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May 3-5, 2007
Mountain View Inn,
Greensburg, PA
Registration Guide
Co-Sponsored by the PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR), and the
PA Recreation & Park Society (PRPS)
Revised 3/5/07
Community Connections
Through Greenways & Trails
Dear Greenways and Trails Enthusiast:
On behalf of the Summit partners, you are cordially invited to attend the 3rd Annual Pennsylvania
Greenways and Trails Summit being held on May 3-5, 2007 in Greensburg, PA. Being held in the
historic Mountain View Inn, this year’s Summit features a wide variety of quality educational programs, well-known speakers, and many networking opportunities that will highlight “Community
Connections Through Greenways and Trails.” We’ll also be taking advantage of the wealth of
greenways and trails in the Laurel Highlands for our off-site events.
After a welcome and update from DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis, our opening session
speaker will be internationally known greenways and trails expert, Gil Penalosa, who will bring
one of the featured sessions from the 2006 National Trails Symposium. At the luncheon on Friday,
nationally known greenways consultant Chuck Flink will share his extensive knowledge. Both will
be participating in additional breakout sessions. On Thursday evening, our Summit banquet will
feature speaker, Jeff Tobe, who will expand our thinking to “Color Outside the Lines.”
As I hope you can see from the list of Summit partners that continues to expand each year, the GWT
Summit is a cooperative undertaking that utilizes the involvement and expertise of the organizations
across Pennsylvania that are extensively involved with greenways and trails. The result is a conference that we hope you will find of great value and interest.
Thanks to the financial support of the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
through a Recreational Trails Grant, we are able to offer the Summit at what we feel are very reasonable registration fees to enable as many persons as possible to attend.
We strongly recommend that you register early for the Summit and don’t delay making your lodging
reservation at the Mountain View Inn. Please be sure to also indicate your session and other event
preferences on the registration form.
We look forward to seeing many of you at the Summit for a very enjoyable three days!
Sincerely,
Robert D. Griffith
PRPS Executive Director
Summit Partners
PA Recreation & Park Society
PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
PA Environmental Council
PA Department of Transportation
Rails to Trails Conservancy
National Park Service - Rivers, Trails, and
Conservation Assistance Program
Westmoreland County Parks & Recreation
Keystone Trails Association
PA State Snowmobile Association
Allegheny Trail Alliance
PA Fish & Boat Commission
Regional Trail Corporation
PA Off-Highway Vehicle Association
PA Advocates for Nutrition and Activity
U.S. Forest Service
Allegheny Ridge Corporation
Conemaugh Valley Conservancy
FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2007
8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Registration & Continental Breakfast Exhibits - All Day
8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Registration & Continental Breakfast
Exhibits - All Day
8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Educational Session 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Welcome & DCNR update
DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis
9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
General Session - Gil Pendaloza
10:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
Refreshment break 10:15 a.m. to 11:45
Educational Sessions
12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m.
Networking Luncheon
1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Educational Sessions
3:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Refreshment break
3:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Educational Sessions
5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Reception in Vendor Area
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Dinner-Jeff Tobe
8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Social event
10:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
Refreshment break 10:15 a.m. to 11:45
Educational Sessions
12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m.
Luncheon with speaker - Chuck Flink
1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Educational Sessions
3:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Refreshment break
3:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Educational Sessions
6:00 p.m. Friday Evening Off-site Event
SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2007
8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Registration
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Mobile Workshops Who Should Attend
aElected officials at the borough, township, city, county, or state level.
aLocal, state, or federal government employees charged with planning, implementing,
or maintaining greenways and trails.
aGreenway and trail advocates and volunteers.
aProfessional planners, landscape architects, engineers and consultants.
Summit Objectives
1. Create an opportunity for members of the greenways and trails movement to interact
with and learn from one another and leaders of the movement on a state and national
level.
2. Provide a forum to discuss a vision, direction, and priorities for the statewide
greenways and trails movement.
3. Foster better communication and coordination between all branches of the movement,
especially those focusing on greenways and trails of a specific type or use.
