Creating More Flood Resilient Communities: Riverfront Master Planning for Shickshinny Borough

CREATING MORE FLOOD RESILIENT COMMUNITIES: RIVERFRONT MASTER PLANNING FOR SHICKSHINNY BOROUGH November 2013 CREATING MORE FLOOD RESILIENT COMMUNITIES: RIVERFRONT MASTER PLANNING FOR SHICKSHINNY BOROUGH November 2013 Funding - The Funding that made this project possible comes from PA Department of Community & Economic Development, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Chesapeake Bay Commission. Special Thanks Partners – Shickshinny Borough Shickshinny Forward Luzerne County Planning and GIS PA Department of Community and Economic Development PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Chesapeake Bay Commission SEDA-Council of Governments - Kathy Hannaford Susquehanna Greenway Partnership – Trish Carothers Dale Freudenberger, Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Erin Pierce Student Interns - Tom Krajewski Renee Noll Amanda Taylor Michelle Zucker Taylor Wolfe Project Coordinator - Brian S. Auman / Landscape Architecture, LLC Brian S. Auman / Landscape Architecture, LLC Flooding – A Global Issue After the flooding in the fall of 2011, the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership (SGP) organization thought long and hard about the best way to respond to the devastation. The SGP outlined an approach to provide technical assistance to two River Towns significantly impacted by the flooding and was successful in securing PA DCED. PA DCNR and Chesapeake Bay Commission funding for the effort. Creative minds around the world are currently working on the issue of flooding from sea level rise and the increased reoccurrence and severity of flooding events. The SGP is pleased to be part of this global effort – as it seeks to find pragmatic and functional local solutions to flood-prone communities along the Susquehanna River. Flooding – A Global Issue Global Climate Change Storm Intensity Storm Frequency The New Normal Flood Control Solutions Engineers, architects, landscape architects and planners worldwide are grappling to find workable solutions to prevent and mitigate the impacts of flooding. The solutions being conceived range from the redesign and elevation of structures, to massive flood control levees and gates, to green infrastructure solutions that provide a buffer between water and the built environment. Flood Control Solutions Finding Local Solutions In service to the River Towns of the region, the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership (SGP) seeks to contribute to this global dialog on flood mitigation. The SGP advocates and promotes green infrastructure solutions for communities to mitigate future flooding. The Susquehanna Greenway Partnership feels that by reinvesting in greenways, parks and natural areas, a town makes a powerful and positive statement about its belief in a prosperous and sustainable future. The SGP organizations wants to do what it can to help these River Towns to succeed. Finding Local Solutions Balancing Goals and Objectives In producing the Master Plan – we sought to balance various goals and objectives. One challenge was to balance the rights of private land owners – with the needs of municipal leaders to ensure the health and safety of residents. Many rural emergency responders (Fire and EMS) are volunteers, who risk their lives protecting residents and their property. The master plan seeks to proactively identifying structures that, for public health and safety reasons, should be removed from the floodplain. The master plan also seeks to balance appropriate park and recreation design with the dynamic nature of a health river or stream. Flooding is a natural process and we want to propose facilities that are durable, compliment natural stream functions, and contribute a vibrancy and economic value to the community. Balancing Goals and Objectives Private Land Rights and Public Health and Safety Community Design and Stream Dynamics Susquehanna Greenway Partnership Goals The Susquehanna Greenway Partnership (SGP) is uniquely positioned to address the issue of flooding – with its goals of respecting the nature of the river, community engagement, focus on historic core communities, and connecting to the river for recreation and economic benefit. Susquehanna Greenway Partnership Goals Respect and work with the nature of the Susquehanna River Connect with the River (physically, visually, spiritually) Involve people with the River and with their River Town Recognize the importance of River Towns as economic, social and recreational hubs River Town Program Project Overview Assess Town’s current condition Define the community’s vision and goals Develop a master plan and action strategies for community revitalization projects Engage partners and funding sources to implement the Master Plan History of Shickshinny