Tag Archives: Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Reigner Reigns, over the Outdoors: Pennsylvania welcomes its first-ever director of outdoor recreation

March 31, 2022 | by Karen Hendricks

Nathan Reigner

Seeing an increase in “OOO” messages these days? As more and more Pennsylvanians enjoy nature and time outdoors, “out of office,” that’s exactly why the state created a new office—of outdoor recreation.

“We often think about recreation—literally something we do with our free time—as frivolous or unnecessary,” said Nathan Reigner, 42, Pennsylvania’s first director of outdoor recreation. “But, recently, we all started to realize it’s not gravy—it’s actually meat and potatoes.”

The stats drive that point home: $11.8 billion of value added to the state economy plus $6.4 billion in wages for 146,000 Pennsylvanians, equaling the sixth-largest outdoor recreation economy in the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

“We need the office to make, advance and manage the point that outdoor recreation is a significant economic sector in the state of Pennsylvania,” Reigner said. “Simply put, my job is to expand and ensure the benefits of outdoor recreation to all Pennsylvanians as individuals, communities and the commonwealth.”

While it may be the dawning of a new era in state management, the boon in the great outdoors has been a decade in the making. The surge in hiking, biking and recreational pursuits began prior to the pandemic. But, Reigner said, the COVID-19 era has definitely put an exclamation point on nature’s value.

“With the pandemic—and the way we as individuals and as a society sought out recreation opportunities for safety, for time with community, for respite—that burst of outdoor recreation participation, on top of what had been already a remarkable decade of growth in outdoor recreation, really highlighted the significance of the sector for us as a society,” Reigner said.

Rec Resources

Nationwide, the inception of outdoor recreation offices is trending. Pennsylvania, “Penn’s woods,” is the latest state to take stock of its rec assets. And Reigner has a lot to work with.

“We’ve got an incredible land base—bodies of water, mountains and valleys, rivers and forests,” Reigner said. “We’ve got more than 4 million acres of protected public land.”

This bounty includes one of the largest state park systems in the nation, along with “an incredible trail network.”

“Trails are like the backbone, the veins of outdoor recreation,” Reigner said.

That trail system includes two national scenic trails—the Appalachian Trail (AT) and North Country Trail, many additional hiking trails, nationally known mountain bike trails, and more designated or named rail trails than any other state.

Technology and creativity are growing rec’s range well beyond traditional hiking and camping to include gravel cycling—the fastest-growing segment of the bike market, Reigner said—as well as electric snowmobiles and ATVs, even something called “extreme tree climbing.”

Along with recreation’s upswing comes upkeep.

“We’ve also got a $1.5 billion backlog of needed maintenance in our state parks and forests,” Reigner said.

Recreation Vision

Maintenance is part of a balancing act—a feat of collaboration—within Reigner’s new post.

While the position is situated within the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Reigner will coordinate with state agencies that dovetail with recreation—the Department of Health, PennDOT, PA Game Commission, PA Fish and Boat Commission, as well as conservation and community development groups, chambers of commerce, municipalities, counties and federal partners.

Right now, Reigner is getting his feet wet, so to speak, by meeting with those partners, to set the office’s mission, priorities and structure “not from a top-down approach” but “collaboratively.”

He sees his role, appropriately within the Keystone State, as a “connector,” whose efforts will tie the great outdoors to a greater quality of life.

“Outdoor recreation is core to the health of Pennsylvanians,” Reigner said. “We found out that quality of life, as it grows out of access to natural and cultural heritage and amenities, is a better driver of economic development and community development in small and medium-sized rural and industrial communities than tax incentives or regulatory relief.”

His background laid the foundation for this groundbreaking position. A Philadelphia-area native, he describes a “joyous and free” childhood spent playing in the woods, scouting, hiking and camping. After earning his undergraduate degree at Gettysburg College, he worked in ag policy in Washington, D.C.

But it was through his volunteer work with the Potomac AT Club that he had a lightbulb moment. Ironically, he found his calling while lost in the woods (he jokingly calls it “getting turned around in the woods”).

“That experience stuck with me, that, simultaneously, I could have the feeling inside me that I was in the wilderness—that nobody had been there before … while at the same time I knew intellectually all the effort, management, administration, volunteering, budgeting and humanity that went into these places,” Reigner said. “And that kinda blew my mind—that I could have those two experiences within me at once, and it was at that point that I decided I wanted to devote my career, my life’s work, to outdoor recreation management.”

