White Clay Creek State Park Trail Plan 12-9-2011 Table of Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................ 5 Trail Plan Objectives & Goals ................................................................................. 6 Background & History .......................................................................................... 8 Regional Context ..................................................................................................................... 12 Regional Trail System .............................................................................................................. 14 Public Demand for Trail Opportunities ................................................................ 14 1998 Trail System Overview & Assessment .......................................................... 17 2010 Trail System Overview & Assessment .......................................................... 24 Existing Conditions and Maps ................................................................................................ 24 Trail Descriptions .................................................................................................................... 33 Impacts & Assessment of Today’s Trail System ...................................................................... 37 Trail Users & Uses ................................................................................................................... 39 Visitor Assessment .................................................................................................................. 41 Access Points and Wayfinding ................................................................................................ 42 Natural and Cultural Resource Assessment ......................................................... 45 Natural Environment .............................................................................................................. 45 Geology & Soils ........................................................................................................................ 46 Vegetative Communities ......................................................................................................... 48 Resource Ranking Levels......................................................................................................... 49 Habitat Fragmentation ............................................................................................................ 52 Trail System Plan ................................................................................................. 53 Minimizing Impacts upon Natural and Cultural Resources ................................................... 53 Planned Trail Network ............................................................................................................ 56 Trail Characteristics: Sustainability Uses, Width, Surface Maps ............................................ 53 Trail Safety and Wayfinding .................................................................................................... 65 Trail Network Plan: Carpenter Recreation Area ..................................................................... 68 Trail Network Plan: Judge Morris Estate Area ........................................................................ 71 Trail Network Plan: Possum Hill Area. ................................................................................... 73 Trail Network Plan: White Clay Preserve Area ....................................................................... 75 Trail Construction and Reconstruction ................................................................................... 77 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 77 Appendices .......................................................................................................... 80 Appendix A: Principles of Sustainable Trail Design & Development .......................................... 80 Appendix B Trail Standards ......................................................................................................... 81 Appendix C: Trail Management Fundamentals .......................................................................... 89 - 2 - Appendix D: Trail Maintenance Guidelines ................................................................................ 97 Appendix E: User Conflicts ......................................................................................................... 96 Appendix F: Public Participation and Outreach ......................................................................... 101 Appendix G: Rapid Assessment Survey ..................................................................................... 102 Appendix H: Investment in PR in Children’s Health ................................................................. 110 Appendix I: Phased Project Construction and Ranking ........................................................... 114 Figures Figure 1. State Park Trail Distribution Analysis ......................................................................... 9 Figure 2. Analysis of the Population .......................................................................................... 13 Figure 3. Reasons for Participating ........................................................................................... 16 Figure B1.Trail Corridor.............................................................................................................. 81 Figure B2.Typical Bridge ........................................................................................................... 83 Figure B3 Examples of Trail Marker Posts ................................................................................ 86 Figure B4 Trail Marker Post Detail ............................................................................................ 87 Maps Map 1. Park Management Units................................................................................................ 10 Map 2. 1998 Trail System ......................................................................................................... 19 Map 3. 1998 Trail Sustainability .............................................................................................. 20 Map 4. 1998 Trail Uses ............................................................................................................. 21 Map 5. 1998 Trail Widths ......................................................................................................... 22 Map 6. 1998 Trail Surfaces ...................................................................................................... 23 Map 7. 2010 Trail System ........................................................................................................ 26 Map 8. 2010 Trail Sustainability ............................................................................................... 27 Map 9. 2010 Trail Uses ............................................................................................................ 28 Map 10. 2010 Trail Widths ........................................................................................................ 29 Map 11. 2010 Trail Surfaces ...................................................................................................... 30 Map 12. Existing Cross-Country Course ..................................................................................... 31 Map 13. Existing Trail Access and Trailhead Parking ............................................................... 44 Map 14. Soil Drainage Class ........................................................................................................ 47 Map 15. Forest Ages ................................................................................................................... 50 Map 16. Natural Resource Ranking ............................................................................................ 51 Map 17. Habitat Fragmentation ..................................................................................................52 Map 18 Planned Trail System .................................................................................................... 57 Map 19. Planned Trail Sustainability ......................................................................................... 58 Map 20. Planned Trail Surfaces.................................................................................................. 61 Map 21. Planned Trail Uses ...................................................................................................... 62 - 3 - Map 22. Planned Trail Widths ................................................................................................... 64 Map 23. Planned Trail Access and Trailhead Parking ............................................................... 66 Map 24. Planned Trail Road Crossings ...................................................................................... 67 Map 25. Planned Carpenter Forest Fragmentation ................................................................... 68 Map B1. Web Map Example ....................................................................................................... 85 Map B2. Planned Wayfinding Markers ..................................................................................... 88 Map