Summit-At-A-Glance
THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2007
Thursday, May 3, 2007 Summit Schedule
8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Registration & Continental Breakfast
Exhibits Open all day
8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Welcome & DCNR Update
Speaker: The Honorable Michael
DiBerardinis, Secretary, PA
Department of Conservation &
Natural Resources
8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Opening General Session
“Parks, Greenways, Trails, Great Places to Walk, Bike
and Read” (Part 1)
Our opening session will share information related to Walking
and Cycling as activities, and about Urban Parks, Trails, Public
Spaces, Greenways as Great Places, and their positive impact on
our E.A.R.T.H.: Environment, Activity (economic), Recreation,
Transportation, and Health! Our keynote speaker will bring an
international perspective to the Summit that you will find very
enlightening and encouraging.
Gil Penalosa, Executive Director, Walk & Bike for Life
10:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
Refreshment Break
10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
A-1 Trail Towns -- Capturing Trail Based Tourism
This session will feature work the Allegheny Trail Alliance has
done to spearhead the “trail town concept” along
the Great Allegheny Passage working with The
Progress Fund, the PA Downtown Center and
other partners. It will cover what the concept
involves and how the new guidebook/CD-Rom,
“Trail Towns --- Capturing Trail-Based Tourism”
can be used to build partnerships between trail
builders, the business community and tourism promotion bureaus
to make long distance recreation trails an economic asset for the
cities, towns and villages that are located along them.
Linda Boxx, Board President, Allegheny Trail Alliance; Bill
Fontana, Executive Director, PA Downtown Center; Catherine
McCollum, Regional Director for the Great Allegheny Passage,
The Progress Fund; Annie Urban, Executive Director, Laurel
Highlands Visitors Bureau
A-2 Linking Trails and the Health Community
Throughout the country, trail advocates are leading the charge
to create models for demonstrating partnerships with the health
community. This session will explore how communities are
connecting the health community with trails, improving health
outcomes, creating new opportunities to be active and protecting
trails for the future.
Helen Mahan, Community Planner, National Park Service
A-3 Hiking Trail Topics with KTA
Leaders of the state hiking trail community will discuss a range
of topics from the nuts and bolts of trail construction to larger
policy issues. There will be an overview of the equipment and
tools useful for hiking trail construction and maintenance, along
with a discussion of the contributions of hikers to Pennsylvania’s
economy. The president and executive director of KTA will
describe efforts to promote, build, maintain and protect hiking
trails in Pennsylvania
Dick Martin, Coordinator, PA Forest Coalition; Karen Lutz,
Regional Director, Appalachian Trail Conservancy; Paul Shaw,
Executive Director, Keystone Trails Association;
Thyra Sperry, President, Keystone Trails Association
A-4 State Agency Update
Representatives from DCNR, DCED, and PennDOT will discuss
state policies and programs affecting greenways and trails,
including Growing Greener, C2P2, Safe Routes to School, and
Transportation Enhancements.
Dan Accurti, Manager, Community Programs, Penndot
DCNR County Planner Forum
Diane Kripas, Recreation and Park Supervisor, PA Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Networking Lunch
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
B-1 Taking a Regional Approach to Economic
Revitalization Through Trail Towns
This session will cover how the trail towns along
the Great Allegheny Passage are working together
and in a special partnership with The Progress Fund
to develop and implement a regional economic
development strategy focused around trail-based
tourism. Hear how the Department of Community
and Economic Development, through implementation of
a new regional format to the Main Street Program, has supported
this approach. The experiences of two communities along the
corridor -- Meyersdale and West Newton -- will be featured.
Catherine McCollum, Regional Director for the Great Allegheny
Passage, The Progress Fund; Aldona Kartorie, Chief, Targeted
Development Division, Office of Community Development, PADCED;
George Sam, Downtown West Newton, Inc.; Kathy Bisko, Program
Director, Meyersdale Renaissance, Inc.
Thursday, May 3, 2007 Summit Schedule
B-2 Regional Trail Networks
Unique challenges and opportunities present themeselves when
developing and managing trails that pass through multiple
municipalities and even counties. Panelists will discuss ways
to build a successful partnership including friends groups, local
governments, and other entities. We will also discuss creating
a unified view of the trail through signage and other branding
techniques.
Kara Wilson, Trail Steward, Schuylkill River National & State
Heritage Area; Madeline Cantú, RLA, Trails Project Manager/
Landscape Architect, Schuylkill River National & State Heritage
Area; Malcolm N. Sias, Planning Coordinator, Westmoreland
County Bureau of Parks and Recreation
B-3 Trail Accessibility: The whys, the wheres, and the
hows?