Following grad school and his master’s degree in forestry from Virginia Tech, then his PhD in natural resource management from the University of Vermont, Reigner returned to his home state. As a Penn State-based researcher, he was on the verge of moving to Greenland when Pennsylvania’s new outdoor rec position came calling.

“[This position] is going to take someone with Nathan’s passion for and understanding of outdoor recreation to see this mission through,” said Wesley Robinson, DCNR spokesperson. “That passion, combined with academic knowledge and personal interest in all things outdoors, helped make Nathan stand out among great candidates. We look forward to seeing the impact he will have.”

As he sets the bar for Pennsylvania’s newest office, Reigner is exploring the Harrisburg area’s rec opportunities out of office.

“When I’m not in the office, you can find me on the Greenbelt,” Reigner said. “There’s nothing like a sunset over the Susquehanna River, I gotta tell you.”

For more information on Pennsylvania’s outdoor recreation opportunities, see dcnr.pa.gov. And to hear more about Reigner’s new position, tune into TheBurg Podcast’s April episode, which comes out April 8.

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Walk This Way: Cove Mountain Preserve expansion to benefit nature, naturalists, communities

November 30, 2020 | by Rebecca Johnson

Hikers, rejoice! You’ll soon have new trails to blaze.

The Cove Mountain Preserve has plans for a major expansion—an extension that will offer new opportunities for recreation, hunting and other activities—and create a 14-mile stretch of protected land along the Kittatinny Ridge. The preserve is in Marysville, just north of the capital city.

The Pennsylvania and Delaware chapters of the Nature Conservancy (TNC) recently announced the purchase of former timberlands that will quadruple the size of the protected area and connect existing trails on Cove Mountain to PA state game lands, the Appalachian Trail and the borough of Marysville.

The conservancy acquired 353 acres at the southeastern end of Cove Mountain in late 2017, an area that had been eyed by developers for years. Now, it plans to purchase 1,100 additional adjacent acres, which will protect the land from development and fragmentation, while offering visitors pristine views of the Susquehanna River Valley.

“We want to strike a balance between preserving nature and providing access and economic opportunity,” said Keith Fisher, director of conservation programs.

Fisher said that TNC is working with the PA Game Commission, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and communities and local development authorities to evaluate existing conditions and devise the best plan to improve forest health and support individual benefit.

“We want to protect biodiversity and help nature adapt,” Fisher said. “The Kittatinny Ridge is a critical corridor running north to south. It provides diverse microhabitats and the ability to move between them, so its disconnection would be detrimental.”

TNC will continue to manage the area to support forest health and climate resilience and as habitat for native wildlife that need unfragmented forest corridors to survive, like black bears and bobcats. This landscape will become even more important as temperatures rise and species move further north or to higher elevations. TNC will continue to manage the forest for timber harvesting, too, part of TNC’s “Working Woodlands” program.

Amplifying the area’s importance and value is its benefit to local communities. Outdoor recreation and tourism are an important industry for Perry County, and this expansion holds promise that local businesses can grow to meet this demand.

Michelle Jones of the Perry County Economic Development Authority is excited about the expansion, as she spearheads the downtown revitalization of the county’s nine boroughs. She said that one factor identified in economic studies is the opportunity for outdoor recreation.

“Our primary goal is connectivity of these nine towns that are quite lovely,” Jones said. “We want to focus on bolstering and accentuating our downtown areas for families and small businesses, while maintaining an authentic connection. And we are nailing it right now, moving in the right direction.”

Perry County’s recent “Return on Environment” report found that the county brought in nearly $60 million from outdoor tourism in 2019. Dwarfing that number is the money saved and resources provided by Perry County’s protected areas—functions like pollination, erosion control, flood protection, carbon sequestration and water purification.

These factors add to the area’s climate resilience and its value as a natural respite.

“The goal and hope is to make sure people are aware of this opportunity in their community and take advantage of it—and become aware of how it fits in locally and in the larger picture,” Fisher said.

The authority has all nine boroughs participating in the PA Downtown Center Main Street Coordinating Program, a community-based approach to downtown and business district revitalization.

Jones said that the focus now is how to provide better access, and she has plans in the works that “dovetail beautifully” with Cove Mountain Preserve’s expansion, including the connection with the AT and a waterway expansion on Sherman’s Creek.

“It’s all tying together wonderfully,” she said.

The Kittatinny Ridge is one of the most important natural landscapes in the mid-Atlantic, running more than 200 miles through 11 PA counties and into New Jersey and New York. Known locally as Blue Mountain, the ridge is the eastern edge of the Appalachians and a highway of biodiversity. It has been designated a “Conservation Landscape” by PA DCNR and is an internationally important corridor for migratory birds and birds-of-prey.

“We have more than we realize,” Jones said. “You forget what’s in your own backyard.”

To learn more about Cove Mountain Preserve, visit the Nature Conservancy’s website at www.nature.org.

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Trail of Beauty: Experience nature’s splendor with a journey along the Susquehanna River Water Trail.

May 31, 2017 | by Susan Ryder

Most people experience the beauty of the Susquehanna River from afar, from the banks or as a blur from their cars.

However, you need not be satisfied with a sideline vista. From Sunbury to Middletown, you easily can travel on the river along the Susquehanna River Water Trail.

Formed in 2000, the 54-mile-trail, with 25 islands containing primitive campsites, is maintained by the Susquehanna River Trail Association (SRTA). Confusing to some, a water trail is no different from a foot trail except that, instead of hiking boots for trekking, one needs a boat.

“It’s a really nice juxtaposition of civilization and nature—an accessible wilderness,” said Brook Lenker, an SRTA founder.

Lenker began his journey to creating the trail while pursuing a master’s degree at Towson University and writing a paper about a proposed hydroelectric dam along the Susquehanna in Harrisburg. In an effort to understand the river better for this project, he contacted Pat Riley, a local river guru.

“He put me in a solo canoe, said ‘follow me,’ and changed my life,” Lenker said.
The trip opened his eyes to the special nature of the Susquehanna and set him on serendipitous course.

In 1993, while working for Dauphin County Parks and Recreation, Lenker visited Hog Island, part of the Maine Island Trail, America’s first water trail. As he witnessed the public’s access to the islands and camping along the water trail, he thought, “It would be cool to do something like that in Harrisburg on the river.”

Over the next seven years, with help from the state government, local outfitters and the conservation community, SRTA was founded.

Today, the trail represents a cooperative effort between SRTA, the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and the National Park Service.

Its mission: “To facilitate the use of the river to encourage stewardship.”

Much to See

SRTA members take stewardship seriously, acting as caretakers of the islands.

The volunteer position of steward involves surveying the islands regularly, maintaining the campsites and reporting any problems to the association board. Work may involve tasks as simple as cleaning up trash or as labor-intensive as hauling cement by canoe to repair a fire ring. The 12 or so stewards work hard so that visitors can fully enjoy the river.

River attractions include a wide variety of birds, including great blue herons, egrets and cormorants. Boaters can see these birds up close in their natural habitat as they nest or stalk along the bank fishing. Bald eagles are often spotted, so frequently that boaters are almost guaranteed a sighting, Lenker said. Non-feathered animals include mink, beaver, deer and, occasionally, bear.

“There’s so much to see that you can’t see from the road,” said Mike Traxler, SRTA president.

Boaters can pull up on an island for exploring or paddle to a rock, unload and bask in the sunshine. Morning and evening paddles offer stunning views, with the sunlight skipping across the water as it rises or sinks below the horizon.

Always Changing

Before heading out into all this watery beauty, there are a few things that boaters should consider.

First of all—be safe. Traxler recommends that novices journey with an experienced guide or someone familiar with the river. Outfitters like Susquehanna Outfitters on City Island, Shank’s Mare Outfitters and Blue Mountain Outfitters can provide guides and boats.

Low-head dams pose a serious risk, and two exist in the middle section of the Susquehanna—in Sunbury and Harrisburg. Boaters should portage, which is river speak for taking a boat out of the water and going around the dams. They may look innocuous, but the vortex they create makes them deadly. Dams are clearly marked with caution buoys.

Planning is also important.

“The mistake a lot of new paddlers make is trying to go too far,” said Traxler

Low water or a headwind will make the trip longer, and a good rule of thumb is one mile in one hour. If the water level is too low, the trip could be a real drag, literally. If the water level is too high, conditions are dangerous. Under five feet is considered safe. Check water levels at SRTA’s website.

