NOORTHWESTRTHWEST PEENNSYLVANIANNSYLVANIA GRREENWAYSEENWAYS PLLANAN CClarionlarion CountyCounty CrawfordCrawford CountyCounty ErieErie CountyCounty ForestForest CountyCounty LLawrenceawrence CCountyounty MercerMercer CountyCounty VenangoVenango CountyCounty WarrenWarren CountyCounty DDCNRCNR PProjectroject NNo.o. BBRC-12.5.2RC-12.5.2 This project was funded in part by a grant from the Keystone Recreation, Park, and Conservation Fund under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, and, by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Pashek Associates May 29, 2009 AAcknowledgementscknowledgements Northwest Pennsylvania Greenways Steering Committee Mr. Matt Gilara Northwest Commission A special thanks go to all of the citizens of Northwest Ms. Twila Rifenberrick Clarion County Planning Department Pennsylvania for their Mr. Jack Lynch Crawford County Planning Offi ce enthusiasm and input Ms. Marissa Gerkey Crawford County Planning Offi ce (alternate) during this study. Also, the Mr. Jake Welsh Erie County Department of Planning Mr. John Morgan Erie County Department of Planning (alternate) contribution and input of the Mr. Doug Carlson Forest County Planning Commission following individuals were Ms. Amy McKinney Lawrence County Planning Department important to the successful Mr. Frank Gingras Lawrence County Planning Department (alternate) development of this plan: Mr. Dan Gracenin Mercer County Regional Planning Commission Ms. Judy Downs Venango County Regional Planning Commission Mr. Dan Glotz Warren County Planning and Zoning Ms. Doniele Andrus Beaver County & Lawrence County Shared Greenways and Environmental Planner Ms. Debra Frawley Oil Region Greenways and Open Space Coordinator Northwest Pennsylvania Ms. Marilyn Black Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry, and Regional Planning and Tourism Mr. Tim Bruno PA DEP - Northwest Regional Offi ce Development Commission Mr. Kim McCullough PA DCNR - Bureau of Recreation and Conservation Ms. Denise McCloskey, Executive Ms. Julia Eagles Erie - Western Pennsylvania Port Authority Director Mr. Gary Frank PA DCNR - Bureau of Forestry Ms. Cecile Stelter PA DCNR - Cornplanter State Forest Mr. W. Randy Rice, Director Mr. Jim Holden Allegheny Valley Trail Association of Community Development & Mr. Dennis Miller PA DCNR - Pymatuning State Park Planning Mr. Andy Walker Pennsylvania Environmental Council Mr. Denny Puko PA DCED Mr. Matt Gilara, Project Manager Mr. Ron Steffey Allegheny Valley Land Trust Ms. Jan Beichner Venango County Commissioner Mr. Jerry Schill Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce Ms. Erin Wiley Moyers PennDOT Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Ms. Diane Kripas, Chief, Greenways and Conservation Partnerships Mr. Alex MacDonald, Greenways and Conservation Partnerships Ms. Kim McCullough, Regional Parks and Recreation Advisor Pennsylvania Department of Transportation District 1-0 Ms. Erin Wiley Moyers, Transportation Planning Specialist This project was funded in part by a grant from the Keystone Recreation, Park, and Conservation Fund under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, and, by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA REGION Greenways Plan including Clarion County Crawford County Erie County Forest County Lawrence County Mercer County Venango County Warren County Prepared for: Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission 395 Seneca Street P.O. Box 1127 Oil City, PA 16301 814-677-4800 By: Pashek Associates, Ltd. 619 East Ohio Street Pittsburgh, PA 15212 (412) 321-6362 May 29, 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 1 Existing Planning Efforts ............................................................................................................ 4 What is a Greenway? ................................................................................................................... 7 Why a Greenways Plan for Northwest Pennsylvania? ................................................................ 8 Preserving Northwest Pennsylvania’s Defining Characteristics ......................................... 8 Tourism and Ecotourism ............................................................................................... 9 Hunting and Fishing ...................................................................................................... 9 Boating ........................................................................................................................ 10 Wildlife Watching ....................................................................................................... 10 Economic Benefits of Greenways ..................................................................................... 11 Transportation Benefits ............................................................................................... 13 Recreation Benefits ..................................................................................................... 13 Health and Wellness Benefits ..................................................................................... 14 Ecological Benefits ..................................................................................................... 15 Educational Benefits ................................................................................................... 16 Protecting Pennsylvania’s Rural Legacy ........................................................................... 16 Economic Benefits of Natural Systems Greenways .......................................................... 17 Conserving Priority Habitats ............................................................................................. 17 Sound Land Use and Sustainable Growth ......................................................................... 17 How is a Greenways Plan Developed? ...................................................................................... 19 Three – Step Process ......................................................................................................... 19 Public Participation ........................................................................................................... 19 Purpose of the Greenways Plan ......................................................................................... 20 Goals and Objectives ......................................................................................................... 20 The Greenways Plan as a Decision Making Tool.............................................................. 21 HOW DO WE GET THERE? ............................................................................................. 22 Plan Organization ....................................................................................................................... 23 Management Structure ............................................................................................................... 24 The Vision for Northwest Pennsylvania’s Greenways .............................................................. 36 The Structure of the Network .................................................................................................... 36 Proposed Natural System Greenways ........................................................................................ 36 The Criteria ....................................................................................................................... 37 Natural Infrastructure Building Blocks ....................................................................... 37 The Process ....................................................................................................................... 45 The Results ........................................................................................................................ 45 Proposed Vital Priority Natural Systems Greenway Corridors................................... 46 Proposed Exceptional Priority Natural Systems Greenway Corridors ....................... 49 Proposed Significant Priority Natural Systems Greenway Corridors ......................... 59 Proposed High Priority Natural Systems Greenway Corridors .................................. 67 Discussion Regarding Forest Resources ........................................................................... 75 Fossil Fuel Extraction and Renewable Energy .................................................................. 76 Natural Systems Greenway Corridors and County Natural Heritage Inventory Planning Interrelation...................................................................................... 77 Map: Northwest Pennsylvania Greenways ................................................................................ 81 Summary Tables: Proposed Recreation and Transportation Trails, Water Trails & Trail Towns ........................................................................................... 83 TABLE OF CONTENTS Summary Tables: Proposed Natural Systems Greenway Corridors ......................................... 84 Recreation and Transportation Greenways ................................................................................ 85 The Process ......................................................................................................................