Dauphin County Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Greenways Study
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Dauphin County Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Greenways Study Prepared for: Dauphin County Parks and Recreation Department Dauphin County Planning Commission Tri-County Regional Planning Commission Prepared by: Urban Research and Development Corporation Bethlehem, PA in association with Herbert, Rowland & Grubic Harrisburg, PA This project was financed in part by a grant from the Community Conservation Partnership Program, Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund, under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. Approved by the Dauphin County Commissioners — 15 April 2009 Dauphin County Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Greenways Study ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Dauphin County Commissioners Jeff Haste Dominic D. DiFrancesco II George P. Hartwick III Dauphin County Parks and Recreation Department Dauphin County Planning Commission Tri-County Regional Planning Commission Special thanks to the volunteer study committee members. Dauphin County Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Greenways Study CONTENTS PAGE Executive Summary ........................................................ vii Introduction........................................................ 1–1 Greenway Types and Functions ..............................................1–2 Greenway Benefits........................................................1–5 Study Purposes...........................................................1–8 Goals and Objectives ...................................................1–9 Study Organization .......................................................1–9 Study Development ......................................................1–10 How To Use The Study ................................................1–11 Current Conditions .................................................. 2–1 Regional Location ........................................................2–1 Population and Development................................................2–1 Natural Resources ........................................................2–5 Waterways and Watersheds ..............................................2–5 Floodplains and Wetlands ...............................................2–7 Prime Farmland .......................................................2–8 Physiography and Geology ..............................................2–8 Steep Slopes.........................................................2–11 Natural Areas ...........................................................2–12 Natural Areas Inventory................................................2–12 Forest Blocks ........................................................2–17 Pennsylvania Highlands................................................2–18 Susquehanna Water Gap ...............................................2–18 Susquehanna Greenway ................................................2–19 Migratory Corridors ...................................................2–19 Significant Man-Made Features.............................................2–20 Rail Corridors........................................................2–20 Major Utility Rights-Of-Way............................................2–21 Brownfields .........................................................2–21 Mines ..............................................................2–22 Recreation .............................................................2–22 State Sites...........................................................2–23 County and Municipal Parks ............................................2–23 i Dauphin County Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Greenways Study PAGE Trails ..............................................................2–24 Golf Courses ........................................................2–24 Significant Private Land Holdings...........................................2–26 Agricultural Easements ................................................2–26 Agricultural Security Areas (ASAs) ......................................2–26 Hershey Trust Lands ..................................................2–27 Conservancies .......................................................2–27 Historic Features ........................................................2–28 Educational and Commercial Facilities .......................................2–30 Schools and Colleges ..................................................2–30 Libraries ............................................................2–30 Museums ...........................................................2–31 Municipal Buildings...................................................2–31 Office and Shopping Centers ............................................2–31 Planning Framework .....................................................2–31 Summary ..............................................................2–34 Analysis, Needs, and Opportunities ..................................... 3–1 Park and Recreation Trends .................................................3–1 Parkland Types and Analysis ................................................3–3 Facilities................................................................3–7 Facility Needs ........................................................3–8 Recreation Programs .....................................................3–12 Summary ..............................................................3–13 Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Greenways System . 4–1 Vision for Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Greenways . 4–1 Parks, Greenways, and Open Space System ....................................4–2 Proposed Greenways Concept ............................................4–4 Proposed Open Space Concept ...........................................4–8 Greenway Priorities ...................................................4–10 Action Program .........................................................4–13 Open Space Priorities..................................................4–14 Recommendations ....................................................4–14 Land Preservation Techniques ...........................................4–20 Costs and Funding ....................................................4–25 Dauphin County Roles.................................................4–32 ii Dauphin County Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Greenways Study PAGE Appendices A Summary of Public Meetings............................................ A–1 B Dauphin County Local Parks Inventory.................................... B–1 C Trail Design Guidelines ................................................ C–1 Trail Layout ...................................................... C–1 Trail Construction ................................................. C–3 Sub-Grade .................................................... C–3 Sub-Base ..................................................... C–3 Trail Surface................................................... C–3 Simple Hiking Trails ............................................... C–5 Crossings ..................................................... C–5 At-Grade .................................................. C–5 Above- or Below-Grade Crossings .............................. C–6 Railroad Crossings........................................... C–6 Signs for Greenway Trails ........................................ C–6 Identification and Directional Signs . C–7 Regulatory Signs ............................................ C–7 Warning Signs .............................................. C–7 Educational Signs............................................ C–7 Support Facilities ............................................... C–8 Access Points, Trailheads, and Parking Facilities . C–8 Bicycle Parking ............................................. C–9 Benches, Rest Areas, and Receptacles . C–9 Landscaping ............................................... C–10 Fencing................................................... C–10 Restrooms ................................................ C–11 Bicycle Routes ................................................... C–11 Shared Roadways................................................. C–11 Signage................................................... C–12 Tables 2.1 Total Population, 1980–2000..........................................2–1 2.2 Municipal Populations, 1990–2000 .....................................2–2 2.3 Population Projections, 2000–2020 .....................................2–3 2.4 Stream Water Quality Designations.....................................2–6 2.5 Geologic Eras......................................................2–9 2.6 Bedrock Geology ...................................................2–9 2.7 Natural Features of Local Importance . 2–13 2.8 Trails in Dauphin County, 2008.......................................2–25 iii Dauphin County Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Greenways Study PAGE 2.9 Dauphin County Properties Listed on the National Register of Historic Places . 2–28 3.1 Parkland Guidelines.................................................3–3 3.2 Dauphin County Parklands, 2000–2020 . 3–4 3.3 North Planning Section Parklands, 2000–2020 . 3–5 3.4 Southwest Planning Section Parklands, 2000–2020 . 3–6 3.5 Southeast Planning Section Parklands, 2000–2020 . 3–6 3.6 City of Harrisburg Parklands, 2000–2020 . 3–7 3.7 Recreational Facilities, Dauphin County, 2008 . 3–8 3.8 Dauphin County Facilities Analysis.....................................3–9 3.9 North Planning Section Facilities Analysis . 3–10 3.10 Southwest Planning Section Facilities