Paddling represents one aspect of the trail, camping another.

Lenker said that its camping focus makes it unique. Each island has clear DCNR markings to let folks know it holds a campsite. Sites contain a fire ring, a clearing for tents and a log-in box. The box has a logbook and lots of good information for visitors.

Based on the Appalachian Trail logbooks, they allow campers to offer feedback about the site, record wildlife sightings and even pontificate on the river experience.

“Life is like a river; keep paddling!” said one visitor who left her name as Ruth Ann.

Another wrote, “It’s another awesome summer day. One can’t describe a peaceful moon on the river!” Yet another contained the superimposed, drawn handprints of Cheyenne, age 21 months, and Douglas, age 3 years.

Venturing out on the Susquehanna River Water Trail will afford a different experience for each person, depending on the time of year, weather and happenstance. Even for folks like Traxler who frequent the river, each time is fresh.

“Every time I’m out, I experience something new, something I’ve never experienced before,” he said. “It’s always changing.”

For more information about the Susquehanna River Water Trail and the Susquehanna River Trail Association, visit www.susquehannarivertrail.org.

Author: Susan Ryder

November News Digest

November 27, 2014 | by Lawrance Binda

Spradley Appointed Treasurer

Tyrell Spradley was named Harrisburg’s treasurer last month, ending a search that spanned more than two months.

A divided City Council selected Spradley following four rounds of voting, which included two other candidates—attorney Karen Balaban and former city councilman and controller Dan Miller.

Following his appointment, Spradley, 30, said he was eager to learn about and take on the part-time position, which pays $20,000 per year.

Harrisburg needed to name a new treasurer following the arrest in August of then-city treasurer John Campbell, who has been charged with theft from two organizations where he also served as treasurer.

Council first appointed accountant Timothy East to serve as Campbell’s replacement, but East withdrew his name after a personal bankruptcy came to light.

Spradley’s own eligibility was briefly called into question last month over issue involving his residency and the lack of a business license for an accounting company he owns. City officials later indicated those issues had been resolved.

Spradley will serve the remainder of Campbell’s four-year term, which runs until the end of next year.

Sinkhole Money Available

Some Harrisburg residents may benefit from a decision last month that allows federal assistance to be used to buy out homes endangered by sinkholes.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency ruled that municipalities could apply for aid to acquire sinkhole-prone structures.

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse said the city immediately would apply for a grant to provide relief for homeowners along the 1400-block of S. 14^th St., which has been devastated by sinkholes. There is no guarantee that Harrisburg will receive the money, as fierce competition is expected around the country for the grants.

Separately, Camp Hill-based Gannett Fleming last month issued more results of its sinkhole study in South Harrisburg.

The engineering firm told City Council that it had two options. The city could either buy out 27 houses in the middle of the most affected block or it could inject a substance beneath the surface to help stabilize the ground and prevent future sinkhole formation. Either option, both of which would include extensive road repair and relocating of residents, would cost about $4 million.

FEMA has put a cap of $3 million per project on its disaster allowance for sinkholes.

Schools Fail to Meet Performance Goals

Harrisburg public schools failed by a wide margin to meet academic standards set by the state-appointed chief recovery officer, according to state academic performance measures released last month.

None of Harrisburg’s schools met the academic goals for the 2013-14 school year set forth by Chief Recovery Officer Gene Veno in an April 2014 amendment to his recovery plan for the district.

The state’s “Building Level Academic Score” uses a 100-point scale to measure school performance. Much like a student report card, a score above 90 is considered excellent, while a score below 70 is deemed poor.

The following list shows each school’s performance, followed by a bracketed number that includes Veno’s goals for each school for the 2013-14 academic year.

Math Science Academy: 75.9 [94.2]
Harrisburg High School SciTech Campus: 63.8 [72.3]
Foose School: 57.8 [59.8]
Scott School: 57 [62.4]
Melrose School: 53.1 [69.7]
Downey School: 49.4 [67.5]
Benjamin Franklin School: 44.6 [63.5]
Marshall School: 44.4 [61.4]
Rowland School: 42.6 [56.5]
Harrisburg High School: 39.7 [57.6]
Camp Curtin School: 39.6 [60.3]

Scores were based upon several measures, including students’ performance on state standardized tests, improvement since the previous year, graduation and attendance rates and, in the case of high school students, SAT and ACT scores.

