Benefits of Greenways: A Pennsylvania Study

BENEFITSOF GREENWAYS:A PENNSYLVANIA STUDY

Prepared on behalf of the Pennsylvania Greenways Partnership Commission with Committee assistance, June, 2002.

Benefits of Greenways: A Pennsylvania Study

Contents of Report

Introduction to Report ............................................................................. 1

Purpose ........................................................................................... 1Acknowledgements ........................................................................ 1

Introduction to Benefits ........................................................................... 3

Natural Resources ........................................................................... 3Protecting Rural Legacy ................................................................. 5Economic Prosperity ...................................................................... 7Historical and Cultural Resources ................................................ 10Recreation, Health and Fitness ..................................................... 12Education ...................................................................................... 14Shaping Community Growth ........................................................ 16Transportation ............................................................................... 18

Conclusion ............................................................................................. 19

Case Study Chart ................................................................................... 20

Benefits of Greenways: A Pennsylvania Study 1

Introduction to ReportThere are numerous examples of greenways that serve the communities in which they are located.

The benefits they provide range from the preservation of the Commonwealth’s natural resources andeducating children and adults on the unique history and culture found within Pennsylvania to promot-ing public recreation, health and fitness activities and enhancing opportunities for economic prosper-ity. With the help of the Greenways Partnership Commission, eight examples of Pennsylvania greenwaysthat have had a demonstratively positive effect on their surrounding regions were selected in an effortto highlight the substantial benefits they provide. A chart of those case studies, which were researchedin detail, is provided at the end of this report.

Purpose of ReportThe Benefits of Pennsylvania Greenways Report will be used as a foundation for future communi-

cation and outreach efforts focusing on educating the general public regarding the benefits that are andwill continue to be provided by Pennsylvania greenways.

AcknowledgementsSignificant effort was placed into the research, data collection and writing of this report. Recogni-

tion and thanks are extended to the following individuals, groups and agencies for their assistance infinalizing the draft Greenways Benefits Report. The dedication of time, energy and resources by thoselisted greatly enhanced the content of this document.

Allegheny Trail Alliance, Linda McKennaBoxx

Allegheny Trail Alliance, Sandra Finley

Burke Lee’s Boston Common, Terry Burke

Campbell Thomas and Company, RobertThomas

City of Pittsburgh, Department of CityPlanning

City of York, Economic DevelopmentDepartment, Eric Menzer

City of York, Planning Department, VeronicaWhaley

Coldwell Banker, Rita Halverson

Conservation Fund, Anne Gore

C.S. Davidson Incorporated, Jeff Shue

Dauphin County Parks and Recreation,Edward Chubb

Fairmount Park Commission, StephanieCraighead

Fairmount Park Commission, TheresaStuhlman

Farmland Preservation Corporation, G. AllenHoupt

2 Benefits of Greenways: A Pennsylvania Study

Fort Mifflin on the Delaware, Dori McMunn

Friends of Fox Chase Farm, James Kates

Friends of Pennypack, Stan Grossman

Howard Hanna Simon Real Estate Services,Tom Simon

Interactive Marketing Solutions, Carl Knoch

Lower Makefield Township’s EnvironmentalAdvisory Council, Scott Fegley

Luzerne County Planning Commission,Adrian Merolli

Manayunk Development Corporation, KaySmith

Montgomery County Department of Parks,Ron Ahlbrant

Montgomery County Planning Commission,John Wood

Natural Lands Trust, Ann Hutchinson

Natural Lands Trust, Randall Arendt

Oil Creek Bicycle Trail, Trail User, PaulaBittenbender

Oil Creek State Park, Marcia Baker

Oil Creek State Park, Carolyn Worley

Oil Heritage Region Incorporated, MarilynBlack

Pennsylvania Environmental Council, EllenAlamio

Pennsylvania State Snowmobile Association,Don Clouser

Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust,David Robertson

Pennypack Environmental Center, Peter Kurtz

Realen Homes, Michael Stadulis

River’s Edge Café and Bread and Breakfast,Anna Marie Yakubisin

Schuylkill River Greenway Association, DixieSwenson

Somerset County Chamber of Commerce,Hank Parke

University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School ofPublic and International Affairs, Dr. StephenFarber

York County Parks Rail Trail, Gwen Loose

York County Rail Trail Authority (FormerChair), Tim Fulton


Introduction to BenefitsPennsylvania is home to some of the nation’s

richest and most scenic natural areas, many ofwhich are internationally known. Greenwaysthroughout the Commonwealth are currently serv-ing the communities in which they are located by:

• Protecting Natural Resources,• Protecting Rural Legacy,• Providing Communities with Economic

Opportunities and Prosperity,• Conserving Historic and Cultural Resources,• Providing Opportunities for Public

Recreation, Health and Fitness,• Enabling Outdoor Educational Opportunities

for People of all Ages,• Assisting in the Planning and Shaping of

Communities, and;• Providing Alternative and Safe Modes of

Transportation.

As an interconnected network of open spacecorridors, the statewide greenways system willenhance and support meaningful and lasting ben-efits such as those described above.

