District but may be unaware of (1) how comparatively intact and unique it is, and (2) the value of the District in terms of heritage development. The Implementation Matrix outlines some structural and non-structural measures that attempt to build on this unique resource:

 Regulatory measures such as an Overlay Historic District Zone;  Signing/placarding significant buildings and geo-referencing building locations on maps/websites;  Walking tours linking significant structures, houses of worship and related; and  Partnering with historic preservationists, architects/architectural students, rehabilitation contractors, educational institutions and economic development officials showcasing the District as a showplace and a workshop for historic architectural preservation. Tunkhannock can offer ―best practices‖ in existing rehabilitated buildings that are in active use/reuse, hands-on ―workshops‖ for on-going rehabilitation and restoration activities, with opportunities for rehabilitation education via interactive rehabilitation and reuse planning, charrettes and volunteer work.

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Context - The Main Street Approach

In retrospect, most of the recommendations of this WorkPlan are consistent with a Main Street Approach”, with the emphasis on ―approach‖ rather than ―funding‖ since (1) the Commonwealth did not encourage new planning or designation Main Street applications for a number of years, and (2) is on the verge of altering the requirements and funding for this program at the time of this writing. This WorkPlan will conclude with a brief summary of the approach as well as an idea of the program being formulated.

The Approach

According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation Main Street Center, the Main Street approach includes the following:  Organization involves getting everyone working toward the same goal and assembling the appropriate human and financial resources to implement a Main Street revitalization program. A governing board and standing committees make up the fundamental organizational structure of the volunteer-driven program.  Promotion sells a positive image of the commercial district and encourages consumers and investors to live, work, shop, play and invest in the Main Street district. By marketing a district's unique characteristics to residents, investors, business owners, and visitors, an effective promotional strategy forges a positive image through advertising, retail promotional activity, special events, and marketing campaigns carried out by local volunteers.  Design means getting Main Street into top physical shape. Capitalizing on its best assets — such as historic buildings and pedestrian-oriented streets — is just part of the story. An inviting atmosphere, created through attractive window displays, parking areas, building improvements, street furniture, signs, sidewalks, street lights, and landscaping, conveys a positive visual message about the commercial district and what it has to offer.  Economic Restructuring strengthens a community's existing economic assets while expanding and diversifying its economic base. The Main Street program helps sharpen the competitiveness of existing business owners and converting unused or underused commercial space into economically productive property also helps boost the profitability of the district.

Many communities focus on the design phase, which is understandable (and important) but there is more to the process. The Main Street Approach is predicated on the following:  Emphasis on Multi-Functional Uses: Downtowns have always housed a wide variety of functions, such as shopping, services, professional offices, hotels, churches, housing, entertainment, the arts, libraries, dining, government offices, and more. Different functions bring different types of people downtown at different times of the day and week, thereby increasing the volume and distribution of downtown activity levels.  Enhancement of Sense of Place: Most downtown development efforts now recognize the value of possessing a strong sense of place. A sense of place serves to create an inviting downtown that encourages people to linger and is distinctive from other

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settings that suffer from generic environments (i.e., shopping malls, big box retailers, strip malls).  Use of Private/Public Partnerships: The partnering of private and public interests and resources has become a dominant feature of successful downtown development. An active and well-organized downtown association can help downtown businesses and property owners work together towards their mutual benefit, serve as a unified voice representing downtown interests, and engage in marketing, promotions, business recruitment, and event coordination.  Attention to Promotional Activities: The promotion of downtown attractions, businesses, and events has become a major dimension of downtown development today. Promotions are usually spearheaded by the downtown organization.

The Program

In the past, the Main Street Program in Pennsylvania typically funded activities such as Façade Improvement Grants (design and construction), Anchor Building Grants (renovations to a significant downtown building) and Downtown Reinvestment Grants (various activities including acquisition/rehabilitation of commercial structures, improving public sites in a commercial target area, streetscape projects, and other construction costs determined to be a part of a larger project necessary for the revitalization of a downtown area). A companion Elm Street Program funded similar types of activities in more residential and mixed use areas. Regulations are anticipated shortly on the Keystone Communities Program that would consolidate several programs, tentatively funded at $12.0 million statewide, under the following:

 Designated Keystone Communities (Main Street, Elm Street and blends/alternatives) o Requires upfront plan for sustainability (not 5-year operational) o Funds Start-Up costs  Core Communities Development Projects (Housing and Redevelopment Assistance, Anchor Bldg, Residential Reinvestment, Downtown Reinvestment, etc.) o Must demonstrate Performance Metrics o Must show Return on Investment

Conditions, keywords, focal points and even funding levels vary over time but the Main Street Approach seems to retain a certain sense of popularity, given its focus on existing assets in a downtown area. In addition, the Tunkhannock- Richmond-Covington Revitalization Strategy and Mobility Analysis also recommended the Main Street program/approach as well.

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Community WorkPlan Pennsylvania Route 6 Alliance 2011