Lighting Grant Approved

Harrisburg’s plan to upgrade its streetlights took a step forward last month, as the city announced that it had received a $500,000 grant for its LED streetlight project.

Several months ago, the Papenfuse administration applied for the Pennsylvania Energy Department Authority grant, which City Council then approved.

In related matters, the administration last month asked council to approve the hiring of Doylestown-based Suburban Lighting Consultants to provide engineering services for the LED project. It also asked council to OK the engagement of Pittsburgh-based The Efficiency Network, which would conduct an inventory of existing streetlights, as well as an audit of streetlight and exterior light utility bills.

Green Infrastructure Grant Received

Capital Region Water has been awarded a $125,000 state grant to develop a Green Stormwater Infrastructure Plan for Harrisburg.

The grant from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) will allow Capital Region Water to evaluate using green infrastructure to reduce the impacts of runoff on the Harrisburg community, the Susquehanna River and Paxton Creek, and the underground infrastructure it operates, according to Andrew Bliss, Capital Region Water’s community outreach manager.

Green infrastructure is a broad term for trees, gardens and other ways to help reduce runoff by absorbing rainwater.

Last month, Capital Region Water also marked the one-year anniversary of its takeover of city water and sewer operations.

In addition to the DCNR grant, Bliss said, the year included several other achievements, including a “Top 5” designation for best drinking water in the country; a bond refinancing that will save the authority $4 million over two years; progress on a comprehensive GIS mapping project; and the beginning of a $50 million upgrade to the wastewater treatment facility.

Midtown Distillery Proposed

Two city residents announced plans last month to open a small-batch distillery in Midtown Harrisburg in the blighted, historic “Carpets and Draperies” building.

Alan Kennedy-Shaffer and Stanley Gruen are due to appear this month before the city’s Planning Commission and Zoning Hearing Board in an effort to get a variance for the site at 1507 N. 3^rd St., which is not zoned for industrial use.

The partners plan a full renovation of the century-old building, which has sat empty for more than a decade. Their plan includes a bar and tasting room, in addition to a craft distillery that would make such spirits as whiskey, vodka, gin and rye.

If all goes well, they hope to open in mid-2015.

Parking Ordinances Updated

Motorists are on the hook to pay their parking fines, as the Harrisburg City Council last month updated its parking ordinances to conform to the city’s financial recovery plan.

Council needed to make technical changes to the city code to give operator Standard Parking the legal authority to enforce penalties. It also changed language to increase fines and allow non-currency forms of payment, such as credit and debit cards.

Standard Parking took over the city’s parking system in January, but council did not immediately update the city code. As a result, Harrisburg will receive about $200,000 less in parking revenue than anticipated this year.

The city said it expects to receive as much as $2.5 million in parking revenue next year.

Playground Safety Grant

Harrisburg has received a grant that could lead to improved safety at five of the city’s playgrounds.

The $10,000 grant from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program will fund an inspection and safety audit of the Cloverly Heights and Royal Terrace playgrounds, as well as playgrounds at Norwood and Hollywood streets; N. 4^th and Dauphin streets; and Penn and Sayford streets.

The grant also will fund the creation of a routine playground maintenance and safety program and the training of city staff on program implementation.

Kim Re-Elected to 103^rd

Incumbent Rep. Patty Kim will serve a second term in the state legislature, as voters returned her to office last month in an uncontested race.

Kim ran unopposed in the general election for the 103^rd legislative district after beating challenger Gina Roberson in the Democratic primary in May.

In other election news, former Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson lost in her bid to unseat incumbent Republican Scott Perry to represent the 4^th House district in Congress.