Protecting Natural ResourcesGreenways provide numerous direct and indi-

rect ecological benefits to the communities inwhich they are located. Primarily, they function asprotectors and preservers of our natural resourcesby:

• Preserving Vital Habitat Corridors,• Promoting Plant and Animal Species

Diversity,• Absorbing the Contaminants on Surface

Runoff, and Trees and Shrubs,• Cleansing and Replenishing the Air,• Buffering the Negative Effects of

Development,• Mitigating Noise, Water, Thermal and Air

Pollution, and;• Controlling Property Damage Due to

Flooding.

Among the many examples of greenways inPennsylvania that serve to protect and promote vitalnatural resources is Luzerne County’s Levee Trail.

The Levee TrailIn 1936, a hurricane tore through North East-

ern Pennsylvania causing severe damage to resi-dential areas located close to the SusquehannaRiver. As a result of this damage, and in an effortto prevent it from happening again, the Countyinitiated the construction of a series of levees. Thelevees served their purpose in keeping storm dam-age to a minimum until 1972. In that year, Hurri-cane Agnes topped the reservoir causing massflooding and prompted calls to raise the levee

Photo of Mountains in Pocono Region, PhotoCourtesy of Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau.


Charged with this undertaking, the Army Corpof Engineers and the County of Luzerne soon de-termined that enhancing the levee with proper de-sign could also mean enhancing the benefits beingprovided to the community. After noticing a dirtpath running along the levee, the engineering teamdecided to initiate construction on a trail network.The goals of the trail network were to ensure thatthe primary functions of the levees were not com-promised while providing residents an opportunityto enjoy this natural resource.

“Using the levee to further enhance the natu-ral environment by making it a part of the commu-

nity benefits everyone. I believe that we will pre-serve that which we appreciate, and we can onlyappreciate that which we see and know. TheSusquehanna River is our treasure and instead ofbeing removed from our consciousness and per-ceived as little more than a threat it will be seen,admired, and hopefully preserved and valued.”Ellen Alamio, Director of the Northeast Office ofthe Pennsylvania Environmental Council

While the primary purpose of each levee is floodcontrol, the levees, or greenways, have also be-come important to the natural surroundings by act-ing as corridors for wildlife and enabling protec-tion from encroaching development for theSusquehanna River. The added value of a signedtrail adds both recreational and educational ben-efits to this greenway and it enables residents toenjoy the natural resources found along the river.

“Before development began on the trail it wasdifficult for the community to access the river. Infact many residents felt it was more of a burdenthen a prized resource. The river was out of site,out of mind to the people of Luzerne County andwe needed to turn that around.” Adrian Merolli,Luzerne County Planning Commission.

Photo of the Susquehanna River in LuzerneCounty. Photo courtesy of the RBA Group.

Construction on the Levee Trail in LuzerneCounty. Photo courtesy of the RBA Group

Photo of the Susquehanna River in LuzerneCounty. Photo courtesy of the RBA Group


Benefits of The Levee Trail:• Assists with Flood Control,• Provides Wildlife Corridors,• Provides Education and Awareness of the

River and its Natural Resources,• Promotes and Encourages Safe

Recreational Activities, and;• Enhances Quality of Life.

Protecting Rural LegacyPennsylvania’s rural landscape is an inextricable

link to its history as well as a demonstration of thesuccess that continues to be achieved by its farm-ing community. Studies demonstrate that Pennsyl-vania has lost much of its agricultural land overthe last 25 years to urban areas. This rate of losshas a sizeable economic impact, but it also threat-ens the unique characteristics that encompass Penn-sylvania such as its rural legacy. Developmentwithout preservation of this rural character signifi-cantly impacts on the future course of the Com-monwealth.

Greenways help to preserve the rural characterof a community by:

• Protecting Ridge Lines, River Corridors, andScenic Resources,

• Providing Visual Relief by Framing andDistinguishing Neighborhoods in the Face ofSprawl, and;

• Preserving Farmland, Small CountrySettlements and Surrounding Open Space.

Among the greenways within the Commonwealththat serve to protect and enhance Pennsylvania’s ru-ral legacy is the Pennypack Greenway Corridor.

The Pennypack Greenway CorridorThe Pennypack Greenway Corridor is a wind-

ing creek corridor in Montgomery and Philadel-phia Counties made up of public parks, privatelyowned preserved open space and old-growth for-est, working farms, abandoned rail lines, and count-less trails. The 25-mile-long corridor extends fromthe Delaware River to Hatboro and is surroundedby urban and suburban communities in the mostdensely populated area of the state.

Grain and dairy farms surrounded thePennypack watershed from the late 17th century tothe middle of the 20th. Railroads constructed inthe late 1800s did not interfere with the rural settle-ment but enhanced it with the creation of countryestates and villages and towns. The turn of the 19thcentury brought additional settlement to Philadel-phia but the Pennypack watershed as a whole didnot begin to change significantly until after WWIIwith widespread construction of paved roads andsuburban sprawl.

Efforts to preserve the natural and rural settingof this region began as far back as 1905 when leg-islation, aimed at preserving the watershed, waspassed. Other planning initiatives followed, whichhelped create the current corridor. The greenway

Photo Depicting a Rural Settlement Along thePennypack Ecological Restoration Trust Lands,

Montgomery County. Photo Courtesy of CampbellThomas and Company

Photo Depicting a Rural Settlement Along thePennypack Ecological Restoration Trust Lands,

Montgomery County. Photo Courtesy of CampbellThomas and Company


is continuous in Philadelphia and with the realiza-tion of Montgomery County’s initiative,“Pennypack Connection” the final two parcels ofland will be purchased or leased making thegreenway continuous in this county as well.

