Lycoming County Comprehensive Recreation, Parks, & Open Space/Greenway Plan ADOPTED April 10, 2008 LYCOMING COUNTY RECREATION, PARKS, & OPEN SPACE/GREENWAY PLAN Prepared for Lycoming County Commissioners Rebecca A. Burke, Chairperson Ernest P. Larson, Vice-Chairperson Jeff C. Wheeland, Secretary Prepared By Lycoming County Planning Commission Charles E. Springman, Chairman Joseph H. Neyhart, Vice-Chairman Ann S. Pepperman, Esquire, Secretary Richard D. Hass, Treasurer W.E. Toner Hollick Robert E. Bauder, P.E. Roger D. Jarrett Robert E. Waltz George Logue, Jr. Charles F. Greevy, III, Solicitor Kurt Hausammann, Jr. AICP, Executive Director Kevin McJunkin, Environmental Planner/Project Manager With assistance from: Lycoming County Recreation Advisory Committee* and Larson Design Group Dennis Norman, Consultant Project Manager Alice Trowbridge, Landscape Architect This project was financed by a grant from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund under the administration of the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation; a grant from the PA Department of Community and Economic Development, and funds from the County of Lycoming. * See Appendix B Adopted 4-10-08 Lycoming County Recreation, Parks, & Open Space/Greenways Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary Chapter 1 Introduction Role and Purpose 1-1 The Planning Process 1-2 Visions 1-4 Plan Organization 1-6 Lycoming County Recreation, Parks, Open Space and Greenways Map Book 1-7 Related Plans and Policies 1-8 Chapter 2 Background Information Regional Setting 2-1 Brief History 2-1 Community Character 2-1 Political Subdivisions 2-2 Recreation Service Areas 2-3 Population, Statistics, and Trends 2-4 Socio-economic Conditions and Trends 2-5 Land Use 2-5 Chapter 3 Evaluation and Analysis Process Public Participation 3-1 County-wide Recreation Survey 3-2 Areas and Facilities 3-3 Programs 3-7 Ordinances 3-7 Chapter 4 Lycoming County Recreation Organizations County Role In Recreation 4-1 Lycoming County Recreation Authority 4-2 County Recreation Organization Visions 4-3 County Recreation Organization Implementation 4-5 Strategies Adopted i 4-10-08 Lycoming County Recreation, Parks, & Open Space/Greenways Plan Chapter 5 Recreation Providers, Facilities and Services Recreation Commissions, Committees, and Authorities 5-1 Recreation Areas and Facilities 5-3 School Districts 5-9 Recreation Programs 5-13 State Agencies 5-15 Other Recreation Providers 5-18 Recreation Providers, Facilties, and Services Visions 5-21 Recreation Providers, Facilties, and Services 5-24 Implementation Strategies Chapter 6 Recreation Activities Arts and Entertainment 6-1 Water Related Activities 6-4 Winter Recreation 6-8 Youth Sports 6-11 Youth and Adult Activities 6-13 Recreation Activity Visions 6-17 Recreation Activity Implementation Strategies 6-22 Chapter 7 Establishing Greenways Overview 7-1 • What is a greenway? 7-1 • Benefits of a greenway 7-3 • Types of greenways 7-7 • Step/process in the development of the Lycoming County Greenway Plan 7-8 Greenway Analysis 7-9 • Potential demand and use of greenways 7-9 • Inventory 7-10 • A Watershed Approach to Greenways 7-15 • Greenway Connections 7-16 • Land Use Compatibility 7-17 Priority Greenway Corridors 7-18 • Lower W. Branch Susquehanna River 7-18 • Muncy Creek/Little Muncy Creek 7-22 • Nippenose Valley/Elimsport 7-25 • Loyalsock Creek 7-28 • Lycoming Creek 7-32 • Larry’s Creek 7-36 • Pine Creek 7-38 Financing and Managing Greenways 7-47 Adopted ii 4-10-08 Lycoming County Recreation, Parks, & Open Space/Greenways Plan Chapter 8 Open Space, Trails and Greenways Open Space 8-1 Open Space Preservation and Conservation Techniques 8-4 Trails 8-10 Greenways 8-14 Greenway Visions 8-18 Greenway Implementation Strategies 8-21 Chapter 9 Implementation Priority Implementation Actions by Lycoming County 9-1 Greenway and Trail Priorities 9-1 Greenway Demonstration Project 9-2 Strategic Implementation Actions 9-3 Trail Implementation Actions 9-3 Municipal Implementation Action Plans 9-3 APPENDICES: A Population Statistics and Trends B Recreation Advisory Committee Members C Survey Questionnaire D Focus Group Information E Municipal Recreation Areas and Facilities F School Areas and Facilities G Recreation Programs H Greenway Priority Matrix I Implementation Matrix Adopted iii 4-10-08 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Lycoming County is a great place to play, relax and rejuvenate – whether it is at a park, on a trail, along the river or creeks, or in our vast open space and forestland. Lycoming County has a variety of recreation opportunities that are only minutes away from most of the population. The County has a multitude of organized sports for youth, young adults and adults, and is recognized world-wide as the birthplace