Trails and Recreation Concept Plan October 2009 Trails and Recreation Concept Plan October 2009 Acknowledgements Prepared by the National Park Service, Northeast Region, Rivers, Trails, & Conservation Assistance Program and Natural Lands Trust for the Hopewell Big Woods Partnership. Design and production of the Hopewell Big Woods Trails and Recreation Concept Plan were supported by the National Park Service’s Challenge Cost Share Grant Program. Points of view are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the position of the Department of the Interior. Hopewell Big Woods Partners: National Park Service – Hopewell Furnace County of Berks: National Historic Site Parks & Recreation Department Planning Commission / Service Center Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: Townships of: Bureau of Recreation and Conservation Caernarvon Bureau of State Parks / French Creek State Park East Nantmeal Bureau of Forestry East Vincent Office of Conservation Science North Coventry Robeson Pennsylvania Game Commission: South Coventry Southeast Region Union Bureau of Automated Technical Services Warwick West Nantmeal County of Chester: West Vincent Parks & Recreation Department Boroughs of: Planning Commission Birdsboro Bureau of Land Records Elverson Health Department Department of Open Space Preservation Department of Computing & Information Services (DCIS / GIS) Audubon Pennsylvania With additional support from the following Berks County Conservancy organizations and individuals: Brandywine Conservancy Appalachian Mountain Club French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust Arcadia Land Company Friends of Hopewell Furnace Berks County Bicycle Club Green Valleys Association Berks County Hiking Club GreenSpace AllianceHay Creek Valley Historical As- Birdsboro Climbing sociation Birdsboro Municipal Authority Hay Creek Watershed Association Breakaway Sports Highlands CoalitionHorse-Shoe Trail Conservancy Defenders of Wildlife Keystone Conservation Trust Delaware Valley Orienteering Association Mrs. Eleanor Morris Delaware Valley Regional Natural Lands Trust Planning Commission Pennsylvania Wildlife Federation Elverson Walking Club Leslie Rebmann Heron Group Samuel W. Morris Trust International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) Bill Sanders Esther and Calvin Kurtz Schuylkill River Greenway Association/Schuylkill River Valley National & State Heritage Area Mid_Atlantic Super Series (MASS) The Nature Conservancy Monocacy Hill Conservation Association Cathie N. Whitlock Pennsylvania Equine Council Pennsylvania Trail Hands (PaTH) Pottstown Health Foundation Ray Ott & Associates South Birdsboro Archery Rod & Gun Club Stell Environmental Enterprises Trout Unlimited – Southeast Region Chapter of Pennsylvania Warwick County Park YMCA of the Brandywine Valley Table Of Contents Executive Summary i I. About the Hopewell Big Woods Partnership 1 II. Hopewell Big Woods – Building the Public Vision 1 III. Vision and Goals of the Hopewell Big Woods Partnership 3 IV. Trails and Recreation in the Hopewell Big Woods Landscape – Challenges and Opportunities 4 V. Vision and Goals for the Hopewell Big Woods Trails and Recreation Network 7 VI. How Did We Get to This Point? 13 VII. The Concept – Characteristics of the Hopewell Big Woods Trails and Recreation Network 16 VIII. Benefits 53 IX. Get Involved! 54 APPENDICES A. National, State and Local Initiatives Contributing to the Concept Plan 55 B. Individual Trail and Recreation Projects 65 MAPS Map 1 – Existing Off-Road and On-Road Trail Network Map 2 – Proposed Off and On Road Trail Network Map 3 – Regional map with trail connections to Phoenixville and Valley Forge, Forge to Furnace Hopewell Big Woods Trails and Recreation Concept Plan 8 Hopewell Big Woods Trails and Recreation Concept Plan Executive Summary In 2007 the Hopewell Big Woods Partnership engaged the National Park Service to identify recreational resources. This Concept Plan represents the first step towards developing the vision and goals for recreation and trails in the Hopewell Big Woods Region. The Hopewell Big Wood’s 25,000+ acres includes organizations, governments, institutions, land- the 7,730-acre French Creek State Park, 1,848-acre owners, recreational groups, businesses and other Birdsboro Waters, 848-acre Hopewell Furnace Na- stakeholders interested in conservation of the unique tional Historic Site, 604-acre Crows Nest Preserve, characteristics of the Hopewell Big Woods. The and 2,909 acres of State Game Lands. The scenic area Partnership fosters community action to sustain and straddles parts of Pennsylvania’s Berks and Chester promote the Hopewell Big Woods’ natural, cultural, counties and is the largest forest tract remaining in and recreational heritage. Membership is open to all southeastern