The environmental, cultural, and economic ben-efits of Pennypack Greenway are immeasurable.One benefit with particular significance is the pro-tection of rural legacy that has been realized withthe development of this greenway. The rural legacyis inherent in two farms and the adjacent valleysand hillsides and small country settlements thatexist around them. Both Fox Chase and Raytharnfarms and their surrounding countryside weresaved from private development with a combina-tion of Federal, State and local fundraising efforts.

Fox Chase Farm, owned by The PhiladelphiaFairmount Park Commission and leased by thePhiladelphia School District, conducts year-roundeducational programs for Philadelphia publicschool students. The Friends of Fox Chase FarmPresident said,

“The public school programs are so popularthat within the first three days of the school year,the programs are booked.”

In addition to these programs, Fairmount Parkconducts festivals and special events such as Fam-ily Farm Day, and Sheep Shearing Day and Sun-day tours which are open to the public and bringover 10,000 visitors a year to the greenway.

Raytharn Farm, owned by a private nonprofitorganization, Pennypack Ecological RestorationTrust, is located in the midst of over 690 acres ofprotected meadows and woodlands in centralMontgomery County. This working farm, coun-tryside and trail system offer numerous opportu-nities to see and learn about rural life. Trail maps,available through the Visitor’s Center, highlight thescenic overlooks from the hilltops. Included alongthe trail is a spectacular view of a nearby farm-house, as well as of the valley and wooded hillsidewith the medieval architecture of Bryn Athyn Ca-thedral.

Raytharn Farm found along the Pennypack EcologicalRestoration Trust Lands, Montgomery County. Photo

courtesy of Campbell Thomas and Company

Photo depicting Fox Chase Farm Grounds onFairmount Park Commission Land in Philadelphia.Photo Courtesy of Campbell Thomas and Company



Photo depicting Fox Chase Farm Grounds onFairmount Park Commission Land in Philadelphia.Photo Courtesy of Campbell Thomas and Company


Pennypack Greenway with its creek valley andwoods, farms and surrounding countryside, is quitespectacular in that it offers a taste of rural life inthe midst of bustling urban and suburban neigh-borhoods. The Executive Director of PennypackTrust, David Robertson claims that “In additionto restoring our natural lands, the [PennypackGreenway] maintains community character”.

Benefits of The Pennypack Greenway:• Provision of Rural Quality of Life in the

Midst of Urban and SuburbanDevelopment,

• Environmental Preservation andEducation,

• Provision of Historical Architecture,• Outdoor Recreational Opportunities,• Reduces Sprawl, and;• Economic Benefits Stemming from

Visitors to the Greenway.

Economic ProsperityA recent Department of Conservation and Natu-

ral Resources survey indicated that nearly one-fifthof Pennsylvania’s tourists are traveling primarilyfor outdoor recreation activities. Last year, the in-

dustry supported 459,000 jobs, an increase ofnearly 100,000 jobs compared to four years ago.

Greenways promoting outdoor activities con-tinue to ensure that tourism is Pennsylvania’s sec-ond-largest industry. The growing popularity ofsuch recreational pursuits has created opportuni-ties for economic growth by generating revenuefrom:

• Lodging,• Food, and;• Rental Equipment Sales.

Aside from tourism, there is also evidence todemonstrate that communities with recreationalgreenways have witnessed significant increases inreal estate values.

Among the numerous greenways throughout theCommonwealth whose presence has generated tre-mendous economic benefits is the Pittsburgh toCumberland Trail Corridor.

The Pittsburgh to Cumberland Trail CorridorIn 1975, members of the Western Pennsylvania

Conservancy purchased 17 miles of abandonedrailroad for Ohiopyle State Park. Eleven years later,the first nine miles of trail opened at Ohiopyle at-tracting an influx of people from all over the re-gion. “This effort, and its enthusiastic endorsementby the community, led to the formation of severaltrail groups from Pittsburgh to Cumberland andthe dream of a continuous trail began to takeshape.” Linda McKenna Boxx, President of theAllegheny Trail Alliance.






Thanks to the efforts of those trail groups andtheir hard-working volunteers, 124 miles of the204-mile trail system in the Pittsburgh toCumberland Trail Corridor is now completed. Thetrail system meanders through five counties inPennsylvania and one in Maryland and boasts over500,000 visitors per year and growing.

The history of the trail as a major transporta-tion corridor dates back to early colonial days whenyoung George Washingtonidentified these rivers as ameans to cross the Alleghenies.The “Endless Mountains,” as hereferred to them, would connectthe eastern seaboard to the forksof the Ohio. In the 1800’s, it be-came a railroad corridor carry-ing coal, coke and steel. Now,this trail system has helped totransform the landscape of thisregion and also restored its eco-nomic prosperity as visitorscontinue to flock to the trail.

Aside from the appeal of this greenway to itsmany users, its creation has also meant incredibleopportunities for those with a mind for business.Anna Marie Yakubisin owns and operates theRiver’s Edge Café Bed and Breakfast and theRiver’s Edge Antiques in Confluence. “One of themain reasons why we moved to Confluence wasbecause of the Pittsburgh to Cumberland Trail. Wesaw a definite business opportunity with the trailand are now going into our 11th season.”