Accessible trails create opportunities for individuals with and
without disabilities to participate in outdoor recreation. This
session will introduce you to the minimum guidelines established
by the U.S. Access Board for accessible trails and how to apply
these guidelines in order to design new trails and assess existing
trails.
Laura E. Weatherbee, Accessibility Specialist, National Center on
Accessibility
B-4 “Parks, Greenways, Trails, Great Places to Walk,
Bike and Read” (Part 2)
Go into greater depth on some of the programs presented during
the opening general session and have an opportunity to learn more
about Walk & Bike for Life.
Gil Penalosa, Executive Director, Walk & Bike for Life
DCNR County Planner Forum
Diane Kripas, Recreation and Park Supervisor, PA Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources
3:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Refreshment Break
3:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
C-1 The Missing Spoke
Are you missing a vital spoke in promoting your trail? Are visitors
getting your trail message and are you doing everything that you
can be doing to attract people to your trail or greenway? Learn
how working with your local TPA or CVB can get your message
out to visitors. Learn about co-op advertising, weblinks, consumer
trade shows, and getting your message out beyond county, state
and continental borders. Connect with marketing at the state level
that can benefit your local project.
Ann Nemanic, Tourism Services Manager, Laurel Highlands
Visitors Bureau; Rose Mape, PA Tourism Office
C-2 Membership Development
This session will focus on membership development for non-profit
and friends group organizations. Key principles of attracting and
retaining members will be presented.
Bob Griffith, Executive Director, PA Recreation and Park Society
C-3 The importance of protecting and linking
landscapes
In the past, land managers often viewed natural areas and human
landscapes as separate entities. Today, we look at natural areas
as connected to the surrounding landscape that when protected
and restored serve a number of environmental and ecological
functions, vital to the community’s livability and health. Natural
areas, such as urban woodlots within the Pittsburgh city limits as
well as large forest patches of Chestnut and Laurel Ridges are
not only important for wildlife species but function to control
erosion, clean the air and water, and moderate temperatures. Hear
about the strategies that two conservancies are using to identify
important natural areas and more strategically prioritize land for
conservation.
Roy Kraynyk, Executive Director, Allegheny Land Trust; Ephraim
Zimmerman, Ecologist, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
C-4 Cross-border Trail Networks in PA
As the Keystone State, it should come as no surprise that PA
serves as a key link in several multi-state trail networks such as the
Appalachian Trail and Great Allegheny Passage. Representatives
of trail groups will expose you to some similar but lesser-known
networks, including Grand History Loop, North Country Trail, and
the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route.
Andrew Bashaw, Regional Trail Coordinator OH/PA
North Country Trail Association; Carl Knoch, Manager of Trail
Development, Northeast Regional Office; Rails-to-Trails
Conservancy; Barbara Murock, Advisory Board Member,
Underground Railroad Bicycle Route, Adventure
Cycling Association
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Reception
Relax and visit with Summit attendees and vendor representatives
in the Exhibit Area.
6:00 p.m.
Dinner and social
Featuring Jeff Tobe’s popular
“Coloring Outside the Lines”
presentation that will motivate,
entertain, and expand your horizons.
Mr. Tobe speaks and trains with
diverse associations, businesses, and
organizations around the world. You
won’t want to miss this presentation!
Friday, May 4, 2007 Summit Schedule
8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Registration & Continental Breakfast
Exhibits Open all day
8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
D-1 The Clarion Little Toby Trail -- Linking Trails with
Main Street Revitalization
One of the many recreational assets within the
Pennsylvania Wilds, the Clarion Little Toby Trail
travels through a beautiful forested corridor from
Ridgway, Elk County to Brockway, Jefferson
County with plans to continue on to the historic
town of Brookville. It has become an economic
engine for the town of Ridgway which has featured
the trail prominently as part of its downtown and community
revitalization strategy. Hear how trail builders and community
leaders have worked together to achieve success in their individual
and collective endeavors.
Dale Lauricella, Ridgway Heritage Council; Rick Viglione, Main
Street Manager, Borough of Ridgway; Hoagy Schaadt, Tri-County
Rails to Trails
D-2 Alternative Fund Development - Private Sector
Assistance
If public and non-profit trail management agencies have needed a
good reason to look at private-sector involvement, now is the time.
Private sector assistance is the use of trust funds and foundations,
the involvement of the business community through corporations
and independent business groups, the use and development of
special interest groups, and the use of friends organizations as they
apply to alternative sources of funds other than tax dollars.
