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POLITICS
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and Greene County Park Project in Pennsylvania,
~~ an ATV recreational area in southeastern Greene County.
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December 8, 2003 Update: "Greene County still needs
recreation"
It was about a year ago that Greene County
officials abandoned plans to build an all-terrain vehicle trail in
the West Greene area because a number of vocal residents said they
didn't want their tax dollars to be put toward the development of
an ATV trail and questioned if the project was really a proper
function of government.
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Others were skeptical about the supposed
economic benefits the trail would bring.
Then the county refocused its efforts on 450 acres
of land north of Greensboro that included the coal refuse site
of the former Warwick Mine.
Three public meetings later, it became evident the
opposition in the southeastern part of the count was just as
strong as that expressed in the west.
Up to that point, we supported, at least in
principle, the implementation of an ATV trail, believing such
a recreational project has potential to favorably affect the
county's economy.
We underestimated how passionate the resistance of
residents to having an ATV trail in their backyard was.
They wanted their community to remain as it is:
quiet and peaceful, the air not filled with dust or the
constant whine of ATV engines. |
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Well, they won.
The county has eliminated the position of
"AtV specialist" and will not include the ATV
recreational line item of $400,000 in its 2004 budget.
The new board of commissioners is unanimous in its opposition
to proceeding with developing a trail.
Commissioner Scott Blair, who was defeated in November,
spearheaded the project from the beginning.
We don't know whether his loss to the fellow
Republican John Gardner had anything to do with his support
of the project, but we do know recreational projects, perhaps
not as ambitious as the ATV trail, are needed.
We would hope that Blair, soon to return to the
private sector, would not give up on his vision to provide an
unique enterprise that could provide an economic benefit to
Greene County. |
(Source: Observer-Reported 12/8/03)
October 6, 2003 Update: "Can the county save the ATV
plan?"
It was only last week, at the 3rd & final meeting
on Greene County's plan to build an all-terrain vehicle trail in
Monongahela Township, that real opposition to the project became
evident.
The series of meetings had been held to review a
feasibility study to develop the trail
on 450 acres of land north of Greensboro that include the coal
refuse site of the former Warwick Mine.
Project Sponsors:
Scott Blair, Greene County Commissioner; Greene County Dept of
Parks and Recreation; Greene County Dept of Planning and
Development; Parsons, Brinckerhoff, etc; Delta Development;
Toal Law; DCNR
Purpose: investigate feasibility of ATV recreational
area in southeastern Greene County. |
"JUDGING FROM COMMENTS
FROM THIS MEETING, IT APPEARS MANY
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY
SIMPLY DON'T WANT AN ATV
TRAIL IN THEIR BACKYARD!"
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The first two public meetings, held at the Greene County Fairgrounds
in Waynesburg, drew questions from those in attendance but failed to
elicit either strong support or strong opposition to the plan.
That certainly wasn't the case for
the third meeting held in the community that would host the trail.
They want their community to remain as it is, quiet and
peaceful, the air not filled with dust or the constant whine of
ATV engines.
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Commissioner Scott Blair, who has spearheaded the project,
told the audience he believes the trail will give a
much-needed boost to the local economony, which in
this corner of the county, most would agree, died with
the closing of the area coal mines.
But he also told those in attendance "that if people
in this community are against the trail, the county wouldn't
force it on them." |
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So, where does that leave us in regard to the
future of ATV Project? |
The county could simply drop plans
to build the trail near Greensboro and find another site. Blair
has said other local officials have expressed an interest in
having the trail in their communities. |
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It also could hold out making a
decision on the Greensboro site until it better refines its
plans and tries to work with those in the community who are for
and against it. |
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The feasibility study does, after all, propose
an extensive plan with three phases that include not only a
trail, but also a track, campgrounds and coal heritage
museum. Many people may have judged the project based on
this proposed grand design. |
It's possible a pared-down project
that would, for example, just include a trail and a few other
amenities that might be more acceptable to residents.
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It also might be that more needs
to be done by the county to sell the project, which means not
only focusing on its benefits but also allaying residents'
concerns. |
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We tend to think no matter where they decide to
build an ATV trail in Greene County, someone will be there
to oppose it. At some point, county officials will just
have to gauge the political winds and make a decision on
the project. |
The decision could lead to
something that is later determined to be all wrong for the county
and the host community. Or it could be good. |
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We know if initial opposition was
the determining factor in all such decisions, Greene County would,
for example, have passed on the State Correctional Institution
at Greene, which most people will agree has been a real
benefit to the county's economy. |
(Source: Observer-Reported 10/6/03)
September 30, 2003 Update: "Public input sought on ATV
Trail"
County officials might be better might be better able to guage
public sentiment toward development of an all-terrain vehicle in
southeastern Green County following tonight's public meeting on
the project feasibility study.
