Norfolk-Southern Enola Yard volunteers sign on to help improve River Arches

Norfolk-Southern Enola Diesel Shop Senior Foreman, Archie Glace, has coordinated with DATC and signed on his employee volunteer team to come to Duncannon on Saturday, May 12th, and make improvements for access to the river through the archways at Ann St. and Margretta St.

The project will likely entail scraping sediment that has built up over the years, digging a drainage trench for stormwater run-off and clearing brush to the drainage swales at the base of the tracks.  This will serve to improve pedestrian and boating access to river from the downtown areas for residents and folks coming into town for a paddle.  Blue Mountain Outfitters in Marysville also often uses these arches to put-in river trips.

PA-225 Parking Lot

Last year the NSCorp Enola team coordinated with Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club and did awesome work making improvements to the parking lot and trail-head at PA-225 on Peters Mountain.  As you can see from the recent photo at left, it gets heavy use!  We thank them for their efforts to support the A.T. and the A.T. Community initiative in Duncannon.


NS Corp will also have a table at the June 2nd event in addition to various other informational and retail vendors posted on the Event page.  "Before" photos of the Ann St. arch posted below.  "After" photos to come in May!

Appalachian Trail Conservancy Selects Community Ambassadors For Pennsylvania

Trailhead near PA-11/15, Photo by Paul Zeph

Last month we reported that Duncannon A.T. Community Advisory Committee member and Arts & Entertainment Chair, Paul Smith, was appointed A.T. Community Ambassador for Duncannon.  ATC just released the following announcement.  Minutes from last Thursdays monthly meeting to be posted shortly!

Boiling Springs, PA (January 12, 2012) – Christine Lauriello has been selected to serve as the volunteer ambassador to the designated Appalachian Trail (A.T.) Community of Boiling Springs, PA and Paul Smith will serve as the ambassador to Duncannon, PA. In this role, each will serve as a community liaison to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) and the respective local volunteer club to bolster volunteerism and stewardship of the Trail the local level.

“The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is excited about building off its volunteer base by providing A.T. Ambassadors to designated A. T. Communities to help increase local stewardship of public lands and support healthy lifestyles for community citizens,” stated Julie Judkins, Community Program Manager of the ATC.

Christine Lauriello is a life long resident of Boiling Springs, and is vice president of the Cumberland Valley A.T. Club. She is president of the Friends of South Middleton Parks, Trees, and Trails, and is an avid hiker. She is married and has two children.

Paul Smith has lived in Duncannon, PA for four years and has lived in the area since 1984.  Paul is a valuable asset to the Mountain Club of Maryland, the Susquehanna A.T. Club and the A.T. Community of Duncannon. He is serving as the chair for the entertainment committee of the Duncannon A.T. Community designation ceremony scheduled for June 2, 2012.  He enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, boating, gardening, and planting trees.

The Appalachian Trail Community™ program is designed to recognize communities that promote and protect the A.T.  Towns, counties, and communities along the A.T.’s corridor are considered assets by A.T. hikers and many of these towns act as good friends and neighbors to the Trail. The program serves to assist communities with local initiatives such as sustainable economic development through tourism and outdoor recreation, while preserving and protecting the A.T. The A.T. Community Ambassador opportunity is the first of its kind within the A.T. cooperative management partnership.

The ATC was founded in 1925 by volunteers and federal officials working to build a continuous footpath along the Appalachian Mountains. The A.T. is approximately 2,185 miles in length, ranging from Maine to Georgia, making it one of the longest, continuously marked footpath in the world.  Volunteers typically donate more than 220,000 hours each year on Trail-related work and about 2 to 3 million visitors walk a portion of the A.T. each year. This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the completion of the A.T. 

About the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy mission is to preserve and manage the Appalachian Trail – ensuring that its vast natural beauty and priceless cultural heritage can be shared and enjoyed today, tomorrow, and for centuries to come. For more information please visit www.appalachiantrail.org.

Contact: Julie Judkins
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Tel: 828.254.3708 x11
Fax: 828.254.3754
Email: jjudkins@appalachiantrail.org
Web: www.appalachiantrail.org

Susquehanna Greenway interpretive panels installed!

Trailangel Mary just sent over these great shots of Sled Drop revelers checking out the newly installed Susquehanna Greenway Rivertown interpretive panels in the Old Sledworks parking lot on New Years Eve!  Looks like the celebration had a great turn-out.  Panels for the Appalachian Trail and the Pittsburgh-to-Harrisburg Main Line Canal Greenway will follow this coming Spring.