William L. Koegler, Director of Development, The Oglebay
Foundation
D-3 Creating Greenways & Trails - One Step at a Time
Successful greenway and trail builders have said there are three
essential ingredients needed to create these popular corridors
in Pennsylvania communities. They are: a plan, coalition of
support, and their municipal officials “get it.” The PA Department
of Conservation and Natural Resources has been working with
over 40 counties to bring the “plan” ingredient closer to your
community. Learn more about county greenway planning and how
Beaver and Lawrence counties are planning for their greenways
and trails. The Asbury Woods Nature Center and Greenway in
Erie County is a ten year success story that started with a plan.
You’ll hear how its DCNR funded plan helped build support that
lead to constructing four miles of trails, balance conservation and
recreation use, develop a strong friends group, and raise over $3
million for priority projects.
Diane Kripas, Recreation and Park Supervisor, PA Department
of Conservation and Natural Resources; John Buerkle, Jr. RLA,
AICP, Vice President, Pashek Associates, Brian Winslow, Director,
Asbury Woods Nature Center and Greenway
D-4 Addressing Citizens Concerns and Building Support
for Trail Projects
Creating a pro-active plan for dealing with land owners and
local residents adjacent to trail projects and building community
support for trails. A review of past experiences regarding public
involvement in trail projects and some ideas about how to avoid
common problems that are experienced by trail developers. How
to build a successful coalition of local support that includes local
residents, adjacent land owners, and local government officials.
Malcolm N Sias, Planning Coordinator, Westmoreland County
Bureau of Parks and Recreation; Mary Coe, Friends of the Radnor
Trail
DCNR Circuit Riders
Mike Eschenmann, Recreation and Park Advisor, DCNR, Bureau
of Recreation & Conservation
10:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
Refreshment Break
10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
E-1 PA Walks to School: The 5 Es for Safe Routes to
School
The Pennsylvania Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program will
be implemented statewide in 2007. The program encourages K8 children to walk or bicycle to school and provides money for
infrastructure improvements. A discussion on the five E’s of SRTS
(Education, Encouragement, Enforcement, Engineering, and
Evaluation) will be included. Other featured topics will include
Walk to School Day, the SRTS Academy Program, and establishing
a SRTS program in your school or community
Chris Metka, PA Safe Routes to School Coordinator, PennDOT;
Robyn Ricketts, Active Communities Coordinator, Pennsylvania
Advocates for Nutrition and Activity
E-2 Unique Approaches to Performing and Funding
Maintenance
With most trail maintenance in PA being done locally – much of
it by volunteers – performing and funding this maintenance is an
on-going challenge. A number of creative approaches have been
found and some will be discussed in this session. Several counties
that have implemented a hotel tax, and Somerset County is one
that has had the foresight to devote a portion of this to its trail
system. Cooperation between motorized and non-motorized trail
users is another approach that will be reviewed.
Brett Hollern, Trail Coordinator, Somerset County
E-3 Equestrian Trail Management
This session will provide methods include practical survey
approaches to enhance the management of equestrian trails and to
minimize conflicts with other trails user groups.
Les Wadzinski, U.S. Forest Service
Friday, May 4, 2007 Summit Schedule
E-4 Rails with Trails
With the increasing popularity of rail-trails and the increasing
push for longer trail networks, the desire to have trails and active
rail lines share corridors continues to grow. Despite decades of
successful rail-with-trail operation, safety and liability concerns
routinely stymie new projects. Representatives of the trails
community, PennDOT, and the railroad industry will discuss these
issues and highlight areas for future cooperation.
Sharon A. Daboin, Deputy Secretary for Aviation and Rail Freight,
PennDOT; Carl Knoch, Manager of Trail Development, Northeast
Regional Office, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy; Dave Collins, Sr.
Vice President, NY/PA Region, Genesee & Wyoming Inc.
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Lunch
Mr. Flink was one of the principal consultants for the development
of the PA Greenways Plan and is a nationally recognized greenways
expert who will share the latest information on greenways projects
from around the country.
Chuck Flink, Greenways Consultant
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
F-1 Quantifying the Economic Impact of Trails
This session will explore three key aspects of recent economic
studies on trails in PA, Maryland, and elsewhere: the actual
economic and demographic results of the studies; the methodology
used to conduct the studies; and the benefits of this research for
future trail development in areas such as funding, community
support, and alleviating landowner concerns.