Examples of businesses and employment op-portunities may be found all along the trail as en-trepreneurs continue to take advantage of the in-credible possibilities that continue to emerge. TerryBurke, owner of Burke-Lee’s Boston Commonssays that she and her husband first started their busi-ness in 1997. “People laughed at us when we saidwe were going to open a Bed and Breakfast. Wetook three dilapidated properties and built themup and we now operate seven businesses and haveplans to continue expanding.”

The Mile Marker Cafe and Lounge located along thePittsburgh to Cumberland Trail Corridor in Connellsville,

PA. Photo Courtesy of the Allegheny Trail Alliance.

Riders enjoying the trail inSmithton, PA. Photo Courtesy of the

Allegheny Trail Alliance.


Hank Parke, Executive Director for theSomerset County Chamber of Commerce, has wit-nessed the changes in the way the trail has influ-enced property values along the Allegheny High-land portion of the trail. He points out that proper-ties that were once abandoned have been given newlife with the creation of this greenway. “Severalproperties near the trail in Somerset County, thatwere once in dire disrepair have been purchasedand renovated into bed and breakfast operations.There has also been a mushroom effect associatedwith the changes to these properties for adjacentand nearby land. Quite simply, these locations hadno meaning before the trail went in.”

Rita Halverson, a Realtor with Coldwell Bankerhas also noticed the positive effect the trail has hadfor properties located near the trail. “ I have a num-ber of agents who often receive phone calls frompeople who are specifically asking for propertiesclose to the trail.”

Tom Simon, President of Howard Hanna SimonReal Estate Services in West Newton says, “livingclose to the trail is so popular among potentialhome buyers that our agents now add proximity tothe trail in the advertisement for the home. The

trail has been the biggest draw in West Newtonsince I’ve been in business over the last twelveyears. It has really put West Newton on the map.”

Statistics demonstrating such profound eco-nomic benefits resulting from the Pittsburgh toCumberland Corridor were collected and analyzedby the Pennsylvania Economy League, Inc and Dr.Stephen Farber, Graduate School of Public andInternational Affairs at the University of Pittsburghin January 1999. The economic impact study foundthat “spending in trail head communities by trailusers in 1998 ranged from $5.4 to $14.1 million”.In contrast, maintaining the greenway costs, onaverage, approximately $1,000 per mile per year.Dr. Farber adds, “the areas along the trail are, forthe most part, isolated communities with very littleeconomic opportunity. From an economic prosper-ity perspective, development of this trail system hasbeen and will continue to be critical to sustainingthe economies of these communities”

The Duck House Trading Company located inConnellsville, PA is an example of one of the numer-ous businesses found along the trail corridor. Photo

courtesy of the Allegheny Trail Alliance

The John Butler House Bed & Breakfast located500 yards from the trail in Buena Vista, PA. Photo

courtesy of the Allegheny Trail Alliance.

The John Butler House Bed & Breakfast located500 yards from the trail in Buena Vista, PA. Photo

courtesy of the Allegheny Trail Alliance.


“Aside from the recreational and scenic enjoy-ment that people derive from this greenway, theeffects it has had on local communities and resi-dents throughout the region have been tremendousand there is potential for much more.” LindaMcKenna Boxx, President of the Allegheny TrailAlliance.

Benefits of the Pittsburgh to CumberlandTrail Corridor:• Increased Employment Opportunities,• Soaring Real Estate Sales,• Increased Property Values,• Recreational Connection Between Two

States,• Created an Alliance of Seven Trail

Organizations, and;• Motivated Hundreds of Local Volunteers.

Conservation of Historic andCultural Resources

Our best link to our future is through our past.Greenways serve to promote the unique history andculture of towns, cities and villages all across theUnited States by providing:

• Access to Buildings of Historic andArchitectural Significance in a Community,

• A Look Back at the Events and People thatShaped the Present, and;

• An Opportunity to Preserve Historic Assetsand Archeological Artifacts.

Since its official heritage designation five yearsago, the Schuylkill River Heritage Corridor hasproven to be a valuable historic and cultural re-source for South Eastern Pennsylvania.

The Schuylkill River Heritage CorridorThe Schuylkill River Heritage Corridor is a 135-

mile long, roughly three-mile wide corridor alongthe Schuylkill River and is comprised of countlessnatural landscapes and varieties of rural, suburbanand urban settlement. The boundary is not a stan-dard delineated greenway boundary but varies toincorporate cultural and geographic regions, whichhelp showcase the legacy of this five-county re-gion. The entire corridor was designated a StateHeritage Corridor in 1995 and the Schuylkill Riveris part of the Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers System.This river is also one of six state fish and boat wa-ter trails.

Historic and cultural resources along the Corri-dor date back hundreds of years. Lenape Indianslived along the Schuylkill and used the river forwater, food, recreation and transportation duringthe 1500s and 1600s. European settlers then tookover the area, and in the mid 1600’s made Phila-delphia a commercial and cultural center. Up-stream, they created agricultural settlements andlater coal mining and manufacturing centers.

Photo depicting bridge abutments of an early 19thcentury bridge that once spanned the Wissahickon nearits mouth at the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. Photo

courtesy of Campbell Thomas and Company.

Photo depicting bridge abutments of an early 19thcentury bridge that once spanned the Wissahickon nearits mouth at the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. Photo

courtesy of Campbell Thomas and Company.


