Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape Initiative

Recent News from the Laurel Highlands CLI

• PEC concepts for Connellsville train stations, Feb. 5, 2010
• Laurel Ridge Interpretive Plan available, Nov. 2, 2009
• Laurel Ridge Interpretive Plan to be presented, Oct. 7, 2009
• Acting Secretary tours Laurel Highlands sites, Aug. 31, 2009
• Ohiopyle Green Infrastructure bids sought through October 6th
• Donegal visioning public forum scheduled, June 30, 2009
• Youghiogheny Water Trail map and guide published, June 29, 2009
• Ohiopyle Smart Transportation Project Approved, May 29, 2009
• Path of Flood Trail map and guide available, May 21, 2009
• Laurel Highlands Summit generates enthusiasm, April 30, 2009
• Ohiopyle Master Plan public meeting set, April 29, 2009
• Summit aims to expand Laurel Highlands economy, April 2, 2009

Reports on CLI Initiatives

DCNR's Fact Sheet describes the Laurel Highlands CLI.

The Laurel  Ridge Interpretive Plan covering seven state parks and Forbes State Forest is now available.

The Laurel Highlands Summit held April 26-27, 2009, was a big success with more than 160 people participating.

Ohiopyle is described as the "portal" into the Laurel Highlands, so a lot is happening here.  The Ohiopyle Community Visioning Workshop or charrette became the basis for the Joint Master Plan and Implementation Strategy for the Borough and State Park.  The Request for Proposals attracted more than 20 consulting teams competing for the contract, awarded to URS Corp.   PEC worked with the Fayette County Redevelopment Authority to bring in a $1.92 million Smart Transportation project and also is supporting development of a new Visitors Center, sewage treatment plant, playground and mountain-biking trails in Ohiopyle.

The Youghiogheny River Water Trail provides maps and guidies.  PEC is also working on access improvements.  The water trail was developed in conjunction with the Yough River Sojourn celebrating the Yough as Pennsylvania's River of the Year for 2008.

The Laurel Ridge Trails Assessment identifies new trail opportunities, including links to several communities and the proposed Ridgeback Trail, which would parallel Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail for 70 miles from Ohiopyle to near Johnstown.

Community planning and development is under way to make tourist gateways sustainable:

• Connellsville design-development drawings are summarized in a news release; the drawing linked here show the potential for an improved Amtrak rail-passenger station and connections to Downtown, show the potential for a restaurant at the former Youghiogheny train station and a beautified downtown streetscape. 
• Connellsville Community Visioning Workshop or charrette brought forth many ideas for how to improve the city's downtown and better link it to the Great Allegheny Passage.  Connellsville is central to the Great Allegheny Passage and was selected as one of the most critical gateways to the entire Laurel Highlands.  Additional support was provided through PEC's proposed Connelsville Design Guidelines (posted as Part 1 and Part 2).
• Donegal Community Visioning Workshop or charrette report is in a draft stage.  The follow-up public meeting attracted about 30 people interested in make things happen in this critical gateway to the Laurel Highlands.
• Johnstown area trail development coordination includes work on includes the Path of the Flood Trail, Conemaugh Gap Trail, extension of the Jim Mayer Riverwalk and links through the City of Johnstown.
• Support is being provided for other planning initiatives, such as the Route 31 corridor in Somerset County and the Somerset Turnpike Interchange improvement project.

Additional Information and Links 

Four sub-landscapes are focus areas within the Laurel Highlands:

• The Great Allegheny Passage and its economic-development arm, the Trail Towns Program.
• The Stonycreek-Quemahoning Initiative.
• Laurel Ridge.
• Chestnut Ridge.

Related web sites:

• DCNR's Laurel Highlands site.
• Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau.

Much of PEC's early work in the Laurel Highlands involved community visioning or community-design workshops in key corridors and communities that today are known as Trail Towns.  These charrette reports are also provided here:

• Benson-Hollsopple Report
• Flight 93 Report - Part 1 and Part 2
• Ligonier Report
• Meyersdale Cover and Meyersdale Report - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4
• Rockwood Cover and Rockwood-Garrett-Confluence Report