Carl Knoch, Manager of Trail Development, Northeast Regional
Office, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy; Brett Hollern, Trail
Coordinator, Somerset County; Rory Robinson, Outdoor Recreation
Planner, National Park Service, Rivers and Trails Program
F-2 Trail Maintenance
This session will present practical information on trail maintenance
focusing on the top elements that research has shown to have the
greatest impact.
Les Wadzinski, U.S. Forest Service
F-3 Motorized Trails in Pennsylvania
Motorized recreation, mainly ATV and trail-bike use, faces a severe
challenge in Pennsylvania. The number of users and associated
demands for places to ride far outweigh the available legal
opportunity, creating a huge potential for recreational tourism.
With demand so far outpacing supply, what is keeping the public
and private sectors from meeting the need? And why would they
want to? This session will explore data confirming the need for
additional opportunity, and will also explore the challenges that
stand in the way. Some potential solutions will be discussed, and
it is our hope that an open exchange of ideas and information will
occur during the session.
Bruce Lord, Sr. Research Asst., Penn State; Harold Silbaugh,
Ex-Director and Dennis Mann, Technical and Research Director,
Pennsylvania Off-Highway Vehicle Association
F-4 Building a Water Trail System
Are you concerned about boating safety? Do you want to increase
the access to your local waterway? This session will provide a
mix of basic how to information about water trails as well as more
in depth info about using water trails to increase boating safety.
Come to this session to learn about the importance of water trails
both at the national and statewide levels.
Paul Sanford, Director of Stewardship and Public Policy, American
Canoe Association; Nita Settina, Maryland Park Service, Dan
Martin, PA Fish & Boat Commission
3:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Refreshment Break
3:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
G-1 Using Events to build Partnerships and Awareness
A number of trail organizations use special events to raise funds
and build corporate relationships as well as to increase awareness
of the participating organizations and communities. The Capital
Area Greenbelt Association, Schuylkill River Heritage Area, and
Friends of the Riverfront will discuss successes and lessons learned
from bike tours, a river sojourn, and other events.
Susan K. Fordyce, Project and Communications Manager,
Schuylkill River National & State Heritage Area; Lora Hirschhorn,
Fundraising/Special Events Manager Capital Area Greenbelt
Association; Thomas Baxter, Executive Director, Friends of the
Riverfront
G-2 The Blue Line: Growing the Sport of Snowmobiling
in PA
This session will outline steps being taken by the Association to
move closer to an interconnected trail system for Pennsylvania
- looking at progress being made to conduct a trail inventory
and GIS mapping data to ultimately link public and private land
snowmobiles into a cross-state corridor. We will also describe
the results of a survey of the recreation needs of registered
snowmobile owners in Pennsylvania. In addition to the types of
trails and associated amenities they desire, their attitudes toward
a several policy questions were surveyed. Additional information
on their travel and spending patterns and their socio-demographic
characteristics will be presented.
Bruce Lord, Sr. Research Asst., Penn State; Robert Kirchner,
President, Board of Directors, PA State Snowmobile Association,
Inc.
Friday, May 4, 2007 Summit Schedule
6:00 p.m.
Friday evening off-sites - see choices and select on the
registration form.
Choose your Friday evening options from the
following two trips and four choices:
OPTION #1
Select 1A or 1B
The Great Allegheny Passage at West Newton and
Cedar Creek Park (Off-Site #1):
Travel by bus to the Great Allegheny Passage at West
Newton and Cedar Creek Park on the Youghiogheny River.
Choose from the following two activities for the evening:
•
Trail Towns (#1A)– Round out what you learned in the
trail town classroom sessions by visiting the real live trail town
of West Newton which is located along the Great Allegheny
Passage, a long distance bicycle trail from Pittsburgh to the
nation’s Capital. Hear about the town’s current and future plans
and how they are addressing issues like how to effectively attract
trail users into the downtown. This trip includes a walking tour
of West Newton and a visit to the Regional Trail Corporation’s
West Newton Station, a replica of the original P&LE Railroad
Station, which is under construction to serve as a trail visitors’
center and the Regional Trail Corporations headquarters
with offices and meeting rooms. Plans also include a new
maintenance building to be constructed on adjoining property.
•
Jewels of Cedar Creek (#1B) – Walk the Great
Allegheny Passage at Cedar Creek Park with PA State Geologist
Jim Shaulis and discover the geological rarity of an outdoor
stalactite, or tufa, and examine the “Indian Mailboxes” and
their resident ant-lions, while taking in the beauty of Cedar
Creek Gorge and the Youghiogheny River.