With the overall goals of creating a greenwaythe length of the Schuylkill River and of encour-aging the restoration and interpretation of historiclandmarks, the Schuylkill River Greenway Asso-ciation was formed in 1974. Today, several dozenmiles of greenway open space and trail are avail-able to the public. Art and cultural facilities havebeen funded as well and historic sites refurbishedand interpreted so visitors may learn about the richhistory of the river and its settlement.

According to the 1995 Management ActionPlan, “Few places in America can claim theSchuylkill River Valley’s importance in history.”Throughout the greenway corridor, numerous ex-amples of centuries of activity may be found. Someexamples of what visitors can expect to see include18th and 19th century country estates, 250-year-oldGerman agricultural settlements with active mills,covered bridges, farmhouses and barns, coal min-ing towns built into the sides of mountains, ca-nals, and the remnants of steel, textile, and papermills. Fort Mifflin on the Delaware, the oldest fortin continuous use in the United States, is also fea-tured along this greenway.

“Schuylkill River Greenway is so diverse. Thecorridor is like a laboratory …” says DixieSwenson, Executive Director, Schuylkill RiverGreenway Association. As an important resourcefor Native Americans, location of one of the firstcolonial settlements, and site of the first UnitedStates capital, the Schuylkill River Greenway of-fers one of the oldest and richest looks into ournation’s culture and history.

The Benefits of The Schuykill RiverHeritage Greenway Corridor:

• Preservation and Restoration of Historicand Cultural Resources Dating BackHundreds of Years,

• Opportunities to Educate and CreateAwareness of the Resources Along theCorridor,

• Opportunities for Outdoor Recreation, and;• Economic Benefits Resulting from

Greenway Visitors.

Photo taken near Manayunk in Philadelphiadepicting past industry existing along the river and the

Manayunk Canal.

Photo depicting a portion of the Schuylkill RiverGreenway in the Philadelphia region that crosses

over a boardwalk bridge. Photo courtesy of CampbellThomas and Company.

Photo depicting a portion of the Schuylkill RiverGreenway in the Philadelphia region that crosses

over a boardwalk bridge. Photo courtesy of CampbellThomas and Company.


Public Recreation, Health andFitness

Greenways offer numerous opportunities forrecreation, health and fitness. Studies have shownthat as little as 30 minutes a day of moderate tointense exercise can improve a person’s mental andphysical health and prevent certain diseases. Stud-ies also support the premise that Americans placea high priority on having trails and open space intheir community for recreation purposes.

Greenways encourage healthier lifestyles by:

• Serving as Close to Home Outdoor FitnessResources for Walking, Jogging,In-Line Skating, Bicycling, HorsebackRiding and Other Forms of Exercise, and;

• Encouraging Safe and InterpersonalInteraction by Linking Neighborhoods.

The residents of York County are well servedin this capacity as a result of York County’s Heri-tage Rail Trail County Park.

York County’s Heritage Rail Trail CountyPark

The lure of fresh air and the fun and fitnessachieved from recreational activities have servedto increase the priority which Americans now placeon having trails and open space in their communi-ties. York County residents are fortunate to haveeasy access to the Heritage Rail Trail County Park,also known as “York County’s Big Adventure”.Rated as one of the top 10 trails in the nation bytelevision’s “Today Show,” this greenway contin-ues to be a favorite among trail users from withinthe local communities as well as among those fromout of State.

The history of this greenway dates back to itsuse in the 19th century as a vital railroad link be-tween Washington D.C., Harrisburg, upstate NewYork and Lake Ontario. Over a century later, thebankruptcy of the Penn Central Railroad combinedwith the devastation caused by Hurricane Agnes,both in the early 1970’s, left the future of the railcorridor in serious doubt.

After being purchased and renovated by ThePennsylvania Department of Transportation, thecorridor was eventually advertised for sale in thelate 1980’s. Thanks to the combined efforts of vol-unteers and local and state government agencies,the County of York was able to purchase the corri-dor in 1990. “A decade later, 21 miles of the Heri-tage Rail Trail is completed and the trail now servesas a central spine of what has the potential to bean entire system of trails.” Tim Fulton, FormerChair of the York County Rail Trail Authority.

“Children and their Daycare Instructor Walking Alongthe York Heritage Rail Trail County Park. Photo courtesy of

York County Parks Rail Trail, County of York.

“Children and their Daycare Instructor Walking Alongthe York Heritage Rail Trail County Park. Photo courtesy of


Photo depicting the damage caused to the YorkHeritage Rail Trail by

Hurricane Agnus in 1972. Photo courtesy of YorkCounty Parks Rail Trail, County of York.

Photo depicting the damage caused to the YorkHeritage Rail Trail by

Hurricane Agnus in 1972. Photo courtesy of YorkCounty Parks Rail Trail, County of York.


“The trail has been so successful that the Citynow has a comprehensive greenway/bikeway strat-egy that uses the presence of this trail as a centralelement in its planning.” Eric Menzer, Director ofEconomic Development, City of York.

“York County’s Big Adventure” serves a mul-titude of users including walkers, hikers, and run-ners, cross country skiers and snowshoers. In 1999,a trail user survey, completed by Interactive Mar-keting Solutions, discovered a high frequency rateby a specific user group. Although the trail is usedby people of all ages, almost 86% are over the ageof 35. “This truly is a greenway that serves manyhealth and recreational needs for residents. Peopleare drawn to it because they can feel comfortable,get some exercise and enjoy the fresh air. It’s just anice place to be.“ Carl Knoch, President, Interac-tive Marketing Solutions.

