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Our
future along the waterway
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| By:
MICHELLE MOWAD, Times Herald Staff |
December
02, 2002 |
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There
is not one answer to the protection, restoration and growth of
the Schuylkill River.
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Financial
backing and community support are what the river needs most.
Montgomery County Commissioner Ruth Damsker urged interested
stakeholders at a recent river forum to "get to work,
work hard and spread the word" to improve the river.
There are an abundance of projects in the works in the county,
the region and the entire length of the river.
A conservation plan for the entire watershed is underway
through the largest conservation planning grant to-date from
the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources.
The Schuylkill Watershed Conservation Plan calls on local
governments and interested parties to collaboratively
establish a watershed land protection plan to protect green
space and ensure the health of the river.
Montgomery County has conducted and completed a Schuylkill
River Greenway Stewardship study to create a connected system
of open space along the length of the river in the county.
Greenways support tourism. Pennsylvania's second largest
industry, tourism, supports thousands of jobs and attracts
visitors of all types, including hikers, canoeists, hunters,
fishermen, bicyclists and history buffs.
According to the Office of Travel and Tourism, outdoor
recreation is a prime motivating factor for a fifth of all
visitors to the state. This statistic meant $40.3 billion in
tourism dollars for 1997, and the industry is growing.
Recreation along the waterway
Beth Pilling of the Montgomery County Planning Commission said
the vision for the county is a collaborative partnership that
balances recreation, community revitalization and economic
development with the need to protect the river's sensitive
characteristics.
Planning Commission members and county commissioners consider
the river a blessing, which is why they want to implement an
inter-county trail system along the length of the river.
Within the county, officials have said there is a unique
opportunity to create a greenway community along the 42-mile
segment of the Schuylkill River.
"Today a much cleaner river has resulted from a growing
awareness of environmental protection issues," said
Pilling. "Interest in trails, greenways and river-based
recreation is at an all-time high."
The county's stewardship study states that the river has often
been overlooked, especially when one considers the uniqueness
of the resource and how close it is to the country's
fifth-largest metropolitan area.
Diane Kripas of the Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources (DCNR) noted that Philadelphia is the
fastest-decentralizing city in the nation and this shift is
accountable for the acute loss of open space along the
Schuylkill River in its neighboring counties, including
Montgomery County.
Kripas said $370,000 in funds has already gone to trails in
Montgomery County in the past eight years but more is needed
to make open-space visions a reality.
She said to take this project from plan to action the DCNR
needs support from elected officials at all levels, a
commitment to partnerships, persistence, patience and
financial resources.
According to Kripas, 93 percent of those questioned in a
recent survey support providing additional funding for
greenways in their communities.
All of these details are necessary to achieve the goal of a
fully opened greenway by 2020.
John Wood, chief of open-space planning with the Montgomery
County Planning Commission, said he projected 400,000 visitors
next year to the Schuylkill River Trail and the
soon-to-be-completed 19-mile Perkiomen Trail.
Wood added that visitors are good for the economy, with each
spending an average of $11 to $25 per visit to one of the two
trails.
"It adds up quickly," said Wood, listing purchases
at restaurants and shops adjacent to the trail and small goods
such as water and snacks.
The county is also working on interconnecting trails from
Norristown to Downingtown, Norristown to Willow Grove and
Norristown to Doylestown.
"We are certainly proud of what we have done and are
looking forward to more trail interconnectings," said
Wood.
Businesses along the waterway
The Schuylkill River is not just bringing in trails and
tourism; the river is attracting business.
The DEP's Green Building is coming to Norristown and John
Kennedy, assistant director of the Pennsylvania DEP, believes
revitalization on the river will be good for everyone.
"We hope moving back to Norristown can help jump-start
redevelopment along the river," said Kennedy.
The building will be at Swede and Main streets and house
approximately 275 employees.
Mike Stokes of the Montgomery County Planning Commission said
there is huge potential to reuse brownfield sites and
revitalize existing communities, which has been done in
Conshohocken and Whitemarsh in the past few years.
Norristown is next
Brian O'Neill of O'Neill Properties, headquartered in King of
Prussia, is expected be the billion-dollar developer to revamp
the two-and-a-half miles of the borough's downtown riverfront
area.
This redevelopment project consists of 365 continuous acres
along the river with mixed use, high-density development.
The overall development plan calls for a number of public
amenities, including a minor league baseball stadium, ice
skating rinks, boathouses, an outdoor amphitheater and public
parks, according to O'Neill Properties.
Pottstown has illustrated how redevelopment can lead to a more
stable community.
"Take advantage of the natural resource,
said Jim Fairchild, Pottstown's director of economic
development. "The river can improve the tax base and
quality of life."
Mixing business with pleasure
More development raises a concern for others with a big
investment in the river.
Chris Crockett, of the Philadelphia Water Department, said
that over the past 30 years the river quality has improved but
in the past ten years, development has had a negative impact
on the river.
He said storm-water runoff, sewage discharges and agricultural
activities are the top water-supply issues. Key terms such as
"smart growth" and "storm-water
management" are a part of the answer.
He offered several tips that make a difference in the water
quality, including "managing storm water as an asset not
a liability."
"Everything you do on the land affects the water,"
said Crockett.
There are many ways to help protect and preserve the
Schuylkill River. Join a local watershed organization or
express concern to your federal, state and local
representatives.
Keeping the river clean starts at home by cleaning up after
pets, reducing yard waste and cutting back on chemically
treating lawns.
Trash cleanups, stream restoration projects, planting trees,
stenciling storm drains and conducting stream-monitoring
efforts are mostly all done through volunteers.
Simply calling the proper authorities when you see illegal
dumping, dead fish or other polluting activities can make a
difference.
Michelle Mowad can be reached at mmowad@timesherald.com or
610-272-2501, ext. 205.
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| ©The
Times Herald 2002 |
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Reader
Opinions |
.gif) |
|
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Name: Jeff
Zolitor |
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Date:
Dec, 02 2002 |
Imagine
being able to navigate the Schuylkill River
from Pottstown to the Delaware River. If not
for a series of dams used to control water
flow, the dream could become a reality. The
Army Corps of Engineers could become a working
partner in the growth and restoration of the
river and the project would greatly add to the
economic potential of such a project.
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| Number
of Opinions: 1 |
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