The North Branch Canal Trail Feasibility Study Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania

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The North Branch Canal Trail Feasibility Study Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania The North Branch Canal Trail Feasibility Study Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania Opportunities for a pedestrian and bicycle-friendly trail connecting the river towns of Danville, Catawissa and Bloomsburg – Promoting active living, heritage, and environmental education in the Middle Susquehanna Region. May 2009 The North Branch Canal Trail Feasibility Study Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania Prepared by: SEDA-Council of Governments Community Resource Center 201 Furnace Road Lewisburg, PA 17837 (570) 524-4491 www.seda-cog.org May 2009 This project was fi nanced in part by a grant from the Community Conservation Partnerhips Program, Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund, under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation CREDITS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Special Acknowledgement Thanks to the residents of Montour and Columbia Counties who Special Thanks to Jeff and Pam Brunskill for their commitment to the contributed their time and input toward the development of the trail project – bringing the skills and talents of Bloomsburg Department concepts through participation in task force meetings, volunteer of Geography students to the towpath survey and assisting with the work days and key person interviews. Special thanks go out to the property deed searches in Montour and Columbia counties. SEDA-COG team who led the North Branch Canal Trail Project and challenged residents to explore the development of a trail system that Bloomsburg Department of Geography Students– for their GPS survey will benefi t the community in many ways and become an asset locally and mapping of the historic North Branch Canal towpath: and regionally. Joel Bond Amy Gorini The North Branch Canal Trail project was made possible through a Arie Hoogendoorn grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Julian Whitley Resources and through the generous fi nancial support of the following local partners: Task Force Members Ryn Agnew Trevor Finn Julie McMonagle PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Mike Apfelbaum Janet Friday Michael ‘Tibbs’ McWilliams Appalachian Regional Commission Jeff Apfelbaum John R. Gordner David Millard The Degenstein Foundation Robert Aungst Betsy Hack F. Charles Petrillo Merck and Co., Inc. Candy Bower George C. Hasay Mike Piaskowski Geisinger Health System Jeff Brunskill Helen ‘Sis’ Hause Charles Pollock Pam Brunskill Scott Heitzelman Jeff Pontius Blair T. Carbaugh Betse Humphrey Lou Ramos SEDA-COG Team Renee Carey Bob Huntington William Soberick Dan Ake Stephen Keefer Greg Cole Harold Hurst Bernie Swank Brian Auman Steve Kusheloff Frank Concino Bob Keintz Janet Sweeney Gary D. Bloss Dennis Robinson Nancy Corbin Lori Kieff er-Yeich Jerry S. Walls Amanda Burbage Alison Stevenson Clay Corbin Joe Kleinbauer Marty Walzer Joe DeWalle Ryan Unger David Decoteau Jean Knouse H. W. ‘Skip’ Weider Tom Grbenick Kim Wheeler Eric DeWald David Kovach Brian Witmer Bob Hormell Brad Diehl Diane Kripas Chris E. Young Cindy Dunlap David “Otto” Kurecian Francis Zartman Ed Edwards Scott Lawvere Wes Fahringer Claire Lawrence CONTENTS Executive Summary i Feasibility Study Introduction 1.1 Community Profi le 2.1 Natural, Scenic and Historic Resources Inventory and Analysis 3.1 Trail Concepts 4.1 Implementation Strategies 5.1 Appendices Alternative Organizational Models for Multi-County Trails .1 Task Force Meetings Notes and Agendas .1 Key Person Interviews .1 Cost Estimates .1 North Branch Towpath Field Survey Report .1 North Branch Canal Trail Corridor- Inventory & Analysis Maps .1 Historic Canal Overlay Maps .1 North Branch Canal Trail Press & Marketing Materials .1 Regional Case Studies: Mid-Atlantic Canal Descriptions .1 Reference Materials .1 List of References I Project CD Executive Summary Executive Summary Executive Summary can spend signifi cant amounts of time in the presence of the river. Just as connections to the river landscape decrease, obesity rates are rising What is the North Branch Canal Trail? throughout the nation, children are spending less and less time out- The North Branch Canal Trail project is an amazing opportunity to of-doors, and many natural and scenic resources are being lost to the create a pedestrian and bicycle trail in the Middle Susquehanna development of rural areas. region. More than a simple place to walk and bike, the trail will link communities, increase recreational options, provide economic and Many Pennsylvanians have environmental benefi ts and connect people to the culture, nature, and recognized and felt troubled enough beauty of the Susquehanna River and the historic North Branch Canal. by these trends to consider how they might be redirected into a more positive outlook for the future. In the face of concerns, the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership was formed by Pennsylvanians who also recognized that they are fortunate enough to live in an area that is still very rich in cultural, natural, and scenic resources. The partnership sees the mighty Meeting Regional Needs Susquehanna River as an incredible resource that can be embraced and The Susquehanna Greenway Partnership is dedicated to developing employed for the benefi t of the region. The long-ignored and under and sustaining the Susquehanna Greenway to connect communities utilized river can be reconnected to by residents, giving them places to and enrich lives through enhanced recreation, healthy living, economic recreate, spend time outside, enjoy nature and live healthful lives. prosperity and environmental stewardship. The Susquehanna River runs with the cultural and ecological lifeblood of the central Pennsylvania region, but most residents have no regular way to appreciate or interact with the river. River towns have levee systems that protect them from fl oods, but that also cut off their views to the water; drivers might catch glimpses of the Susquehanna from roadways and bridges, but there are few places where people Executive Summary i Attention turned to the Susquehanna can also be aimed at protecting and extend into many realms beyond simple recreation. The trail building improving the regional environment, fi sh and wildlife, and the function of will help stabilize, preserve and restore historically signifi cant canal vital natural processes. Economic benefi ts will arise from smart-growth structures that will allow current and future generations to learn about initiatives, attracting families and businesses to the revitalized river towns and physically connect to the region’s past. whose strong identities are tied to their heritage, the landscape, and a variety of public amenities that foster community pride and connectivity. North Branch Canal Trail Study Area Part of the beauty of the Susquehanna Greenway is that regional goals can be achieved through the implementation of many local, small and mid-scale projects Danville so that the total eff ect is greater than any individual eff ort. As each project builds upon Bloomsburg N or complements another, quality of life will o ridge zone r th B ran improve throughout the region. Individual ch Canal Trail C orri projects can help achieve regional goals by dor enhancing the natural beauty of a place, promoting multi-modal travel, connecting people to the outdoors, and Catawissa revitalizing historic neighborhoods and business districts. The North Branch Canal Trail The trail corridor runs for 12 miles between Danville and Bloomsburg The North Branch Canal Trail is a demonstration project of the larger via Catawissa along the North Branch of the Susquehanna River. Susquehanna Greenway because it clearly embodies the ideals Between towns, fl oodplains, and wetlands abutting the steep and benefi ts that a greenway can provide at the local and regional slopes of a modest ridge have protected the area from signifi cant scale. The vision for the canal trail is to connect communities along development. Much of the canal and towpath corridor is owned a greenway trail that uses and celebrates the canal-era heritage and by the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority who is a strong supporter of infrastructure that still exists within the Middle Susquehanna region. developing the “rails with trails” North Branch Canal Trail for public use within an active railroad right-of-way. Specifi cally, the project aims to develop a family-oriented pedestrian and bicycle trail for healthy living between Danville and Bloomsburg following the route of the historic North Branch Canal. Benefi ts will Executive Summary ii Historic Signifi cance Trail Benefi t Areas Construction began on the North Branch Canal in 1828. Replacing river Fostering Community Pride travel, it operated as a major shipping and transport route from 1831 until it was decommissioned in 1901, because the rail industry had The canal trail will complement with other rendered the canal obsolete. During that time, the North Branch Canal local initiatives to expand public amenities and was part of a state-wide network that carried people, foodstuff s and recreational opportunities for healthy living that a variety of goods including anthracite coal, pig iron, limestone, brick, will help attract families into the trail-accessible lumber, and farm products throughout the region. historic neighborhoods. The trail will help provide Culturally, the North Branch canal was an important part of daily life. children with safe routes to schools; it will give It linked the existing river towns, carried news, gossip and goods, and families a place to play and spend
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