Users were also asked for their comments re-garding their experiences on the trail. “The trailwas overwhelmingly described with positive wordsand phrases,” adds Carl Knoch, “Many describedthe trail as the greatest thing to happen in a longtime in the York area and as the most significantinvestment in South Central Pennsylvania this cen-tury.”

Some of the unique and interesting featuresalong the corridor include four bridges and the NewFreedom and Hanover Junction railroad stations,all of which are listed on the National Register ofHistoric Places. The latter station is where Presi-dent Lincoln stopped in route to give his famousGettysburg Address.

The trail also connects the historic district ofdowntown York with Maryland’s Northern Cen-tral Rail Trail. “York County’s Big Adventure”serves a multitude of users including walkers, hik-ers, and runners, cross country skiers, snowshoersand equestrian riders .

“It is projects like the York Heritage Rail Trailthat make certain that the downtown of York re-mains a great place to work, live and to visit,” saysYork Mayor Charles Robertson.

Photo courtesy of York County Parks Rail Trail,County of York

Walkers from PennsylvaniaGreet Equestrain Riders from

Maryland along the York CountyHeritage Rail Trail County Park.

Photo courtesy of York CountyParks Rail Trail, County of York.


Benefits of York County’s HeritageRail Trail County Park:

• Outdoor Recreation for a Multitude ofUsers,

• Economic Benefits Stemming from TrailVisitors,

• Restoration of Historic Sites,• Connectivity Between Rural Areas and the

Heart of the City of York,• Enhances Quality of Life for Residents,

and;• Physically Connects Pennsylvania with its

Neighboring State, Maryland.

EducationNatural areas that are set aside for educational

purposes provide immeasurable opportunities forpeople of all ages to learn and interact with theirnatural surroundings.

Greenways:• Act as Living Museums, Outdoor

Classrooms and Laboratories,• Provide Scenic Excursions Along Water

Trails or Wildlife Preserves,• Assist Students, Both Young and Old, in

Developing Concepts and Skills by HelpingThem Become Effective EnvironmentalStewards and Decision Makers, and;

• Promote and Encourage Interaction withNatural Surroundings.

Oil Creek State Park is steeped in the uniqueand exciting history of Pennsylvania’s oil boom.Throughout the park, particularly along the bicycletrail, there are numerous reminders of the area’soil past and the successful renewal of its landscape.

Oil Creek State Park Bicycle TrailIn August of 1859, Edwin L. Drake completed

the world’s first commercial oil well, Drake Well.This discovery significantly altered the communi-ties and the landscape of a once quiet and unsettledarea in Western Pennsylvania. Droves of peopleflocked to the oil region seeking to find their for-tune.

Eventually, the oil boom period of 1859 turnedto an oil bust and the boomtowns, associated withthe activity and excitement of a discovery thatwould change the world, were eventually left aban-doned. Today, in place of the sound of oil drilling,is Oil Creek State Park.

Photo of Oil Boom Workers in the 1860’s and TheirEquipment. Photo Courtesy of Oil Creek State Park

Tim Fulton, former chair of the York County RailTrail Authority, skiing along the trail. Photo courtesy of


Photo of Oil Boom Workers in the 1860’s and TheirEquipment. Photo Courtesy of Oil Creek State Park

Tim Fulton, former chair of the York County RailTrail Authority, skiing along the trail. Photo courtesy of



The Park was developed to preserve Oil CreekGorge and to commemorate Pennsylvania’s boom-ing oil industry and the natural evolution of a oncepolluted landscape. Within the Park, there are nu-merous greenways that reveal the incredible his-tory of Oil Creek Gorge. One such greenway isthe Oil Creek State Park Bicycle Trail.

The greenway, which attracts 45,000 people peryear, takes its visitors on an adventurous and edu-cational journey from the historic site of PetroleumCenter through the scenic river valley to DrakeWell. Visitors are provided interpretive stationsalong the very route that was once used to trans-port barrels of oil from the wells in this, and adja-cent valleys, to their destinations. “This valley actsas a gateway to the past and provides people of allages opportunities to learn and explore. It’s a greatplace to visit.” Marilyn Black, Manager, Oil Heri-tage Region, Incorporated.

Visitors may also view the breathtaking land-scape that has been dramatically altered over thecourse of the past century and a half. After an in-tense period of drilling and activity, nature restoredthe valley to the clean trout streams and forestedhillsides that are present today. “Using thisgreenway is a great way to get some exercise, and

to learn about the ecological features found alongthe trail and about Pennsylvania’s unique and ex-citing oil history.” Paula Bittenbender, Trail User.

The events, the people and the excitement thattransformed entire communities from unsettledareas to industrial centers to ghost towns are re-lived for those who use the Oil Creek State ParkBicycle Trail. “People who use the trail are al-ways pleased by the educational component thatit provides. Teachers call frequently to gather in-formation so they can bring their students out tolearn more about the people and the events of thisunique aspect of Pennsylvania’s history.” CarolynWorley, Oil Creek Park Clerk Typist 2, former ParkEnvironmental Education Specialist.