Head down to Old Sledworks and check them out if you haven't already!

From SGP's web site: " Interpretation emphasizes the preservation and conservation of the Susquehanna's many diverse natural and cultural resources, and historic communities and increases pride in the community and ownership of its resources."

Duncannon Appalachian Trail Panel Design Finalized

The design has been finalized for the Appalachian Trail interpretive panel slated to be installed along with two Susquehanna Greenway panels and a Main Line Canal Greenway panel this Spring as part of Susquehanna Greenway's River Towns initiative (**Apologies that the image isn't larger and more legible!).  The content and funding for the panel was provided by Mountain Club of Maryland rep Mike O'Connor through a grant from MCM's Miles Fund.  SEDA-COG's Adam Wynn assisted with the layout and graphic design work.  

Exciting that the panel will be in the ground in advance of the designation event in June!  Special thanks to Mike O'Connor and MCM for their important efforts in marking Duncannon's place as an important stop along the Appalachian Trail.

Vendor Commitments and Duncannon/Susquenita Middle School IN THE NEWS!

Over the weekend two articles by reporter Sarah Kramer appeared in the Perry County Times - one focusing on Susquenita Middle School's participation in the Trail to Every Classroom program and one about Duncannon's designation and plans for the event!   Follow the below links to read the articles:

"Initiative Links Fitness and Science"  and "Town Celebrates Conservancy Link"

Update for Designation Event Planning: Commitment forms for information and retail vendors, hike leaders, presentations on topics relating to the outdoors, musical entertainment, river trips, shuttle service, donations for free lunch for hikers, volunteers for manning event central, photographer and videographers, donations of cash and/or hiking gear, and donations of books relating to the AT and outdoors are due to Mary Parry Event Coordinator by January 10, 2011.

Commitment forms have been received from:

• Retail Vendor - Appalachian Primitives, donating an item for raffle
• Retail Vendor - Tastefully Simple, donation an item for raffle
• Information Vendor - Appalachian Music Conservancy
• Information Vendor - Keystone Trails Association
• Musical Entertainment - The Disturbinators
• Book donation from Jennifer Pharr Davis, unofficial A.T. speed record holder

 

Jennifer Pharr Davis and
Event Coordinator Trailangel Mary

Perry County Greenways, Parks, Recreation & Open Space Plan

How do the efforts of Committee members representing various public, private and volunteer partners in Duncannon fit into Perry County's larger picture?

The Perry County Board of Commissioners officially adopted the Perry County Greenways, Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan (GPROSP) on July 18, 2011. The plan (to view, click here) recognizes greenways, provides an updated inventory of community parks and recreation together with recommendations, and offers direction for open space protection by way of sample ordinances.  In addition to supporting the Apple Tree AlleyWalk project, the following goals and action items are notable to the Duncannon Advisory Committee efforts:

• Identify Trail Towns – As defined in Trail Towns Capturing Trail-Based Tourism a “Trail Town” is a destination along a long-distance trail. Whether on a rail trail, towpath, water trail, or hiking trail-trail users can venture off the trail and to enjoy the scenery, services, and heritage of the nearby community. It is a safe place where both township residents and trail users can walk, find goods and services they need, and easily access both trail and town by foot or vehicle. In such a town, the trail is an integral and important part of the community. A Trail Town is a vibrant place where people come together. It may have a bike shop, an ice cream parlor, casual restaurants, a grocery store, and quaint local shops. It has wide sidewalks, clean streets, bike racks, and benches at convenient locations. It has places to rest for the night. Trail Towns are not stand-alone communities; they are linked by the trail corridor where trail users may be passing through a town on a day trip or long distance trek, or may drive to a community and park to access a river or trial.

• Promote and coordinate special events in Perry County. They are a top recreational interest among the citizens and have the potential to draw people to visit in Perry County. There is currently no centralized means for people to access information about events and programs in Perry County. Establishing a “go-to” place for people to go to in order to find out about recreation opportunities would increase awareness and stimulate participation in recreation. Consider using current providers of information as the “Goto” resource or mix of resources including Perry County, the Perry County Council of the Arts, the Dauphin County Visitors Bureau, municipal newsletters and others that may be in place.

• Pursue heritage and outdoor recreation tourism as a major industry of Perry County. Action:  Work aggressively with the Hershey – Harrisburg Visitors Bureau to position Perry County’s recreation and heritage assets for increased tourism.