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Greenways Planning: A Priority for Pennsylvania

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) established the County Greenways and Open Space Network Planning Program to provide funding and technical assistance to counties to plan for greenway corridors. Working in cooperation with their municipalities, counties are developing visions for their county greenway networks and integrating those visions into county land use planning documents. Greenways are an important strategy for achieving land use management, recreation, open space protection and community revitalization goals. Completed County Greenway and Open Space Network Plans are available for viewing online or downloading here!

County Greenway and Open Space Network Plans contribute to Pennsylvania’s statewide greenways network by:

1. Identifying the county’s overall greenways network and setting a framework for municipal greenways planning.
2. Establishing an inventory of natural resources and open space to be protected, a critical component of the greenways network.
3. Setting priorities for implementing the county's identified greenways network.

As a prerequisite to a county greenways and open space network plan, Counties are encouraged to complete a County Natural Heritage Inventory (CNHI) (also known as County Natural Areas Inventory), which help to identify areas that support rare and unique plant and animal communities. The Western PA Conservancy (WPC) conducts CNHIs and maintains a completed and downloadable Inventories here. This map shows the status of Natural Area Inventories by county:

• MAP - Status of County Natural Heritage Inventories in PA (313 KB PDF)
• Fact Sheet About County Natural Heritage Inventories in PA (284 KB PDF)

Progress Toward the Goal!

DCNR has provided $780,000 for greenways planning between 2001 and 2003 through the County Greenways and Open Space Network Planning Program.

County Greenway Plan Tally:

Completed Plans: 35
In Process: 27
% Towards Goal: 93%

For More Information:

• Toolbox/Establishing the Greenways and Open Space Network
• PA County Planning Contacts
• DCNR, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation