Greene County Pennsylvania ATV park

Story by Ready 2 Ride
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Greene County Pennsylvania ATV Feasibility Study - PDF
Conducted by - Parsons, Brinckerhoff, Quade & Douglas Inc
and Delta Development Group, Inc.
Presenters - Michael A. Babusci, P.E. and Jason Yakelis, respectively.

Purpose: investigate feasibility of ATV rec area in southeastern Greene

Sponsors: Scott Blair; Greene County Dept of Parks and Recreation; Greene County Dept of Planning and Development; Parsons, Brinckerhoff, etc; Delta Development; Toal Law; DCNR

Project Scope: ID Study area; Investigate Property Site; Develop Property Facilty Plan; Investigate Land Liability, Solicit Public Comment

The Location:
overlooks Gray's Landing, 15 parcels, approximately 415 acres, mostly owned by Dusquesne Light, near Greensboro Rd. Kovach Rd and Alicia Rd. Greene County Pennsylvania

Existing Site Conditions: offices; 3 tiers - 1. offices 2. parking 3. right above river, backside of Glassworks, hangout for guards; mine shaft entrance; remnants of old prep pan; conveyor; mining pond (didn't catch technical name); sump; old shock building - full of junk and remnants, want building reused to show "multi-use" possibly for museum in smaller part and meeting area in larger part.

Dusquesne Light is reclaiming approx. 100 acres and revegetating.
Outbuildings - being left; possibility of exploring site, again "multi use/user"
Ravine - some established trails, drainage areas - drainage problems need take care of

Old Mining Equipment - being left "remind everyone, what it was"
Trash - a lot of existing, needs cleaned out, "use will keep area cleaner"
Site possibilities - Hill climbing area - open field to Alicia Rd. - Beginner's area; basically non-riding area = Picnic pavilions, camping area, training area

Site Improvements: Maintenance area; parcels at ends for further development - possiblities = convenience store, car wash, storage for atv's so if you are a frequent user you don't have to haul it all the time or have no other place to store; Trails - about 4 feet wide, 10-15 mile trail (with options for bigger later); Tracks - 6-8? feet across, jumps, switchbacks+; Intermidiate Level Track; Beginner's area

Want it to be a catalyst for future trails, these are just primary trails, need more facilities for overnight, "currently less is more," If successful = expansion, further possibilty - private land and/or leasing private land

Used Hatfield-McCoy as example - all private, committee maintains and polices, economics of it - various advantages, causing development in area, self standing - lead to further development.

Reclamation Status: Begin in 2003, end in 2004; revegetate refuse pile; passive treatment pond in area old shop and remove prep plant pond; removal of mining apparatus and buildings - needs negotiated; underground tanks are already removed; sump needs removed - will most likely be filled in

Project Scope of Services Remaining: Adjacent Land Use Inventory and ID of Support; utility and infrastructure assessment; market assessment and economic impact- possible other area markets - Highpoint, Hatfield-McCoy, other areas that are possibly building - Brownsville area was one mentioned; ID design, operation, and finance (for reasonable cost) issues; ID environmental requirements (there was one person there concerned about environmental impact); solicit additional public comments; prepare final report

Costs: Maintenance mainly; some money available from funding - ATV Fund - Restrictive Receipts account; Land Acquisitions - 50/50; Improvements 80/20

Project Schedule - 3/2003 = Kick-off; 5/03 = Land owner's meeting, land liability; 6/03 = Public Project Intro; 8/03 = 2nd Initial Findings; 9/03 = 3rd Preliminary Report; 10/03 = Final report NOTE: Schedule will be bumped up due to grant application deadline

Land Use Liability for Private Owners: RULWA (Recreational Use of Lands and Water Act) - encourages landowners to make land available to publice use, limits liability of landowners
In order to use - no fee, no major improvememnts, no maliciousness

PA Case Law supports that motorized trails are covered under RULWA

Permitted to lease land w/out liability

All Pennsylvania Riders can comment on this process by using this printable PDF comment form (fast to download)

Talk about it in the forum with other Pennsylvania riders.