The trip will conclude with dinner “on your own” and socializing
at a restaurant on the way back to Mountain View Inn.
OPTION #2
Select 2A or 2B
The Pittsburgh to Harrisburg Mainline Canal
Greenway and Historic Saltsburg (Off-Site # 2):
Travel by bus to the Mainline Canal Greenway at Saltsburg
on the Conemaugh River. Once considered one of the most
polluted rivers in the Commonwealth, the Conemaugh
River has experienced a tremendous recovery that is now
complemented by a burgeoning regional trail system and an
active water trail experience that serve as a perfect addition
to the charming historic town of Saltsburg. The rich natural,
cultural and historic resources of this up-and-coming recreation
area are also touted as a “hub” community in the Pittsburghto-Harrisburg Main Line Canal Greenway™. A true “Canal
Town”, Saltsburg has an interpretation of the actual canal path
that cuts through the heart of the town. Come see how partner
organizations are weaving together new connections between
old neighbors and experience one of Westmoreland’s and
Indiana’s best kept secrets.
•
Bike rides on West Penn Trail and/or Westmoreland
Heritage Trail (#2A) - beginning in Saltsburg choose from
three directions to head out for an evening walk or ride. Each
path has a different “character” to share with the visitor.
Bikes are available to rent at Saltsburg River and Trail. The
Kiski Section of the West Penn Trail heads north along the
Kiskiminetas River for 1.5 miles, first passing through Canal
Park which features a replication of the Main Line Canal
lack system. The Saltsburg Section of the West Penn Trail
travels southeast along the Conemaugh River, showcasing
more than a mile of an old stone wall built to support the
rail road in it’s relocation. The Westmoreland Heritage Trail
crosses the Conemaugh River, then the Loyalhanna Creek, on
two rehabilitated rail road bridges then follows much of the
Loyalhanna to Slickville Road. This 2.6 mile stretch represents
the first section of what will be a significant link in a connected
Westmoreland County trail system, eventually traveling from
Saltsburg to Trafford.
•
Guided Biodiversity Walk along Saltsburg Section
of West Penn Trail (#2B)– Natural Biodiversity will provide
an educational program about their Japanese knotweed control
project along the West Penn Trail. The Kiski-Conemaugh
Stream Team will also address the stream and river improvement
projects over the years that have brought the Conemaugh and
Kiskiminetas Rivers from rivers that ran orange and supported
virtually no aquatic life to become featured assets for the
communities that line their banks.
The trip will conclude with dinner “on your own” and
socializing at a restaurant on the way back to Mountain View
Inn.
Saturday May 5, 2007 Summit Schedule
8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Registration
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Mobile Workshops
A box lunch will be provided.
We are suggesting that participants drive their own vehicles from
the Summit at Mountain View Inn to the Saturday Off-sites so that
everyone can leave for home immediately following the conclusion
of the activity.
Bike Ride Through the Mountains (Off Site #3)
Get a chance to take a bike ride on the Great Allegheny Passage
(GAP) and see some spectacular sights along the way. The ride
will begin in Meyersdale, one of the premier trail towns along the
GAP and the maple capital of PA. Kathy Bisko, with Meyersdale
Renaissance, Inc., will provide a short walking tour of town, talk
about how the trail is revitalizing the town and their plans for
making the town more bike friendly. Historic structures along the
bike route near Meyersdale include the 1900 Salisbury Viaduct
and the Keystone Viaduct, and can be seen in an 8 mile round
trip ride. If the group is interested in riding out to the Big Savage
Tunnel, the round trip grows to 20 miles.
Bring your own bike or bikes will be available for rent. Easy
access to the PA Turnpike or I-68 for those traveling east after the
workshop.
Land and Water Trails in Motion (Off-Site #4)
Paddle the Youghiogheny River with the PA Fish
and Boat Commission from Cedar Creek Park to
West Newton, then bike from West Newton back
to Cedar Creek on the Great Allegheny Passage.
Experience a Trail and River Town at West Newton and a County
Park that provides park concessions with food, drinks, bike rentals,
picnic sites and a campsite for trail and river users.
