NCT in Clarion County Greenway Master Plan

Cook Forest State Park (photo by JHY)

based on a news article from the Clarion News

Clarion County (Pennsylvania) commissioners were presented this week with a 160-page document outlining a greenway plan for their county.

The plan combines towns and villages with the natural resources such as rivers, streams, lakes, trails, roads, hunting lands, boating access sites, historic sites and parks. "The Greenways plan is designed to connect everything together in a way that protects natural resources, provides for recreational opportunities and enables economic development opportunities though tourism and recreation."

The plan includes 14 potential greenways-- most are waterways. The land-based trails include the historic Baker Trail, and the newer hiking trail, the North Country Trail. Several former rail lines have been identified as possible trail corridors. "The plan ranks the county’s natural greenways on these criteria, and lists the Clarion River at the top, followed by Mill Creek, the Allegheny River and Cook Forest State Park in the “exceptional priority” category."

For economic development to occur, trail towns are important. All too often, land or water trails end outside of town at a trail-head parking lot with no easy route to businesses in the town. But it must be easy for hikers, bikers, canoeists, etc to gain access to businesses for them to spend money on their visit.

"Trail towns must provide at least three of four elements to qualify for trail town status: food, lodging, fuel and a main street shopping district. Other factors are optional attractions but they help: entertainment, recreation, historic attractions and other attractions."

"The plan lists five potential trail towns in Clarion County : Clarion, Cooksburg, East Brady, Foxburg and New Bethlehem. All have three of four major elements, but not all are exploiting the potential for tourism-based economics."

The county commissioners will consider adding the plan to the county's comprehensive plan on April 28.

See Clarion Chapter of the NCTA

Outdoor Industry Sees Opportunities as Hiking Diversifies

a news release of the Outdoor Industry Association

Key findings in the recently released 2008 Outdoor Recreation Participation Report suggest significant opportunities exist for increasing participation in outdoor recreation among Hispanics and African Americans. The findings – covering the trends and motivations of diverse participants and non-participants – are critical for outdoor industry companies working to engage growing numbers of outdoor enthusiasts and non-profits nationwide working to connect youth and the outdoors.

Perhaps the most interesting finding in the report is that, although the participation rate in outdoor activities is lower among Hispanics and African Americans than Caucasians, those who do participate get outside more frequently than Caucasians. This encouraging news emphasizes the significance of the opportunity diverse groups offer the outdoor industry.

Other highlights from the report include:
• Participation in outdoor activities is highest among Caucasians for all age groups. Participation is lowest among African Americans. Participation among African American youth is markedly lower than Caucasian, Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander youth, and the consequences of this are evident in participation rates throughout adulthood.
  
• When youth are asked what motivated them to start participating in outdoor activities, youth ages 6 to 17 of all major ethnicities cite parents, family, relatives and friends as the top motivations. Parents are the leading motivator for all groups, although parents are cited more often by Caucasians (74%) than Hispanics (59%), African Americans (59%) and Asians/Pacific Islanders (65%).
  
• School programs are the fourth most common motivation for youth of all four ethnicities and cited most often by African American youth and Asian/Pacific Islander youth.
  
• When youth participants ages 6 to 17 of all ethnicities are asked why they choose outdoor activities, they cite “fun” most often by a large margin.
  
• Hispanic and African American youth cite a lack of access to places to enjoy outdoor activities in greater numbers than Caucasian and Asian/Pacific Islander youth.

In the coming years, the United States will become a majority minority population, and more than 85% of the population will live in urban communities. The insights in the 2008 Outdoor Recreation Participation Report will help businesses and organizations nationwide connect Americans and the outdoors, reverse the inactivity and obesity crisis and ensure future generations conservationists.

See the 2008 Outdoor Recreation Participation Report
See 2008 Outdoor Sales Gain 5%