SMETHPORT — Governmental and tourism officials and
representatives from other interested organizations met Thursday at
a public meeting at the 911 Emergency Operations Center in
Smethport to discuss and review the McKean County Greenway/Trail
Plan.
Greenways have been described as “multi-functional heritage
trails developed along natural corridors, linking regions and
tourist attractions, providing support for environmentally-friendly
recreation and tourism while promoting healthy lifestyles.” At the
same time, they also present an opportunity to sustain economic
activities for local towns and cities.
Each one the six counties served by the North Central
Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission —
Clearfield, Cameron, McKean, Elk, Jefferson and Potter — is
preparing its own greenways plan, while the agency is preparing the
North Central Greenways and Open Space Plan.
On Thursday, John Buerkle of Pashek Associates of Pittsburgh,
the consultant for the plan, presented a Power Point program about
the project. Time was spent discussing the Recreation and
Transportation Greenways Map, which includes the county’s
priorities.
The top ten projects in this category are the Knox and Kane
Trail, Emery-Blaisdell Trail Extension, Kinzua Valley Trail, Bullis
Camp Trail, Smethport to Duke Center Trail, Bradford to Rew Trail,
Stage Coach Trail, Shawmut Trail, Mill Street Railroad Corridor
Trail and Refinery Trail.
Time was also spent reviewing the proposed and existing trails,
proposed water trails, and designated and proposed scenic
byways.
County planning director Debbie Lunden said that an existing
snowmobile trail linking Mount Jewett and Kane was added to the
plan.
Two byways, the Pennsylvania Route 46 Emporium to Smethport
Scenic Byway and the Allegheny Forest Byway, were part of Buerkle’s
presentation.
Among the potential partners for implementing the strategies for
the Route 46 Emporium to Smethport Byway are the boroughs’ chambers
of commerce, county governments, Allegheny National Forest Visitors
Bureau, Pennsylvania Byway Program, PA Wilds Planning Team and
Lumber Heritage Region Inc.
The plan proposes extending the existing Longhouse National
Scenic Byway along Route 59 from the Allegheny National Forest to
Smethport Borough.
Potential partners for this project could be the McKean County
Planning Department, Smethport Borough and the Smethport Area
Chamber of Commerce, North Central, PA Wilds Planning Team and
Lumber Heritage Region Inc.
Discussion was also held about the Natural Systems Greenways
Map, which includes the South Branch of Tionesta Creek, Potato
Creek, South Branch of Kinzua Creek, Allegheny Portage Creek and
Driftwood Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek.
To implement the strategies for these byways, the plan calls for
cooperating with the McKean and Cameron counties’ conservation
districts in identifying locations to initiate best management
practices demonstration projects and attracting local and regional
land trusts and conservancies to natural system corridors.
Lunden said the draft of the plan is due by mid-May. By June 1,
the county should advertise the 45-day public review period and
during that time a public comment period is to be scheduled. If
there is additional public input at that meeting, it will be
incorporated into the plan.
The county commissioners will consider adopting the plan as an
amendment to the County Comprehensive Plan, which directs the
development of land use, transportation, economic development,
housing and natural and cultural resource conservation.
