In This Section

Story of PA Greenways Frequently Asked Questions Benefits of Greenways Greenways Glossary Clearinghouse Database

Read about some of the milestones accomplished since the establishment of the Pennsylvania Greenways Partnership Initiative.

The Story of PA Greenways

Background

In 2001, former Governor Tom Ridge approved Pennsylvania Greenways: An Action Plan for Creating Connections and launched the new program with an Executive Order. The Plan describes 12 implementation strategies needed to achieve its primary, long-term vision—the creation of an interconnected system of greenways in the Commonwealth. The Program and the clearinghouse are a response to needs expressed by citizens across the state through intercept surveys, meetings, and focus groups. The new greenways program proposes 20-year implementation timeline for a statewide greenways network.

Greenways are a natural fit with the missions, policies, and programs for many of the Commonwealth's agencies. In Pennsylvania, the greenways movement began as a grassroots, bottom up effort, blossoming from a strong trails and conservation movement. Local and regional examples of grass-roots efforts abound and have resulted in hiking, bicycling, and off-road vehicle trails, as well as protected open space, river and stream corridors, and natural and cultural resources. Citizens and non-profits in partnerships with local government spurred many of these projects.

After more than two years of work, the Commission released, PA Greenways: An Action Plan for Creating Connections, a 20-year-strategy for establishing an interconnected system of greenways in the Commonwealth. This Greenways Partnership Commission helped create the Pennsylvania Greenways: An Action Plan for Creating Communities.

This executive order was amended in September 2001, for PA Greenways: An Action Plan for Creating Connections, to establish DCNR as the lead agency for the greenways program. The Executive Order also reauthorized the PA Greenways Partnership Commission.

The work of the Commission was preceded by the PA Greenways Partnership Initiative in 1995. That initiative rallied greenways stakeholders across PA. After sponsorship of the ITGC in 1997 and a groundswell of support at the grassroots level for developing a statewide greenway program, the Governor signed Exec Order 1998-3 creating the Greenway Partnership Commission. Read below about some of the milestones accomplished since the establishment of the Pennsylvania Greenways Partnership Initiative.