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2423: B. Bisbano to C. Warble, $49,300

Benton St., 527: R. & A. Della Croce to S. Rea & M. Urgiles, $98,500

Berryhill St., 1954: C. Frater to M. Frater, $65,000

Cumberland St., 119: JB Buy Rite LP to S. Pritchard, $73,500

Duke St., 2614: PI Capital LLC to W. & A. Rivera, $88,900

Fulton St., 1710: N. Culver to Cartus Financial Corp., $107,000

Green St., 1615: R. & S. Aulakh to J. Scott, $92,500

Green St., 1902: WCI Partners LP to B. Garner, $180,000

Green St., 2024: Fulton Bank NA to J. Workman & J. Arawj, $139,000

Harris St., 213: J. Counterman to 8219 Ventures, $52,000

Herr St., 215: R. & E. Simons to Crested Enterprises LLC, $77,500

Hoffman St., 3206: Secretary of Veterans Affairs to Skynet Property Management LP, $43,000

Holly St., 1840: Tassia Corp. to Capital Properties LLC, $40,000

Kensington St., 2422: PA Deals LLC to C. & S. Feggins, $68,000

Mulberry St., 1936: C. Doran & A. Burnett to I. Peredo, $64,900

N. 2^nd St., 513: T. & J. Male to Cricket Real Estate Enterprises LLC, $165,000

N. 2^nd St., 2527: N. Myers to S. & A. Andrus, $193,500

N. 3^rd St., 2304: Harrisburg Ventures LLC to FD Harrisburg Holdings LLC, $2,213,700

N. 4^th St., 1733: PI Capitol LLC to G. Laudenslager, $100,000

N. 4^th St., 2336: S&T Renovations LLC to A. & A. Barras, $58,000

N. 4^th St., 2400 & 2402: M. Reed to E&K Homes LLC, $57,000

N. 4^th St., 2547: PA Deals LLC to J. Tucker, $61,000

N. 4^th St., 3228: A. Wlazlak to J. Tyson, $105,000

N. 4^th St., 3231: J. Crutchfield to J. Grant, $79,900

N. 7^th St., 2324 & 2350; 655 Seneca St.; 648 Curtin St.: M. Spangler to DAP 7 Curtin LP, $260,000

N. 16^th St., 1205: D. Griffin to C. & B. Orellana, $35,000

N. 17^th St., 817: G. Andrews to J. Jacob & T. Byrd, $120,000

N. 20^th St., 14: Kirsch & Burns LLC to LMK Properties LLC, $32,000

N. Cameron St., 1914: D. Marino to J. Pagliaro, $72,000

Norwood St., 916: M. Flickinger to Crist Holdings LLC, $38,000

Penn St., 1509: D. & D. Dreher to D. Walker, $127,000

Penn St., 1703: B. Houtz to L. Colestock, $155,000

Penn St., 1921: S. Vanscoyc to H. Elliot, $123,000

S. 3^rd St., 27: E. & R. Shore to Dewberry LLC, $190,000

S. 17^th St., 38: S. Ledesma & M. Figueroa to J. Renteria & C. Figueroa, $30,000

S. 25^th St., 713: S. Mosley to Kirsch & Burns LLC, $30,000

S. Front St., 595; 106 Tuscarora St. & 601 Showers St.: J. Barton to Dunkin & Associates LP, $250,000

State St., 231, Unit 202: LUX 1 LP to M. Abuel Jr., $134,900

Tuscarora St., 104: R. Rammouni & Touch of Color to J. Jones, $182,500

Verbeke St., 112: PA Deals LLC to M. & G. Modi, $125,000

Walnut St., 126: Pennsylvania Tourism & Lodging Assoc. to 126 Walnut Street LLC, $75,000

Walnut St., 128: Pennsylvania Tourism & Lodging Assoc. to 126 Walnut Street LLC, $75,000

Walnut St., 1854, 1856, 1858 & 1860: T. Vu & T. Tran to T. Van et al, $145,000

Canopy Count: Harrisburg gets greener, one tree at a time.

November 28, 2013 | by M. Diane McCormick

Chris Fegley approached a young London plane tree living in rare conditions for South Allison Hill’s busy Derry Street—broad patch of exposed earth below, open sky with no utility wires above.

“This should be a really happy tree,” said Fegley, neighborhood revitalization manager for the Community Action Commission.

The contented tree is among thousands of Harrisburg’s “street trees” occupying public rights of way between sidewalks and roads. But this youthful tree also represents an unprecedented partnership of state and local entities, residents and nonprofits that all see trees as the shared answer to their distinctive challenges.

Under the canopy of the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (DCNR’s) public-private TreeVitalize urban tree restoration program, a number of local entities have combined forces to count, plant and maintain trees in the city of Harrisburg.