“This greenway truly acts as a museum for thepast and an interactive stage for environmentallearning. Visitors are provided the unique combi-nation of enjoying the natural beauty of Oil CreekValley and taking in traces of the oil boom thatonce dominated this area of Pennsylvania.” MarciaBaker, Park Manager

A group of bicyclists enjoy a ride along the OilCreek State Bicycle Trail. Photo courtesy of Oil

Creek State Park. Photo of visitors stopping at one of the numerousinterpretive stations along the trail, Photo Courtesy

of Oil Creek State Park

Photo of visitors stopping at one of the numerousinterpretive stations along the trail, Photo Courtesy

of Oil Creek State Park


Benefits Provided by Oil Creek StatePark Bicycle Trail:

• A Fun Atmosphere for EnvironmentalEducation,

• A Fun Atmosphere for HistoricalEducation,

• Outdoor Recreation Activities,• Economic Benefits Resulting from Visitors

to the Park and Surrounding Area, and;• Enhances Quality of Life for Residents.

Shaping Community Growthand Development

Across the United States, urban areas continueto grow and expand spilling over into the rural land-scape. These once rural areas are often developedwith inappropriate densities leading to problemsassociated with urban sprawl. As an example, Penn-sylvania has lost over one million acres of crop-land, forest and open space in just five years (1992-1997). According to the findings of Pennsylvania’s21st Century Environment Commission, land useis the Commonwealth’s most critical issue head-ing into the new millennium.

Greenways can serve to promote sustainablegrowth and development by:

• Helping to Define Patterns of Development,• Protecting Rural Character and Landscapes,

and;• Preserving Valuable Land and Meeting the

Needs of Economic and SpatialDevelopment.

The subdivision of Farmview, located in LowerMakefield Township has demonstrated how com-munities may use greenways as a central factor inthe planing of development patterns.

Farmview SubdivisionIn July 1986, Realen Homes, a residential de-

veloper headquartered in Yardley, Pennsylvania,purchased several contiguous farms in LowerMakefield Township, Bucks County, totaling 418acres of land. Recognizing the agricultural and his-toric villages that characterize the Township,Realen Homes initiated an innovative developmentconcept for a 418-acre parcel of land, Farmview.Their goal was to design a subdivision that wouldallow them to meet the housing market demandwhile also conserving a considerable amount ofthe tract’s irreplaceable farmland.

“We recognized that homebuyers were attractedto the rural character of Bucks County and wewanted to design a subdivision to appeal to thoseinterests. We also wanted to demonstrate that landconservation and development do not have to bemutually exclusive goals, and I think Farmview il-lustrates that premise very effectively.” MichaelStadulis, Land Development Coordinator, RealenHomes

After negotiating changes to local land use regu-lations with the Township, Realen was able to de-velop the subdivision, while conserving more thanhalf the land as permanent farmland and wood-

Photo of Pennsylvania Farmland. Photo courtesyof Greenways Incorporated.


lands. When their design concept was imple-mented, 332 single-family houses were built onjust half of the land that would ordinarily have beenconsumed, and 213 acres of prime agricultural landand forest were preserved at no cost to the com-munity, the original landowner, or the developer.

As a part of their land planning strategy, RealenHomes had purposely maximized the number ofhome sites that had farmland vistas or that abuttedwoodlands. This, in turn, enabled them tostrengthen their marketing position with prospec-tive homebuyers by showcasing the permanentrural surroundings for most of the home sites inthe various neighborhoods.

In addition to the obvious ecological benefitsderived, the township continues to benefit from thereduced street and utility infrastructure mainte-nance costs that were a result of the smaller lotsizes. Another benefit of the plan is that the fami-lies that live in Farmview’s neighborhoods willalways enjoy the social interaction that is the en-viable result of compact neighborhoods

The 145 acres of farmland that were saved byRealen’s initiative were donated to the LowerMakefield Farmland Preservation Corporation.This non-profit corporation was founded to ownand manage the farmland that would eventuallybe donated by Realen and subsequent developers.With this arrangement we are able to help keepLower Makefield green and maintain its charac-ter.” G. Allen Houpt, Chair of the Farmland Pres-ervation Corporation.

The example of Farmview is illustrative of theways and means by which communities can growaccording to design principles that promote the bestuse of land. “The potential for replicating thisconcept and achieving similar results throughoutthe Commonwealth is enormous.” Randall Arendt,Senior Conservation Advisor, Natural Lands Trust.

Benefits of Farmview:• Preservation of Open Space,• Protection and Enhancement of Natural

Resources,• A Model of Proactive Planning that Best

Serves the Community and its Land Base,• Cost Savings Stemming from Reduced

Street and Utility InfrastructureMaintenance Costs, and;

• Increased Social Interaction and EnhancedQuality of Life for Residents.

Farmview Subdivision as drawn by StephenKuter, Natural Lands Trust. Graphic Courtesy of

Natural Lands Trust.


Providing AlternativeTransportation

Transportation in the United States has becomeincreasingly focused on accommodating cars andtrucks, creating congestion and increased stress onour roads and highways. People who cannot or donot drive a vehicle are increasingly limited in termsof mobility. Within Pennsylvania, governments,greenway organizations and individuals have un-dertaken considerable efforts to change our increas-ing dependency on motorized vehicles.