of Little League Baseball. Although mostly centered around the Greater Williamsport Area, high quality arts and entertainment programs are readily available to residents of the County. As the largest County in the State, Lycoming County has a tremendous acreage of open space and forestland. The beauty of the landscape is at times breathtaking, with view sheds, wildlife, hiking trails, and natural areas that rival anyplace east of the Mississippi. These opportunities provide for a great quality of life for County residents, and are also available to County visitors. Role and Purpose The purpose of this Plan is to facilitate the development and enhancement of recreation facilities, parks, open space and greenways. The plan presents a wide spectrum of visions, goals and implementation strategies that can be used by the County and local municipalities in decision making. Additionally this Plan complements, augments, and is a functional element of the Comprehensive Plan for Lycoming County. The original Lycoming County Comprehensive Recreation and Open Space Plans were developed by the Lycoming County Planning Commission and adopted by the Lycoming County Commissioners effective September, 1974. A Recreation Plan Addendum was prepared in April, 1977 which contained detailed recommendations pertaining to the County role in recreation, environmental education facility use and development, and proposed bicycle trail alignments. Many of the policies and recommendations from these Plans are still applicable today, over 30 years later, and were carried over or modified as needed as part of this document. The original County Recreation Plan stated that: “Recreation should be regarded not as only sports, or even leisure time activity, but a broad concept of activity oriented toward health, individual happiness, creativity and community vigor. Incorporation of recreation values into everyday life and commonplace activities is essential in order to improve the quality of life and to make our activities meaningful. All facets of recreation should be viewed in this broad sense, rather than only something to be done in a park, during a summer program or while on a team.” This Plan contains information and analysis developed through inventory, survey, and public involvement pertaining to recreation related organizations, facilities and services, programs, and open space trails and greenways. The visions, goals and implementation strategies establish a framework to: • Provide a basis for allocating local & state resources to meet recreational needs of residents, businesses & tourists. • Promote regional cooperation for provision of recreational facilities. The Plan is a priority of the Greater Williamsport Area Alliance. • Promote sustainable economic development, including tourism. • Provide statistical data & other documentation to justify grant applications & acquire funding. Adopted 1 - 1 4-10-08 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION • Identify opportunities for greenways, open space & floodplain preservation. • Identify opportunities for public access points & linkages between trail systems & County population centers. • Assist elected officials in making decisions and wisely spending limited tax dollars. • Identify key issues and raise awareness of current issues and opportunities. • Prioritize projects and assist municipalities in obtaining a fair share of grant funds for recreation and parks. • Evaluate community recreation facilities, services and programs and provide framework for measuring success in serving community needs. • Establish organizational structure, build teamwork, and gain buy-in to implement priority projects. • Establish a blueprint for maintaining, improving and adding to recreation facilities, services and programs so that everyone is working together in the same direction. The Planning Process The Advisory Committee identified priority issues and opportunities during the first two working sessions. These priority issues and opportunities established a framework from which to identify focus groups and key persons to interview, and the questions to ask on the public survey. A Broad-Based Public Process In January 2003, the Lycoming County Planning Commission, with assistance from the Recreation Advisory Committee, conducted a direct mail survey of Lycoming County households to assess pubic opinion about recreation facilities and programs, open space protection, and the establishment of a County-wide Greenway network. The goal was to obtain citizen input regarding: • Recreational facilities & programs participation, strengths, & concerns • Support for Open Space protection and Greenway development • Role of the County in Recreation, Parks and Open Space/Greenways • Funding & support for additional Recreation &