The Ghost Town Trail is designated as a National Trail by the U. S. Department of the Interior and offers many interpretive opportunities. Trail users can learn about the importance of riparian areas and see the impacts of acid mine drainage, and explore historical sites like the Eliza Iron Furnace, which supplied crude iron to southwestern Pennsylvania communities in the mid-1800s.
Restoring Allegheny Commons Park
Allegheny Commons Park is a short walk from major churches, the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, the National Aviary, a public school, and several daycare centers. Thousands of children take advantage of the space on a regular basis. However, the park’s aging playground had become unsafe over the years. The City of Pittsburgh led a community engagement process to provide the public with the opportunity to help design a new playground, including input from neighborhood children. Thousands of children ages 2-12 now enjoy a safe, up-to code place to play, including safe, age appropriate equipment for 2-5 year olds.
Schuylkill River Trail
Over 400,000 people, including commuters, annually use the Schuylkill River Trail, a 22-mile regional trail that links Valley Forge National Historical Park in Montgomery County to Center City Philadelphia. A 2.5-mile section of trail was widened to accommodate the wide variety of trail users and correct drainage problems that were causing standing water along the entire eastern edge of the trail that required constant maintenance.
West Penn Park
West Penn Park in York City received a make-over and new equipment as part of a multi-phase plan to improve the park and offer new activities for the City residents. Originally designed by William Penn, the park has hosted Revolutionary War camps and a Civil War hospital, and was also used as a drop-off point for freed slaves after the Civil War ended.
Providing a Safe Place to Play
Residents of all ages need places in the community to enjoy, and young children are no exception. Alexandria, a small borough in Huntingdon County, needed to replace its antiquated and unsafe playground equipment in the community’s only park. With Keystone funding, the borough was able to provide young residents with a safe place to play that was within walking distance of their homes.
Special Kids
The Special Kids Zone in Butler County provides a playground for children with special needs, a group that has been underserved for years. The playground was planned by a committee of professionals who work with children with special needs daily. Families and organizations now come from throughout the county and region to use this facility.
Completing a Greenway
The recreational trail is one of the major developments identified in the multi-municipal comprehensive plan that was adopted in 2002 by Foxburg, St. Petersburg, and Richland Townships. The project will not only provide recreation opportunities for local citizens, but also for travelers to the region. Because the trail follows the former railroad right-of-ways, it offers a flat, scenic walking or biking experience for users of all ages.
Providing an Economic Boost
What was once an abandoned rail bed and illegal dumping site for half a century is now the Greater Hazleton Rail Trail, a hub of activity for families, dedicated bikers and hikers, school groups, nature enthusiasts, and anyone intent on maintaining a healthy living. Four miles of the trail are complete and another 12.4 miles are planned. When completed, the trail will the 165-mile D&L Trail, which offers visitors an opportunity to experience the region’s heritage.
Master Site Planning in Williamsport
Williamsport’s Five Park Master Plan is an excellent example of a master site plan that meets a variety of criteria. During the planning process, outreach efforts included neighborhood input and participation of a variety of key partners in each neighborhood. This project illustrates the importance of working with neighborhoods to meet the needs and address the concerns of the people who live near a facility.
Saving a Natural Treasure
In an area with limited protected open space, Dead Man’s Hollow Wildlife Preserve is 400 acres of peace and quiet. Once immersed in the wooded stream valley, the nearby factories, strip malls, and traffic seem to be a world away. The work done on the preserve, including constructing two-and-half miles of trails and clearing out twenty tons of old tires and trash, was accomplished with the help of U.S. Steel workers and local supporters.
Green Pockets in New Hope Borough
New Hope is a small community population-wise and area-wise. Because New Hope does not have much landmass, every small parcel of green counts. Keystone funding has been used to create what the borough calls pocket parks, two just along the Delaware River, and one that straddles the railroad track.
Leading the Way in Conservation
In East Vincent Township, 36.5 acres in the French Creek Watershed were purchased for a township park and natural open space area. It is a part of a 154-acre property that had been purchased by a local developer and the township was able to work with the developer, a local land trust, and citizen groups to preserve a portion of this property, achieve a site plan for environmentally sensitive growth, and protect greenway corridors.
A Place for Senior Citizens and Children Alike
There aren’t many places that attract senior citizens, dog walkers, skateboarders, and children simultaneously. Pine Hill Regional Recreation Area is an exception. In May 2002, DCNR provided $55,000 in Keystone grant funds to further develop Pine Hill. The park also attracts a wide variety of users who come to admire views of Michaux State Forest, especially when the leaves change color in the fall.
Planning for the Future
Lawrence County established a greenway and recreation plan, which will facilitate the protection of sensitive conservation areas and enhance recreational opportunities for its residents. The new plan develops a county-wide rural recreation plan for municipalities with little or no access to recreation lands and facilities. It calls for the community to develop a trail system, aid in the preservation and reclamation of natural floodplains to enhance water quality, and protect wildlife habitat and open space.
Prioritizing Outdoor Recreation
In Monroe County, hundreds of acres of protected land, a 2150 acre regional park system, and a new 10-mile trail system are the result of regional open space and recreation plans. Through the development of these plans, a multi-municipal recreation commission was established to serve the recreational and open space needs of more than 35,000 residents. Robust community planning has been instrumental in working together to offer a higher quality of life in the region.
Supporting Parks in Union County
A partnership with Keystone and playground equipment manufacturer Playworld enabled the Lewisburg Area Recreation Authority to successfully renovate the Lewisburg Area Recreation Park. The park now includes $800,000 worth of donated equipment, including active playground areas for ages two to five and five to 12, a climbing wall, a skateboard/BMX facility, and a Life Trail with fitness equipment for older adults.