Shickshinny is one of those communities where it’s easy to play Monday morning quarterback and ask – what were they thinking locating most of their community in the floodplain? Part of the explanation is to understand history and the transportation systems that built the community. With the location of the canals and railroads, the riverfront was the community’s transportation and commerce hub. An aerial view of Shickshinny from the 1960’s. History of Shickshinny Ace Hoffman Studios, 1960 Luzerne County Historical Society Transportation History The River was Shickshinny’s original highway. But a steamboat explosion in 1826 just down river, near the town of Berwick, set in motion drastic changes in transportation. The North Branch Pennsylvania Canal was built in the first half of the 1800’s and was later replaced by the railroad that generally was built on canal property. The map is an 1878 Survey of the North Branch Pennsylvania Canal depicting the canal, canal features and structures including the aqueduct over Shickshinny Creek, and the names of adjacent landowners. The photo from the early 1900’s depicts an era when the canal and the railroad operated side-by-side. The canal would ultimately be abandoned and the corridor taken over by the railroad. Transportation History Shickshinny – North Branch Pennsylvania Canal Shickshinny History History helps us understand how we got to where we are today. Historic maps show how the form of the town changed over time. A glimpse of historic photos show both dramatic and subtle changes over time. Understanding history also puts the community’s current struggles with flood recovery into perspective. Current challenges would likely have paled in comparison with the economic upheavals affecting the town when the coal mining industry declined. In a way it seems comforting that previous generations struggled with similar or greater challenges, and yet the town still remains and thrives. The riverfront master plan represents this generation’s effort for community re-invention. Shickshinny History Cooner, 1938 Union Street Luzerne County Historical Society Master Plans There has been a major shift in focus in flood control in planning and design publications. In decades past the focus was on engineering flood control structures such as flood walls and levees. While structures are still the preferred choice for many densely developed urban areas – we have begun to recognize the limitations of engineering solutions. The effect of a new flood wall or levee simply transfers the flooding problem downstream. There is a growing interest in more natural flood control / flood mitigation methods. Park, recreation and natural areas are being designed to create aesthetic and functional park space that provides a buffer between the river and the community. The new generation of riverfront parks do a good job at both protecting life and property during floods, while physically connecting people to the river for recreation and enjoyment. The images at right are various conceptual illustrations from professional planning and landscape architecture publications, and photos of the Charleston, SC waterfront area. Master Plans New Riverfronts / Waterfronts Shickshinny Riverfront – Community Wish List In developing the Shickshinny Riverfront Master Plan – a lengthy community ‘wish list’ was compiled. Shickshinny Riverfront - Community Wish List River Access Athletic/Sport Fields Natural Areas Water Quality Projects Regional Trail Hub Riverfront Trails i.e. Warrior Trail & Mocanaqua Loop) Multi-use Pavilion Community Gardens Dog Park Camping Area Public Restrooms Picnic Tables and Grills Adult Exercise Equipment Passive Recreation i.e. benches and gathering spots Canoe and Kayak Area Scenic River Overlooks Event Space & Amphitheater Compatible Uses and Themes The ‘wish list’ items were clustered into groups of compatible or complimentary items, and targeted to specific areas of the community riverfront. The various ‘areas’ were defined as Cleary Park, Central Riverfront (area at E. Union Street and McClintock Streets), Oak Street Area and North Gateway Area (Ash Street and north). Compatible Uses and Themes Creary Park Central Riverfront Area River Access Town Green / Event Lawn Primitive Camping Heritage Park Dog Park Amphitheater Natural Areas Picnic Area Scenic River Overlooks Adult Exercise Area Family Picnic Area Restroom Facilities Benches and Seating Community Oak Street Area North End Gateway Area Athletic / Sport Fields Community Gardens Event Lawn Private Gardens / Plots Basketball Court Trees & Woodlots Playground Native Grass / Skate Park Wildflower Meadows Teens Outdoor Classroom Natural Area Stream Daylighting Nature Creating Connections Greenways create connections within the community of Shickshinny

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