Photo submitted for publication Warren County Planner Dan Glotz speaks at the PA Wilds 2016 Fall Trails Forum on Oct. 21 in Clarion County. Glotz presented Walkable Warren, a local project, to the group.

Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton
The Walkable Warren kiosk located at the Breeze Point Landing.

The movement to connect cyclists to the communities they cycle continues to gain steam in the Commonwealth.

And Warren County is, in part, a model for that effort.

Warren County Planner Dan Glotz was one of what he called an “enthusiastic and lively group” at a PA Wilds transportation forum on Oct. 21 in Foxburg, Clarion County, that attracted attendees from across the state.

The forum was entitled “Where Roadways and Trails meet in the Pa Wilds” and focused on “the emerging Bike Pa cycling network that crisscrosses the Commonwealth presenting our rural communities with an opportunity to take advantage of the growing market of the journey cyclist,” Glotz said. “The audience was treated to presentation from a number of folks, including Roy Gothie, the State Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator.”

The other focus of the forum centered on encouraging communities to be friendly and inviting to cyclists, encouraging repeat visits.

That’s where Warren became a model – Walkable Warren, that is.

The incentive, which is meant to showcase Warren through the bike/hike trail and a marked pathway through the city, includes signage marking the trail from the Train Station in North Warren to Breeze Point Landing, as well as  kiosks exhibiting local history. Stops at the Train Station, the bike/hike trail, Transportation Authority of Warren County, Breeze Point and the fountain at the Point all feature historical and current photos as well as information on the landmarks nearby.

Glotz said that the project “resulted in a strategically designed walk/bike corridor that encourages the motorist to park their vehicle and enjoy the community, and promotes healthy lifestyles as well. Walkable Warren also demonstrates the power of collaboration as the project drew on a wide range of community resources to promote and develop the project. Finally, by using existing infrastructure, the cost of the project was kept to a minimum, with the major costs being in the design and construction of the kiosks that educate the visitor about the rich history and charming character of our community.”

And those are traits that the PA Wilds wants to expand as Glotz and Farley Wright, former director of Experience, Inc. and a partner in the project, were asked to discuss the project at the forum.

“The PA Wilds views Walkable Warren as a model for communities wanting to become more bicycle (and) pedestrian friendly,” Glotz said. “It is also worth noting that Walkable Warren is one of the recipients of the Pennsylvania Planning Association’s “2016 Great Places in PA” award under the Great Greenways/Trails Category.”