Day Hike (Off-Site #5)
Day Hike to Roaring Run Natural Area. This is a 6.7 mile moderate
hike through the beautiful Roaring Run Natural Area led by Forbes
Forest District staff. The trail primarily follows old logging
railroad grades and skid trails. Approximate hiking time is 4.5
hours. Interested hikers should bring sturdy hiking shoes or boots
and a daypack for lunch and water. More detailed information will
be provided at the summit.
EXHIBITS & SPONSORSHIP
Commercial and non-profit exhibits are located in the hallway
outside the main meeting rooms and where breaks are held.
Exhibits will be on Thursday, May 3rd and Friday, May 4th.
Exhibits may be set-up on Wednesday evening or before 8:00
a.m. on Thursday. A limited number of spaces are available so
please register early. The cost of each space is $205 for both
days. A $100 deposit is required with the application and the
balance is due by April 6, 2007. Please contact us if you need
electric hook-up. Spaces are assigned on a first-come, firstserved basis. The Society reserves the right to assign competitors so that they are not directly adjacent to one another.
Each exhibit space includes:
-One draped 8' table.
-One chair.
-The hallway area is carpeted.
-One lunch ticket for Thursday.
-One lunch ticket for Friday.
-One exhibitor registration packet with name tags for two
booth representatives.
-The option to attend educational sessions at no additional
cost.
-The option to purchase additional lunch tickets if needed.
Additional Marketing Opportunities
Catalog Display $85
Mail 150 catalogs to the PRPS Office by April 16, 2007 2131 Sandy Drive, State College, PA 16803-2283
Packet Stuffers $125
Mail 200 promotional pieces to the PRPS Office by April 16,
2007. Limited to 10 pages.
Sponsorship Opportunitities
Sponsorship is a great way to gain visibility at the Summit
and afterwards in PRPS publications. Sponsor options are:
Educational Session
$200 Major Speaker $500
On-Site Tour
$250 Institute Event $500
Refreshment Break
$200 Luncheon
$250
Major Giveaway Item
$1000
Sponsors will be recognized in the agenda, with a sign at the
event, and with a follow-up listing in the PRPS Update. Sponsors at the $500 level or above may also provide an insert for
the summit program folder at no additional cost.
Questions? Contact Kim Woodward, Exhibit Coordinator
(814) 234-4272 or email [email protected].
General Information
Registration Information
Registration deadline: Please register by Friday, April 27, 2007.
Late registrations will be accepted after this date, but we prefer
that you contact the PRPS Office at (814) 234-4272 to be sure
space is available.
Registrations:
Full Summit includes registration packet, educational sessions,
refreshment breaks, exhibits, lunch on Thursday and Friday,
Thursday evening banquet, and Friday and Saturday off-site
events. To assist with our planning, registrants must indicate their
plans to attend the Thursday banquet and list their Friday and
Saturday event options on the Registration Form.
Thursday or Friday Daily includes registration packet,
educational sessions, refreshment breaks, and lunch for the day
registered. Thursday banquet and Friday and Saturday off-site
events may be added for an additional fee.
Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for
an additional fee of $10.
How to Register
Complete the form in this booklet and fax the form to
(814) 234-5276. For those paying by credit card or billing an
organization, be sure to include the complete payment information.
For those paying by check or money order, continue by placing
your check or money order in the mail. Simply notate on your
check that you have registered via fax. In the case of multiple
persons covered by one payment, please supply the registrant
names.
Questions?
Contact PRPS
2131 Sandy Drive
State College, PA 16803
Phone: (814) 234-4272
Fax: (814) 234-5276
Email: [email protected]
Cancellation Policy
The registration fee is fully refundable if PRPS receives written
notification postmarked no later than April 27, 2007. Cancellation
after April 27, 2007 will be subject to a $20 processing fee. No
refunds will be made to registrants who fail to attend. No shows
who have registered, but not paid, are still liable for the fees. In
the unlikely event of the cancellation of this Summit, PRPS’s
liability is limited to 100 percent refund of registration fees and
does not include penalty fees on transportation, deposits for hotel
accommodations, or other incurred expenses.
Overnight Accommodations
Located between Greensburg and Latrobe Pennsylvania,
Mountain View Hotel & Conference Center has provided a
welcome respite for both leisure and corporate travelers for over
75 years. The hotel’s 89 guest rooms, each uniquely appointed
offer a distinct change from ordinary hotel rooms. No cookie
cutter rooms here! Each room has its own character, from the
elegant formality of the 18th century, to the cozy charm of an
early American country home, to the luxury of our Garden Suites.