Penn State is finalizing results of a citywide street tree inventory, conducted in summer 2013 by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Pennsylvania chapter and funded, in part, by the Harrisburg Authority. DCNR is compiling data for a complete “tree canopy” assessment of every public and private tree seen from a bird’s-eye view. The Tri-County Community Action Commission’s ongoing work with South Allison Hill residents to plant and maintain trees kicked off with a tree planting in spring 2013 and will soon reach other neighborhoods.

Mature street trees offer measurable benefits in urban areas. Healthy trees boost property values, filter pollutants and reduce heating and cooling costs, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Tree-filled neighborhoods have less domestic violence. Shoppers in tree-lined commercial districts linger longer and spend more. Trees are so thirsty that 100 mature trees catch 77,000 gallons of rainwater a year.

“When you consider all those things they do, the benefits far outweigh the costs, but that’s not the general attitude,” said Ellen Roane, DCNR’s urban forestry program coordinator. “They’re viewed as a nicety, not a necessity.”

As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency enforced municipal storm water management plans meant to prevent dirty city rainwater from coursing into rivers and the Chesapeake Bay, the Harrisburg Authority paid close attention to the city of Philadelphia’s “green control plan,” said Engineering Director Dave Stewart. Green control bypasses costly engineering projects in favor of tree plantings, rain barrels, green roofs and other natural water-management methods.

A similar approach in Harrisburg could serve the dual purpose of brightening neighborhoods and serving the authority’s needs, Stewart said. Big tunnels for capturing storm water “could address water quality issues, but the citizens wouldn’t see any benefits,” he said. “If we go this green approach, the city can see a lot of benefits.”

Urban trees don’t have the best reputation—the leaves, the heaving sidewalks, the storm damage—but in South Allison Hill, extensive meetings led by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Community Action Commission won enthusiastic converts who requested tree plantings in front of their properties.

In April 2013, the CAC led residents and volunteers in planting 23 trees along the streets of the city’s most diverse, most impoverished neighborhood, with funding help from Covanta Energy. They are London planes, a hybrid of sycamore and American elm. They are honey locust, Japanese tree lilac, red oak and non-fruiting versions of gingko and crab apples.

“Urban foresters stress the right tree for the right spot,” said Andrew Bliss, CBF’s grassroots coordinator. Height matters when utility lines dangle overhead. Sizeable trees need sidewalk openings of 30 square feet to collect adequate water.

Maintenance is so important that Fegley and other CAC staff took eight hours of tree-tending training, mandated for TreeVitalize grant recipients. Young trees, pruned properly, have a better chance of maturing into healthy trees. Regular watering—those green bags wrapped around tree trunks direct water straight to the root system—is crucial in the first two years.

“Getting people invested in helping with that early maintenance helps the trees get off to a good start,” said Roane.

The tree inventory cataloging the health and location of Harrisburg’s street trees—every single one, counted and assessed by Penn State Extension workers and CBF interns in summer 2013—lays the groundwork for planting and maintenance plans.

CAC will use inventory results to guide tree plantings elsewhere, including one planned for Uptown Harrisburg in spring 2014, said Fegley. The authority will overlay the results, expected before the end of 2013, on its storm water management problem areas to help target their greening efforts, said Stewart.

TreeVitalize has prompted initiatives in 150 to 200 Pennsylvania municipalities, said Roane.

“You have to know what you’ve got in order to manage,” she said. “The first step is to identify what’s there. What is the species mix? What are the age and size class? Are they mostly really, really old trees? Are they dying? What you want is a range of age classes and size classes, from young trees to mature trees, so they’re not all dying at once.”

In Harrisburg, the hope is that the city will someday have resources to contribute toward management—maybe hiring an urban forester, said Stewart.

Last spring’s planting could add a total of $260,000 to South Allison Hill property values, said Fegley. He marched to a spot near 13^th and Berryhill streets being targeted for the fall tree planting—a massive stump heaved out of the sidewalk, covered in brush and trash, forcing pedestrians onto the busy road. Grinding stumps and smashing concrete are the most grueling tasks in tree plantings, but Fegley seemed to relish the idea of slaying this dragon and planting a fresh, young tree in its place.

“The community would like very much to walk down the sidewalk,” he said.

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