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2013 Forks of the Ohio Regional Trails Symposium

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Event Date: 
2013-03-08
Please join us for the 2013 Forks of the Ohio Regional Trails Symposium in Cranberry Township, PA. This interactive session will provide information to people who are making important connections in Western PA, Eastern OH, Northern WV and Western MD and bring stakeholders together to continue the dialogue of completing important trail connections.

What: 2013 Forks of the Ohio Regional Trails Symposium

When: March 8, 2013

Where: Pittsburgh Marriott North, 100 Cranberry Woods Drive, Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania 16066 www.pittsburghmarriottnorth.com

Registration Fee: $30.00 including continental breakfast, lunch buffet, educational sessions and the opportunity for an exhibit table offered to non-profit organizations.

*Conveniently located at the intersection of the PA Turnpike (within 1 exit of the Ohio Stateline) and I-79*

~Registration and agenda now available. Please use the registration form at the bottom of this page. If you have any problems or if you would like to register over the phone please contact Sue Gold (sgold@pecpa.org, 412-481-9400). ~

The 2013 Forks of the Ohio Regional Trails Symposium builds on the Western PA Trail Symposia held in 2006 and 2010 and the Power of 32 Regional Trails Meeting in 2011. Attendees will continue the dialog to make our trail system the strongest, most connected and best managed system. Stakeholders from Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio, Northern West Virginia and Western Maryland are encouraged to attend.

The 2013 event will bring together trail stakeholders from a wide geographic area for a thought-provoking keynote address, informative educational sessions, interactive working sessions and networking opportunities. Symposium topics will include: completion of mega greenways, connecting to communities, developing healthy communities, planning tools and more. Space will be provided for organizations to display and share information with attendees. Display tables are offered at no cost to non-profit organizations.

Background

The 2013 event will build on recent accomplishments to develop and advocate the completion of a regional trail system. We started this discussion in 2006 with the very first “map room” that was then replicated at regional and statewide trail summits throughout Pennsylvania. With several mega greenways complete or well underway in Western Pennsylvania we are now looking beyond state boundaries to the important connections between Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Maryland.  The Power of 32 Project, a regional visioning project, included completion of the regional trail system as one of the lasting goals of the project.  The Tri State Trails Initiative is a group of counties on the state boundary that has met previously.

PEC and The Progress Fund have developed a trail mapping tool for a 46-county region that includes Cleveland, Erie, Pittsburgh and the state boundaries with Maryland and West Virginia. Participants will learn more about this tool and how to use it.

Agenda

8:00 am-8:30 am Set Up Registration & Displays

8:30 am-9:15 am Registration & Continental Breakfast

9:15-9:30 am Welcome & Introductions

9:30 am-10:30 am Building Our Regional Trail System, Presentation of the Regional Trail

Mapping Tool ~ General Presentation ~ Environmental Planning & Design

10:30 am-11:30 am Why We Need a Regional Trail Network ~ General Panel

            ~ PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources

            ~ Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition

            ~ West Virginia Department of Transportation  

11:30-12:45 pm Lunch w/ Keynote Speaker

             ~ Earl. F. Gohl, Federal Co-Chair, Appalachian Regional Commission

1:00-2:15 pm Concurrent Sessions

            Community Connections: Asset Based Community Development & Economic Impact

            Regional Trail Planning: Regional Trail Planning

            Building: Development of On-Road Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements

            Community Connections: Building Healthy Communities

2:15-2:30 pm Break

2:30-4:30 pm Setting the Regional Trail Agenda ~ General Session

 

 

Thank you to our funders and organizing committee (in alphabetical order):

  • Benedum Foundation
  • Laurel Foundation
  • National Park Service – Rivers, Trail & Conservation Assistance Program
  • PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
  • PA Environmental Council
  • PA Recreation & Parks Society
  • Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
  • The Progress Fund

Panelists from the following organizations are participating (in alphabetical order, this will be updated as more names are available):

Register

 

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