Who We Are
Ohio and Erie Canalway Towpath Trail | Photo by Bruce S. Ford, courtesy Summit Metro Parks
The Industrial Heartland Trails Coalition is a group of many organizations and stakeholders in the four-state area of Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia who meet quarterly to collaborate and advance the vision. More than 100 agencies and organizations, who are actively planning and building trails, have participated in the Industrial Heartland Trails Coalition concept. This coalition of trail supporters includes government, nonprofit and private foundation entities, as well as land managers and railroad interests, all working together to position trail development as a regional priority.
LEADING THE CHARGE
Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) are collaborating to lead and staff the regional trail effort. The two organizations work closely together to keep the initiative moving forward. The National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program (RTCA) provides additional staff and technical support out of its Ohio and Pennsylvania field offices.
Coalition Member Ron Steffey at Turntable Armstrong Trail. Photo Credit: Pennsylvania Environmental Council
MAJOR SUPPORT
This project would not be possible without grant support from The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation and The George Gund Foundation. In addition to their financial support of the project, both have actively engaged in the visioning and planning for this project. Additional support has been received through the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program. Their PA and OH field offices offer technical assistance and staff assistance.
A BROAD BASE OF SUPPORT
The coalition has a much broader base of support than its signed partners. Our efforts are bolstered by the involvement of private foundations, state agencies, and local stakeholders. A variety of local people and organizations are actively involved in our Corridor Working Groups. If you support the vision of the Industrial Heartlands Trail Coalition, please sign the coalition membership letter and stay in touch with our progress.
Corridor Leads
While the Coalition has a set number of corridor representatives who meet to steer the vision, much of the detailed work is done by local ambassadors who gather for corridor-level meetings.
Some of these corridors consist of just one or two established long-distance trails. Others follow a number of trails, so trail users will one day go from trail to trail to trace the route. And at least one corridor – Cleveland to Erie – is entirely conceptual at this time.
We’ve defined seven long-distance corridors that make up the larger network:
CONTACT LEADS:
Cleveland to Erie (contact Andrea Irland)
Erie to Pittsburgh (contact Chris Corbran)
Cleveland to Pittsburgh (Contact Eric Oberg)
Ashtabula to Pittsburgh (Contact Eric Oberg)
Parkersburg to Pittsburgh (P2P) (Contact Kelly Pack)
Trans Alleghenies (Contact Chris Corbran)
PA Wilds Loop (Contact Chris Corbran)
PA to OH Connector (Contact Frank Maguire)
Partners