Pennsylvania. Located between the who share the Partnership’s goals, which include: Reading and Philadelphia metropolitan areas, the 1. Forests - Permanently protect at least 15,000 un- Hopewell Big Woods is one of the highest priority broken forest acres in and around French Creek conservation areas in the Pennsylvania Highlands. State Park. Additionally, it is part of the US Forest Service’s Highlands Conservation Area and is an integral piece 2. Watersheds - Conserve water quality and of the Schuylkill River National and State Heritage quantity in the watersheds of the upper reaches Area and the Pennsylvania Department of Conser- of French Creek, the entirety of Hay Creek and vation and Natural Resources’ Schuylkill Highlands in other watersheds within the Hopewell Big Conservation Landscape Initiative. Woods. Although under increasing development pres- 3. Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species - sures, the Hopewell Big Woods region makes a Conserve state and federally listed and other compelling case for revitalizing local communities rare species occurring within the Hopewell Big through recreation related businesses and heritage Woods. tourism based on environmental and cultural educa- 4. Resource Conservation - Increase outdoor rec- tion. Improved connections to the regional trail reational opportunities related to the Schuylkill system, including the Schuylkill River Trail and the River Valley’s natural and cultural heritage and Horse-Shoe Trail, will help support economic devel- strengthen its historic communities within the opment initiatives by making the region’s assets more Hopewell Big Woods region of the Schuylkill accessible to and appreciated by the public. River National and State Heritage Area. The Hopewell Big Woods 5. Sustainable Economic Development - Foster Partnership compatible economic development within the Hopewell Big Woods that is consistent with other The Partnership is an informal network of public- Partnership conservation goals. private groups representing communities, non-profit i Hopewell Big Woods Trails and Recreation Concept Plan 6. Historic and Cultural Resources - Seek to pro- recreational vehicles have their own places to ride, tect historic and other cultural resources occur- where appropriate, separate from non-motorized ring within and near the Hopewell Big Woods. recreational activities. The Vision for the Hopewell Big Woods applies • Visitors and local residents move through a scenic, to nearly 73,000 acres through two Pennsylvania agricultural landscape and experience compelling, counties, ten townships, several incorporated mu- high-quality interpretation of the area’s natural nicipalities including the boroughs of Birdsboro and and industrial heritage, supported by a variety of Elverson, and more than 16 unincorporated villages. media and a consistent and well maintained sig- Existing greenways and trails, recreation and conser- nage system. As powerful visual attractions, water vation plans, and proposed projects and ideas lay the and other natural, cultural, historic and industrial foundation for the Hopewell Big Woods vision and heritage features are incorporated into trail design goals and activities of each of the Working Groups. and interpretation, and protected and enhanced through sustainable development. Concept Plan Vision • Recreational users understand rules for using the • The communities of the Hopewell Big Woods and facilities including use during hunting seasons, the larger region recognize the area as a premier respectfully share the facilities without impact- recreational destination for a diversity of activities. ing the resources, and are engaged in maintaining • Access to recreational facilities is supported by a them. trail network that provides safe, easy access from • Visitors and local residents are knowledgeable adjacent communities as well as connecting with about area trails and recreational facilities and can the larger regional trail system, including the plan a safe, enjoyable experience due to the avail- Horse-Shoe Trail and Schuylkill River Trail. ability of comprehensive, detailed information • The trails benefit the communities as a catalyst for coordinated at the federal, state, and municipal economic revitalization, improved health and well levels. being, and increased social interaction. • A regional recreation and trails commission/orga- • The trail system is largely multi-use, supports a nization supports the community’s commitment variety of users of different ages and challenge to permanently protect and manage the trails, levels, includes a diversity of non-motorized uses aided by a management, maintenance, and moni- and is primarily off road, while using local roads toring plan that addresses emergency response. as