The third and final meeting to be held as part of the
preparation of the study has been scheduled for 7:00pm in the
Greensboro fire hall.
Two previous public meetings, in June and August, drew a
number of question sfrom those in the audience but failed to
elicit either strong support or strong opposition to the plan.
"The meetings present the opportunity to get feedback
from the community," Commissioner Scott Blair said. Though
feedback has so far been relatively positive, Blair said, a few
people also have expressed opposition to the plan.
"We
want to sell this on its own merit; we're not trying to
force it on anyone," Blair said. It's important the
county hear from residents and get a chance to address
their concerns, he said. |
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"If we're
coming into your community, we want to be a good neighbor,"
Blair said. "If it's something poeple down there really
don't want we'll have to look somewhere else." Several
townships have expressed interest in the project, he said.
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Plans
included in the feasibility study prepared by Parsons,
Brinckerhoff Quade and Douglas Inc., call for the trail
to be established on about 450 acres of land just north
of Greensboro.
The site includes the former Warwick Mine property and
several parcels now under private ownership. The property
is bordered to the east by the Monogahela River; to the
south by Route 2014; to the west by a buff zone off Route 88;
and to the north by Alicia.
The project would include a riding trail, hill climb
area and possibly camping and picnic areas and a coal
heritage museum.
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Michael Babusci of Parsons,
Brinckerhoff said the project would probably be developed
in phases. The first would include establishment of a
15-mile trail that would snake its way through a wooded
area on the property. The second phase could entail
development of a 10-mile riding trail.
Babusci said it is also hoped the proposed site will
serve as a "trail head" and eventually be extended beyond
its boundaries by property owners who recognize its
benefits.
The development of an ATV trail is being considered
primarily for two reasons, according to Commissioner
Blair. One is to provide a place for ATV enthusiasts to
ride and the other is for economic growth to Greene
County. |
(Source: Observer-Reported 9/30/03)
June 19, 2003 Update: "Public hearing on ATV trail
Thursday"
WAYNESBURG
- Planners canvassed all of Greene County in their search for
the most appropriate site to construct an all-terrain vehicle
trail.
After about a year, the search has finally concentrated on
the old (Warwick Mine) "related info 1 2 " property north of
Greensboro. A public meeting to give nearby residents a chance
to comment on the idea will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at
Greene County Fairgrounds, Building 10.
Thus far, the plan to build an ATV trail across the property,
which is owned by Duquesne Light Co., has attracted mostly
support from the neighbors, according to Greene County
Commissioner Scott Blair. Several adjacent property owners
offered right-of-way easements so that the trail can extend
across their land, he said.
Nevertheless, Blair, who has been the driving force behind
the ATV trail, said Tuesday that the county is in preliminary
stages of trail development. And if the trail encounters enough
public opposition, it may not make it to a subsequent stage.
"I really don't know if we'll be able to get enough positive
public support to justify going any further with this," Blair
said.
If the plan does come to fruition though, Blair said that
Greene County will hold a strong source of economic development
in an area that really needs it.
"That site really has a lot of potential," he said. "And
I know that if we could just do it, and build the trail, it would
be a huge economic boon to the county."
Places for people to legally enjoy their ATVs, which have
swelled in popularity in recent years, are scarce throughout
the state. Allegheny National Forest in Central Pennsylvania
touts an expansive network of ATV trails. As a result,
restaurants, camping facilities, hotels and other businesses
have opened in significant numbers to cash in on the ATV riders,
Blair said.
While the proposed ATV trail in Greene County is being
planned on a much smaller scale, the commissioner said that
a similar type of progress should happen here.
In recent years, the state Department of Community and
Economic Development has tried to take the emphasis for ATV
trail development away from the state and national forests and
into the hands of municipalities, counties and other bodies.
The department supplemented their encouragement with several
grants, which are funded through registration fees incurred
annually against owners of ATVs and snowmobiles.
Last year, Greene County received its share of the money -
$80,000 for feasibility studies - mainly to determine where the
trail should be located.
The county initially considered the West Greene area as a
viable place to build the ATV trail. In November 2001,
commissioners purchased over 83 acres near Ryerson Station State
Park, for the purpose of building an ATV facility.
Commissioners abandoned those plans after Ryerson Park
officials and nearby residents voiced concerns over noise levels.
Last October, they agreed to start the process of auctioning off
the parcel. |
(Source: Observer-Reported 6/19/03
by Cara Host)
Hats off to Scott for trying
-- Thank you. Don't give up yet!
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