COMPREHENSIVE RECREATION, PARK, OPEN SPACE & GREENWAY PLAN Conservation andNatural Resources,Bureau ofRecreation andConservation. Keystone Recreation, ParkandConservationFund underadministrationofthe PennsylvaniaDepartmentof This projectwas June 2009 BRC-TAG-12-222 fi nanced inpartbyagrantfrom theCommunityConservation PartnershipsProgram, The contributions of the following agencies, groups, and individuals were vital to the successful development of this Comprehensive Recreation, Parks, Open Space, and Greenway Plan. They are commended for their interest in the project and for the input they provided throughout the planning process. Armstrong County Commissioners Patricia L. Kirkpatrick, Chairman Richard L. Fink, Vice-Chairman James V. Scahill, Secretary Armstrong County Department of Planning and Development Richard L. Palilla, Executive Director Michael P. Coonley, AICP - Assistant Director Sally L. Conklin, Planning Coordinator Project Study Committee David Rupert, Armstrong County Conservation District Brian Sterner, Armstrong County Planning Commission/Kiski Area Soccer League Larry Lizik, Apollo Ridge School District Athletic Department Robert Conklin, Kittanning Township/Kittanning Township Recreation Authority James Seagriff, Freeport Borough Jessica Coil, Tourist Bureau Ron Steffey, Allegheny Valley Land Trust Gary Montebell, Belmont Complex Rocco Aly, PA Federation of Sportsman’s Association County Representative David Brestensky, South Buffalo Township/Little League Rex Barnhart, ATV Trails Pamela Meade, Crooked Creek Watershed Association, Cowanshannock Creek Watershed Association Patricia Adams, Area Agency on Aging Robert Knepshield, Roaring Run Watershed Association Scott Heasley, YMCA Jeff Miller, Snyder Associates Neal Andritz, River's Edge Canoe and Kayak LLC. cknowledgements George Traister, ATV Trails A Key Person Interviewees James Budzilek – Leechburg School Superintendent Scott Heasley – YMCA Executive Director Gary Pinkerton – Director Butler County Parks/Armstrong County Resident Michael O’Hare – Leader Times Editor Allen Walzak – Strongland Chamber of Commerce George Verner – Pennsylvania Conservation Corps Foreman - Sugarcreek Rocco Aly – PA Federation of Sportsman’s Association County Representative Larry Lizik – Apollo School District Athletic Director Mark Cochenour – Kittanning Youth Baseball Representative Karen Winter – Fort Armstrong Horseman’s Association President Chuck Foster – Elderton Park Commission Todd Grafton – Armstrong Amateur Hockey Association President Gary Montebell – Belmont Complex Manager Commissioner Patricia Kirkpatrick Commissioner Richard Fink Commissioner James Scahill Patty Bruner – Project Coordinator –Baker Trail Dennis Hawley – Crooked Creek Environmental Learning Center Ron Thompson – Milton Loop Campground Manager Ron Steffy – Allegheny Valley Land Trust Mark Ford – Sports & Recreation Associates Steve Atwood – Kittanning Borough Larry Gray – Pennsylvania Conservation Corps Foreman – Elderton Stacy Klukan – Ford City High School Health & Physical Education Dianne Emminger – ACMH Vice President Information Services John Pinkerton – Recreation Resources, Inc. & Armstrong County Resident This project was fi nanced in part by a grant from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program, Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund under administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. ACD – Armstrong Conservation District IMA – Important Mammal Area ACDPD – Armstrong County Department of IMAP – Important Mammal Area Project Planning and Development ISTEA – Intermodal Surface Transportation ACTB – Armstrong County Tourist Bureau Effi ciency Act ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act IUP – Indiana University of Pennsylvania ANF – Allegheny National Forest KAZ – Keystone Active Zone ASA - Agriculture Security Area K-C Alliance – Kiski-Conemaugh Alliance ASTM – American Society for Testing and Materials LCA – Landscape Conservation Areas ASWP – Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania LWCF – US Land and Water Conservation Fund ATV - All Terrain Vehicle MPO – Metropolitan Planning Organization AVLT – Allegheny Valley Land Trust NAD - North American Datum AVTA – Allegheny Valley Trails Association NHI – Natural Heritage Inventory BDA – Biological Diversity Area NRCS – National Resource Conservation Service BRC – TAG – Bureau of Recreation and NRPA – National Recreation and Park Association Conservation – Technical Assistance Grant Acronyms NWI – National Wetland Inventory C2P2 – Community Conservation Partnership PEC – Pennsylvania Environmental Council Program PennDOT – Pennsylvania Department of CrCWA - Crooked Creek Watershed Association Transportation CCWA - Cowanshannock Creek Watershed PANA – Pennsylvania Advocates for Nutrition and Association Activity CDBG – Community Block Development Grant PA SR – Pennsylvania State Route CHP – Coldwater Heritage