Saturday, July 31st, 2010
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Regional Initiatives

Susquehanna Greenway River Town Program

The Susquehanna Greenway River Town Program envisions the network corridor of the Susquehanna Greenway as a river corridor with linked and revitalized riverside communities along the Susquehanna River Water Trail that reap the benefits of place-based tourism and recreation as part of a larger coordinated approach to economic development. The long term economic viability of participating communities is to be achieved through concentrated business development efforts that capitalize on the placed-based tourism and recreational use market.

What is A Susquehanna Greenway River Town ?

A “ River Town” is a destination along the Susquehanna Greenway and Water Trail system. Visitors/users that journey through the Susquehanna Greenway may experience the Greenway in a number of ways: on the water trail, via a driving tour route, or on one of the many trails provided for hiking, biking and walking that can be found throughout the Greenway system (ultimately a linked trail network may provide long distance connections throughout the greenway corridor). The Susquehanna Greenway provides options to journey throughout out its diverse and varied landscape and riverscape, to enjoy scenery, and to experience past and present cultures and heritage in over 100 diverse and authentic communities. The River Towns are the journey points that provide a discrete sense of place (each with its own charm and character & special places). River Towns provide a safe place where both town residents and visitors can walk, find the goods and services they need, and easily access both the town and the water trail by foot or vehicle. In such a town, the Greenway is an integral and important part of the community’s identity and one senses the connection to the larger Susquehanna Greenway system. 

A River 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. It generously meets the needs of both the trail users and the town residents. A River Town is a friendly place that welcomes visitors with warm hospitality. River Towns are not stand-alone communities; they are linked by the over arching Susquehanna Greenway system. Visitors may be passing through a town on a day trip or long-distance trek, or may drive to a community and park to access the river, put in or land from the water trail system, or enjoy one of the many other recreational activities developed within the Susquehanna Greenway’s network corridor. 

Developing a River Town Program along the Susquehanna Greenway

Greenway visitors want to explore interesting places in their travels and will need services that the River Town can provide. Basic elements of the River Town Program include:

ü      Enticing visitors “live, learn, & explore in your town;

ü      Welcoming visitors to your town by making information about the larger Greenway system and the local community readily available;

ü      Making a strong and safe connection between your town and the Greenway;

ü      Educating local businesses on the economic benefits of meeting Susquehanna Greenway tourists’ needs;

ü      Recruiting new businesses or expanding existing ones to fill gaps in the goods or services that Greenway visitors/users need;

ü      Promoting the “Greenway-friendly” character of the town;

ü      Working with neighboring communities to promote the entire Susquehanna Greenway network corridor as a tourist destination.

The “Four Point” or “Main Street Approach” offers a complete outline for downtown revitalization that has been successful in more than 1,700 towns and cities throughout the United States. The following four points are the keys to the success of the “ Main Street Approach.”

ORGANIZING gets everyone working toward the same goal. The tough work of building consensus and cooperation among the groups that have an important stake in the downtown area can be eased by using the basic formula of a hands-on, volunteer-driven program and an organizational structure consisting of a board and committees to direct the program.

DESIGN gets a River Town into top physical shape. Capitalizing on its best assets, such as historic buildings and traditional downtown layout, is just part of the story. An inviting atmosphere created through attractive window displays, professional signage, well-maintained sidewalks, accessible parking areas, appropriate streetlights, and inviting landscaping conveys a visual message about what a River Town is and what it has to offer.

ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING finds a new purpose for the town's enterprises. By helping existing downtown businesses expand and by recruiting new ones to respond to today's market, Main Street programs help convert unused space into productive property and increase the competitiveness of business enterprises.

PROMOTION sells the image and promise of a River Town to all prospects. Marketing the downtown’s unique characteristics to local customers, investors, new businesses, and visitors requires an effective promotion strategy. It forges a positive town image through advertising, retail promotions.

Marie Antoinette Overlook

Our most notable initiative of the Endless Mountains Heritage Region has been the Marie Antoinette Scenic Overlook Restoration Project. This scenic and historic 8.5 acre site is located just off the State Route 6 between Wysox and Wyalusing in Bradford County. The site was initially developed in the 1930's and features stone turrets and walls constructed by local workers within the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression. A restaurant and cabins were built later to create a very popular tourist destination. Visitors and locals loved the view of the Susquehanna River, French Azilum historic site, surrounding agricultural landscapes, and amenities of the site.

 A local effort to acquire and restore the site and its fabulous scenic vista was initiated in the early 1990's by a group of dedicated leaders in heritage development. Funding through the PADOT Transportation Enhancement Program (TEA-21) and DCNR's Growing Greener program was utilized to acquire and restore the site that contains the walls, turrets and the scenic vista.  

These improvements revitalize a once popular site and restore the wonderful scenic vista, contributing to the attractiveness of the area and the value of our scenic byways in the Endless Mountains.