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 i 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: 1 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 2 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