Greenways can provide alternative travelchoices, connecting neighborhoods to transit,schools, workplaces and shopping areas. Alterna-tive travel choices serve a community by:

• Reducing Congestion,• Improving Air Quality, and;• Providing Safe Alternatives to Residents

Wishing to Bicycle or Walk to NearbyDestinations.

Since becoming operational two years ago, theEliza Furnace Trail has provided Pittsburgh areacommuters with a safe, healthy and environmen-tally friendly transportation option.

The Eliza Furnace TrailIn the two years since its opening, the Eliza

Furnace Trail has proven to be a success amongcommuters and recreational users alike. Parallel-ing the former Baltimore and Ohio rail tracks, thetrail runs adjacent to Western Pennsylvania’s busi-est interstate highway and runs through theRiverfront Office Park.

As a connector to downtown Pittsburgh fromthe neighborhood of Greenfield, the trail has suc-cessfully decreased the number of motorized com-muters. It’s popularity has already initiated plansfor expansion with the city’s larger trail network.“We’ve proposed changing what is largely a rec-reational system of bike trails and paths to a fullycommuter system,” said Richard Meritzer seniorcity planner in a June 11, 1999 interview with Post-Gazette Staff Writer Don Hopey. Meritzer wenton to say, “When it’s completed, anyone will beable to get anywhere in the city by bike.”

The Eliza Furnace Trail has not only encour-aged recreational activity, but it has encouragedthe use of non-motorized transportation within thecity. In doing so the trail has served its primaryfunction as a safe transportation alternative and hasalso helped to create a sense of place and commu-nity pride in the greater Pittsburgh area.

The Eliza Furnace Trail located just off of I-376, ThePenn-Lincoln Highway. Photo courtesy of the RBA Group.

The Eliza Furnace Trail located just off of I-376, ThePenn-Lincoln Highway. Photo courtesy of the RBA Group.


Benefits of The Eliza Furnace Trail:• Provides Safe and Environmentally

Friendly Transportation Options,• Provides a Physical Link Between

Neighborhoods and the City ofPittsburgh,

• Provides Recreational Opportunities,• Enhances Quality of Life, and;• Provides Cost Savings in Car and Road

Maintenance.

ConclusionGreenways connect neighborhoods and com-

munities, connect wildlife with habitat corridors,protect open space, provide opportunities for out-door recreation, increase economic developmentopportunities and serve to increase environmentalawareness. Greenways also provide importantvalue to the health, well being and aesthetic needsof human communities and are vital to the func-tions of ecosystems.

Two runners enjoying recreationaltime on the Eliza Furnace Trail.Photo courtesy of the RBA Group.

As a result of the substantial direct and indirectvalues provided by open space corridors,greenways are influencing how we plan and de-velop our communities. Increasingly, individuals,families, organizations and governments are focus-ing their efforts on the continued development ofgreenways as tools for planning sustainable com-munities that offer an enhanced quality of life forresidents.

Pennsylvania Greenways:• Protect and Enhance Natural Resources,• Protect Unique Rural Legacy,• Provide Economic Prosperity

Communities,• Conserve Historic and Natural Resources,• Provide Opportunities for Public

Recreation, Health and Fitness,• Provide Educational Opportunities,• Help Communities Shape Growth and

Development, and;• Provide Choices for Alternative and Safe

Modes of Transportation.

Photo of visitors enjoying theview at Oil Creek State Park. Photo

courtesy of Oil Creek State Park.

Two runners enjoying recreationaltime on the Eliza Furnace Trail.Photo courtesy of the RBA Group.


Case Study Benefit Unique Features RegionKeyContact

1)The Levee TrailProtection of NaturalResources

Flood Controland Recreation.

NorthEastern

J. Brozena, Engineer,Luzerne County570-825-1600

2)The Pittsburgh toCumberland TrailCorridor

Economic ProsperityGrass Roots Support,Connects Two States.

SouthWest

Linda Boxx,President of theAllegheny TrailAlliance724-537-6900

3) The Oil CreekState Park Trail

Education

Highlights Oil Creek's UniquePast and Evolution of itsLandscape.

NorthWest

MarilynBlack, Manager, OilHeritage RegionIncorporated814-677-3152

4) York County'sHeritage Rail/TrailCounty Park

Public Recreation,Health and Fitness

Rated as one of the top 10trails in the nation by theToday Show.

South

Gwen Loose,DevelopmentCoordinator,York County ParksRail Trail717-840-2360

5) The SchuylkillRiver HeritageCorridor

Historic andCulturalResource

A State Heritage CorridorSince 1995.

East

Dixie SwensonExecutive DirectorSchulykill RiverGreenway Association610-372-3916.

6) The FarmviewSubdivision

Shaping Urban FormMet Consumer Demands forLand While PreservingFarmland and Open Space.

South East

Randall Arendt,Senior ConservationAdvisor, Natural LandsTrust610-353-5587

7) PennypackGreenway Corridor

Protection of RuralLegacy

A Region That HasMaintained its Rural Characterfor Over 300 Years.

South East

Pennypack EcologicalRestoration Trust 215-657-0830Montgomery CountyParks610-278-3736

8) Eliza FurnaceTrail

TransportationSuccessful Commuter andRecreation Greenway.

West

Patrick Hassett,Office of the Mayor ofPittsburgh412-255-2256

Case Study Chart

Documents

Benefits of Greenways: A Pennsylvania Study