Harvey’s Creek Trail/Greenway Feasibility/Master Plan June 29, 2012 Harvey’s Creek Trail/Greenway Feasibility/Master Plan June 29, 2012 Prepared for: Prepared by: 7075 Lovers Lane Kempton, PA 19529 (610) 703-2564 wenviro.com _____________________________ George A. White III Environmental Consultant Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter/Section Page 1.0 Executive Summary ..................................................................................................... 1-1 2.0 Introduction 2.1 Study Purpose ......................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Demand for and Potential Use of Trail .................................................................. 2-1 3.0 Background Information 3.1 Description of Study Area ...................................................................................... 3-1 3.2 Regional History .................................................................................................... 3-1 4.0 Existing Conditions 4.1 Current Trail System ............................................................................................... 4-1 4.2 Existing Land Use ................................................................................................... 4-3 4.3 Topography ............................................................................................................. 4-3 4.4 Natural Features ...................................................................................................... 4-5 4.5 Wildlife Habitat ...................................................................................................... 4-5 4.6 Key Destinations ..................................................................................................... 4-5 4.7 Property Ownership ............................................................................................... 4-6 4.8 Environmental Contamination ................................................................................ 4-6 5.0 Trail Planning Process 5.1 Trail Planning Consultants ...................................................................................... 5-1 5.2 Geographic Information System (GIS) Database ................................................... 5-1 5.3 Public Participation ................................................................................................. 5-1 5.4 Development of the Trail Master Plan .................................................................... 5-7 6.0 Proposed Trail / Greenway System 6.1 Proposed Trail / Greenway Overview ......................................................................... 6-1 6.2 Harvey’s Creek Trail – Section I ................................................................................. 6-5 6.3 Harvey’s Creek Trail – Section II .............................................................................. 6-12 6.4 Harvey’s Creek Trail – Section III ............................................................................ 6-19 6.5 Harvey’s Creek Trail – Section IV ............................................................................ 6-25 7.0 Design Standards 7.1 Trails ..................................................................................................................... 7-1 7.2 Trail Intersections ................................................................................................... 7-5 7.3 Auxiliary Structures ................................................................................................ 7-7 7.4 Trail Signage ........................................................................................................... 7-8 7.5 Accessibility .......................................................................................................... 7-10 Harvey’s Creek Trail/Greenway Feasibility/Master Plan Table of Contents 8.0 Trail Operation, Maintenance and Security Plan 8.1 Ownership/Maintenance/Management Options...................................................... 8-1 8.2 Trail Maintenance ................................................................................................... 8-3 8.3 Trail Security .......................................................................................................... 8-5 8.4 Potential Roles of Public and Non-Public Agencies .............................................. 8-5 8.5 Areas for In-Kind Contributions from Involved Entities. ....................................... 8-7 9.0 Financial Feasibility Analysis 9.1 Required land acquisition or purchase of easements ................................................. 9-1 9.2 Cost estimates for developing the trail and for proposed facilities ............................ 9-2 9.3 Phased implementation plan .................................................................................... 9-6 10.0 References ..................................................................................................................... 10-1 Appendices Meeting Minutes .............................................................................................. Appendix A Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Index (PNDI) Receipts ................................... Appendix B List of Tables & Figures Figure 2-1: Regional Key Map ....................................................................................... 2-5 Figure 2-2: Map of Study Area ....................................................................................... 2-6 Figure 4-1: Existing Trail System ................................................................................... 4-4 Table 4-1: Rare Species Identified within the Study Area by the PNDI ........................ 4-5 Table 4-2: Key Destinations with the Study Area .......................................................... 4-5 Figure 6-1: Proposed Trail Corridors (topo) ................................................................... 6-2 Figure 6-2: Proposed Trail Corridors (aerial photo) ....................................................... 6-3 Figure 6-3: Harvey’s Creek Trail – Section I ................................................................. 6-4 Figure 6-4: Harvey’s Creek Trail – Section II .............................................................. 6-11 Figure 6-5: Harvey’s Creek Trail – Section III ............................................................. 6-18 Figure 6-5: Harvey’s Creek Trail – Section IV ............................................................ 6-24 Figure 7-1: Typical Trail Detail (dirt surface) ................................................................ 7-2 Figure 7-2: Typical Trail Detail (hard surface) ............................................................... 7-3 Figure 7-3: Typical Pavement Marking for Bicycle Lanes ............................................ 7-4 Figure 7-4: Typical Signing & Marking for Road Crossings ......................................... 7-5 Table 8-1: Typical Trail Maintenance Tasks .................................................................. 8-4 Table 8-2: Common Maintenance Tasks for Volunteers ................................................ 8-7 Table 9-1: Cost Estimates - Section I of the Harvey’s Creek Trail ................................ 9-2 Table 9-2: Cost Estimates - Section II of the Harvey’s Creek Trail ............................... 9-3 Table 9-3: Cost Estimates - Section III of the Harvey’s Creek Trail.............................. 9-4 Table 9-4: Cost Estimates - Section IV of the Harvey’s Creek Trail ............................. 9-5 Harvey’s Creek Trail/Greenway Feasibility/Master Plan Acknowledgements ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project was financed in part by a grant from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program, Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund, under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. We gratefully acknowledge the agencies and organizations that provided additional financial assistance for the development of this Plan: Luzerne County Eastman Kodak Company and The Conservation Fund Edith Reynolds Trust Early on in the trail planning process a steering committee was developed to guide the planning process. The committee consisted of representatives from various organizations including state, county and local municipal governments, area businesses, non-profit organizations, local watershed groups, school district, local health care organizations and many others. We gratefully acknowledge the numerous individuals and groups that served on the Steering Committee who provided their time and invaluable assistance. Their insights and guidance greatly expanded the perspective, resources, technical integrity and community applicability of the Plan and were greatly appreciated. Those who attended meetings and provided guidance include: Name Organization Sen. Lisa Baker PA State Senate Rep. Karen Boback PA House of Representatives Jim Brozena Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority Tracey Carr Dallas Borough Gale Conrad Plymouth Township Vincent Cotrone River Front Parks Mark Cross Pennsylvania American Water Lee Curry NEPA Mountain Bike Association Mary Ellen Demchak Plymouth Township Jacqueline Dickman Earth Conservancy Lee Eckert Dallas Borough Dale Freudenberger Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Frank Galicki Dallas School District Joseph Gibbons Luzerne County Steven Grzymski Plymouth Township Ben Hardy PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry Bobby Hivish Kingston