Cooperation

The Pittsburgh-to-Harrisburg Main Line Canal Greenway was envisioned as an opportunity to preserve the rich transportation heritage of the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal while encouraging recreation opportunities, environmental stewardship, and economic revitalization throughout a 320-mile long, two-mile wide corridor. The Greenway serves as a community link throughout the Allegheny Ridge Heritage Area, extending through 14 counties and four major watersheds.

Creating this continuous system from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg that recognizes the individual character of each community requires strong local and regional partnerships. Interested partners have been identified through outreach strategies in the Greenway's five clusters and eleven (11) "hubs" - project regions highlighted as possessing unique opportunities reflecting the Greenway's four project goals. The Allegheny Ridge Corporation has identified over 1,000 organizations and community residents who have participated in some aspect of the Greenway process, including many major funding and in-kind contributors who are the keystones of this project. Partners include heritage preservation societies, watershed and conservation organizations, local business owners and recreation-development groups.

Active Partnership

Partners not only serve in a community outreach capacity. Greenway partners are responsible for the planning and development of each Greenway project, from historical restoration to trail building. These partners work with guidance from Allegheny Ridge Corporation to complete significant projects while considering their connection to other initiatives. This groundwork is instrumental to the successful development of the Greenway and the opportunity to create a complete system from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg. These partnerships also have provided increased funding opportunities due to the availability of corridor-wide matching funds, which in turn has increased the need for organizations to work in tandem to create complementary projects.