Pennsylvania's Greenway Clearinghouse

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Pennsylvania's Interactive Trails Website Launched! Search, view, map and share information on the thousands of miles of trails in Pennsylvania by clicking on the banner below.

PA Greenways Program:
Promoting a network of greenways throughout the Commonwealth.
Read more about this web site.

Top Program Initiatives

1. County Greenway Planning
2. Establishing the Network: PA's Major Greenway Corridors
3. Making the Case for Greenways' Economic Benefits

County Greenways Planning:
A Priority for Pennsylvania

To achieve Pennsylvania’s Greenways Vision requires planning for greenways by the Commonwealth’s 67 counties.

The Goal: By 2007, all 67 counties complete Greenway Plans! Does your county have a Greenway Plan in place yet? Click here to find out!

DCNR provides funding for greenways planning and for plan implementation. See the Greenways Toolbox for resources and information on planning and establishing greenways.

Pennsylvania's Statewide Greenways Action Plan

In 2001 the Pennsylvania Greenways Partnership Commission released "Pennsylvania Greenways - An Action Plan for Creating Connections." The Plan provides 12 implementation strategies which focus the program and help to measure its achievements. The 2008 summary of achievements can be found here: Greenways Program Achievements.

Spotlight on Partner Activities: Promoting the Pennsylvania Highlands Trail Network Project by Highlighting its Close-to-Home Recreational Opportunities

This spring the Appalachian Mountain Club and Wildlands Conservancy released a series of pocket-sized "Hike the Highlands” cards that highlight 22 individual hikes throughout the 13-county Pennsylvania Highlands area. The cards provide directions, descriptions, maps, and contact information for each hike and are available online for free by clicking here. Highlighting these hikes helps to promote the Pennsylvania Highlands Trail Network and conservation of this region by directing residents to these close-to-home recreational opportunities and allowing them to experience the beauty of the Pennsylvania Highlands. The groups are also hosting a scavenger hunt to encourage use of the cards. In addition to the cards a Pennsylvania Highlands Regional Recreation Map and Guide will be available at the end of September.

The Pennsylvania Highlands Trail Network will extend over 100 miles across the Pennsylvania Highlands roughly 1.9 million acres that extend from south-central PA at the Maryland border to New Jersey, which includes 13 counties (Bucks, Montgomery, Northampton, Lehigh, Chester, Berks, Lancaster, Lebanon, Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Adams, and York). The trail network will link existing trails such as the Horse-Shoe Trail, Mason-Dixon Trail System, and Appalachian National Scenic Trail with new trail segments including loops and spur trails. The network will also connect to the existing Highlands Trail which extends approximately 130-miles through New Jersey and New York.