Partnership PDA – Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture CPSC – US Consumer Product Safety Commission PFBC – Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission CRP – Conservation Reserve Program PPG – Pittsburgh Plate Glass CVC – Conemaugh Valley Conservancy PRPS – Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society CWF – Cold Water Fishery PSDA - Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access DCED – Pennsylvania Department of Community RCP – River Conservation Plan and Economic Development ROW – Right-of-Way DCNR - Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources RRWA - Roaring Run Watershed Association DEM – Digital Elevation Model SALDO - Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance DEP - Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection SGL – State Game Lands [of the Pennsylvania Game Commission] EAC – Environmental Advisory Council SPC – Southwest Pennsylvania Commission ELC – Crooked Creek Environmental Learning Center STP – Surface Transportation Program ESRI - Environmental Systems Research Institute TEA21 - Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century EV – Exceptional Value TIP – Transportation Improvements Plan FEMA – Federal Emergency Management Agency TSF – Trout Stocked Fisheries FHA – Federal Highway Administration USDA – United States Department of Agriculture FSA – Farm Service Agency USGS - United States Geological Survey HQ – High Quality WPC - Western Pennsylvania Conservancy IBA – Important Bird Area YMCA - Young Men’s Christian Association EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .........................................................1 Issues ....................................................................................................3 Key Recommendations .......................................................................5 Greenways ...........................................................................................7 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND ............11 The Comprehensive Recreation, Park, Open Space, and Greenway Plan ...........................................................................13 The Planning Process ........................................................................14 The Benefi ts of Parks and Recreation .............................................15 How to Use this Plan .........................................................................15 County Background ..........................................................................16 Demographics ....................................................................................17 Review of Existing Planning Documents ........................................21 Armstrong County Comprehensive Plan .....................................................................21 Belmont Complex Feasibility Study ............................................................................22 Middle Allegheny River Conservation Plan ............................................................... 23 Buffalo Creek Watershed Conservation Plan ............................................................. 26 Kiski-Conemaugh River Basin Conservation Plan .....................................................27 Cowanshannock Creek Watershed River Conservation Plan .....................................27 able of Contents able of Redbank Creek Watershed Conservation Plan ...........................................................29 Lower Crooked Creek Watershed Conservation Plan ................................................ 30 T Upper Crooked Creek Watershed Conservation Plan ................................................ 31 CHAPTER 2: PARKS & RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES ....................................................................33 Classifi cations of Parks and Trails .................................................36 Recreation Opportunities provided by Armstrong County .........38 The Belmont Complex .................................................................................................38 The Milton Loop Campground ....................................................................................39 The Canfi eld-Holmes Sanctuary .................................................................................39 Gilpin/Leechburg Park ............................................................................................... 39 Armstrong County Mini-Grant Program ....................................................................39 Local Parks and Recreation Facilities ............................................40 Parks and Recreation Program Providers..........................................................................49 Belmont Complex ......................................................................................................................................................49