Rooms are decorated with beautiful southwestern Pennsylvania
antiques and reproductions.
A block of rooms at the Mountain View Inn has been secured for
Summit attendees at the rates listed below. Make reservations by
calling the hotel and identifying yourself as a PRPS Greenways
& Trails Summit attendee. Please call by April 2, 2007 to ensure
availability and the special discount rate. Room rates are:
Government Rate (with ID)
$60 Single, $70 Double, $80 Triple
Non Government Rate
$85 Single, $95 Double, $105 Triple
The above rates are plus 6% state tax and 3% local occupancy tax.
After April 2, 2007 check with the hotel for availability or contact
the PRPS Office for assistance.
Hotel Address:
Mountain View Hotel & Conference Center
121 Village Drive, Route 30 East
Greensburg, PA 15601
1-800-537-8709
724-834-5300
fax: 724-834-5304
www.mountainviewinn.com
For specific Directions go to www.mapquest.com.
For visitors information, contact the Laurel Highlands Visitors and
Convention Bureau at 412-238-5661 or www.laurelhighlands.org.
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2007 Greenways & Trails Summit Registration Form
Please include a separate registration form for each participant.
q Ms. q Mr. q Dr.
Name: __________________________________________
Do you use a nickname? List here____________________
Title: ___________________________________________
Organization _____________________________________
Mailing Address __________________________________
________________________________________________
City _______________ State ______ Zip_____________
q Home or q Business address
Office phone: ____________________________________
Fax: ___________________________________________
Email: __________________________________________
PRPS Member q Yes
q No
Special Accommodations—Please attach a detailed explanation
to help us accommodate your special needs, dietary, physical
disability, or other. Please provide this by April 2007 or earlier.
Method of Payment
q Please make check or money order payable to “PRPS.”
q Credit Card: q VISA q MC q AMEX q DISCOVER
Card No. ____________________________________________
Exp. ____________ 3# code on back of card: _______________
Signature: ___________________________________________
q Bill my agency—attach a purchase order or billing
authorization.
Authorized:_________________________________
Date_______________________________________
For PRPS non-members, you are invited to Sign up for the PRPS
Training Network to receive announcements of PRPS training
programs.
Email: ______________________________________________
Please print email clearly
Interests: o Community o Trails o Aquatics
o Park Management (check all that apply)
PRPS Office Use Only
Date: __________________ Amount Paid: ________
Method: ________________ By: _______________
Summit Fees (Please check items and total)
q Full Summit
$99
Please check and complete the option information to be included
in the following:
____ I plan to attend the Thursday evening banquet
____ I plan to attend a Friday evening event;
Option: ______________________
____ I plan to attend a Saturday event:
Option: ______________________
q Daily Thursday $55
q Daily Friday
$55
q Friday Evening Event Only $15
Option: _____________________
q Saturday Event Only
$15
Option: ______________________
q CEU’s
$10
Total Amount Due:
$_________
Educational Session Preferences (Please write in the session
number for the ones that you plan to attend.) Example AM
A-2.
Thursday, May 3: AM ______
PM #1 ______
Friday, May 4:
PM#2________
AM #1_______ AM#2_______
PM#1________ PM#2_______
Friday and Saturday Option List. Please use to complete the option blanks above.
Friday, May 4, Off-Sites
OPTION #1
Select 1A or 1B
The Great Allegheny Passage (#1)
#1A-Trail Towns
#1B-Jewels of Cedar Creek
OPTION #2
Select 2A or 2B
The Pittsburgh to Harrisburg Mainline Canal Greenway (#2)
#2A-Bike rides on West Penn Trail
#2B-Guided Biodiversity Walk
Saturday, May 5, Off-Sites
Bike Ride Through the Mountains (#3)
Land & Water Trails in Motion (#4)
Day Hike (#5)
All registrations will be confirmed and directions to the Mountain
View Inn will be included.
Mail Registration To:
PA Recreation & Park Society
2131 Sandy Drive
State College, PA 16803-2283
OR FAX TO: (814) 234-5276
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May 3-5, 2007
Mountain View Inn
Greensburg, PA
The PA Recreation & Park Society, Inc.
The PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Co-Sponsored by
3rd Annual Greenways
& Trails Summit
Pennsylvania Recreation & Park Society
2131 Sandy Drive
State College, PA 16803-2283
(814) 234-4272
www.prps.org
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