River Towns: A River Runs Through It Patrick Starr, Executive VP, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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River Towns: A River Runs Through It Patrick Starr, Executive VP, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Jun 08, 2023 265 likes •581 views

River Towns: A River Runs Through It Patrick Starr, Executive VP, PA Environmental Council Adapted from A River Runs Through It by Cathy McCollom, Director, River Town Program Our Vision: A regional network of vibrant, connected River

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River Towns:

A River Runs Through It

Patrick Starr, Executive VP, PA Environmental Council Adapted from “A River Runs Through It” by Cathy McCollom, Director, River Town Program

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A regional network of vibrant, connected River Towns offering visitor amenities and services in a healthy business environment and actively engaged with the river and one another.

Our Vision:

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What defines the River Town Program?

Sustainable community and economic development

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What defines the River Town Program?

Sustainable community and economic development Promotes outdoor recreation as an economic engine

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What defines the River Town Program?

Sustainable community and economic development Promotes outdoor recreation as an economic engine Improves riverfront connections, encourages public infrastructure

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What defines the River Town Program?

Sustainable community and economic development Promotes outdoor recreation as an economic engine Improves riverfront connections, encourages public infrastructure “Triple Bottom Line” approach

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How did this this all get started?

2010: PEC launches pilot program

  • 6 communities on the Allegheny
  • Needs assessments conducted
  • Focus on planning for towns

2011: Expansion to Monongahela

  • 5 initial Mon communities
  • Needs assessments conducted
  • Building Action Teams
  • Focus on quick action projects
  • Implementation
  • Fundraising
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How did this this all get started?

2013: Schuylkill River Towns begins

  • 4 communities in Southeast
  • Needs assessments completed
  • Building Action Teams
  • Focus on citizen engagement
  • Programs
  • Clean-ups
  • Signage
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Why does this matter?

Outdoor recreation is an overlooked economic giant!

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Employs five times more Americans than Walmart Paddlers spend $23- $64 per day Overnight trail users spend $98 per day

$800 billion and 6.5 million jobs

Why does this matter?

US economic impacts of active outdoor recreation:

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More American jobs depend

  • n trail sports (766,000) than

there are lawyers (726,200).

More than 44 percent made outdoor recreation a priority

Americans spend more money to enjoy the outdoors than buying gasoline, purchasing pharmaceutical drugs, or

  • wning cars.

Visitors pay a $$ premium when “doing good” -- improving the environment or preserving the history and culture of an area.

Why does this matter?

US economic impacts of outdoor recreation:

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Outdoor recreation enthusiasts accounted for a third (33%) of the total spending in PA for leisure travel $21.5 Billion is spent annually in consumer spending; supporting 219,000 jobs and generating $1.6 Billion in tax revenue

Why does this matter?

PA Department of Natural Resources and Conservation found:

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The word is spreading!

PA Statewide Comprehensive Recreation Plan Goals:

  • Strengthen connections

between outdoor recreation, healthy lifestyles and economic benefits in communities

  • Reconnect people to the
  • utdoors and develop a

stewardship ethic through

  • utdoor recreational
  • pportunities and experiences
  • Develop a statewide land and

water trail network to facilitate recreation, transportation and healthy lifestyles

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Trails are good business: Northern Forest

  • 90,000 visitors per year
  • $12 million in total economic impacts
  • 280 jobs created
  • $215 spending per trip
  • Non-locals spending average of

$414-$498 per trip Case Study: Northern Forest Canoe Trail (2007)

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Trails are good business: Great Allegheny Passage

  • Annual direct impact

Over $40 million

  • Jobs added

Over 200: $7.26 million in wages

  • Confluence, population 720, has 6 restaurants, 13 guest houses,

8 B&B’s, 2 outfitters, a gas station, and a cultural center.

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Sooo … “Trails are good business.”

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Trails are good business

Paddle Pedal Past River Towns are here! (At the intersection)

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What are the goals of the River Town Program?

Sustainable development: Natural resource conservation integrated with economic development Grow the economy -- existing business & attract ones Build organizational capacity as a region to attract visitor users Invest in visitor services and infrastructure

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River Town Case Study: Monongahela River, PA

  • Small, industrial towns
  • Populations around 5,000
  • Focus: economic development
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  • Close to $2 Million raised in project funding
  • Regional signage designed and installed
  • Public Art installed in all communities
  • Kayak and paddling businesses open
  • Marina opens and another expands
  • 50 new campsites opened
  • River views “opened” in five communities

River Town Case Study: Monongahela River, PA

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River Town Case Study: Schuylkill River

  • Large, urban towns
  • Populations from 8,000 to 30,000
  • Focus: marketing and programming
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River Town Case Study: Schuylkill River

  • Bike education series
  • Organized paddle trips
  • Seasonal Trail and River Cleanups
  • Children’s art programs
  • Signage initiative
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Strength of the River Town Program

  • Regional i.e. multi-town in scope
  • Flexible: basic organizing tools apply everywhere
  • Attracts money and attention
  • Connects heritage and outdoor recreation
  • Connects people with different interests to common goal
  • Improves communities
  • Adds capacity
  • Instills pride
  • Engages and inspires
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What is a Water Trail?

Mapped routes that provide safe access to and information about waterways while also providing connections to diverse history, ecology, geology, heritage and wildlife.

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PA Water Trail Partnership

Partnership of:

  • PA Fish & Boat

Commission

  • PA DCNR
  • National Park Service
  • PA Environmental

Council (PEC)

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PA Water Trail Partnership Goals

  • 1. Promote sustainable use of natural resources
  • 2. Increase and improve user access
  • 3. Connect to land trails
  • 4. Achieve water trail objectives included in

SCORP

  • 5. Enhance PA’s presence in national

designations

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PA Water Trail Network

  • 27 trails
  • Over 2,000 miles
  • Over 20 different managers with diverse

backgrounds and interests.

www.fish.state.pa.us/watertrails

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PA Water Trails Partnership Timeline

2003 2008 2013

Milestone Milestone Milestone Mileston e Mission, vision & goals are

  • utlined and

a Statement

  • f Purpose

is signed First PA water trail

  • pened &

state agencies, led by PFBC, develop water trail program PEC joins partnershi p and hires dedicated staff to manage program Program surpasses 2,000 miles of designated trail

1998

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PA Water Trail Principles

  • Partnerships
  • Stewardship
  • Volunteerism
  • Education
  • Conservation
  • Community Vitality
  • Diversity
  • Wellness & Well-being
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What are the goals of the River Town Program?

Sustainable development: Natural resource conservation integrated with economic development Grow the economy -- existing business & attract ones Build organizational capacity as a region to attract visitor users Invest in visitor services and infrastructure

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Why does this matter? Many people don’t realize that having fun and staying healthy is essential to the continued growth of our economy.