Strategic Plan - Phase Two Draft Work Tasks
1. Strengthen the Organization's Operation, Recruitment and Promotion
This is considered a top priority given the loss of membership, the complex nature of the Association's activities, and the need to redress the current reliance on a small number of long time members.
1.A. Improve Committee Operation/ Examine Board Structure
Next Steps: Carl Dickson to lead the analysis of the pros and cons of restructuring a new board for the organization and the recruitment of community leaders to supplement current Association officers. Tim is to further develop a new organization for committees with the involvement of Association leadership.
1.B. Build Active Membership Base/ Use Annual Events to Stimulate Interest
The Association should make recruitment of new members, leaders, and partner organizations a high priority over the next five years. This could be done with the establishment of a Membership/Recruitment Committee charged with outreach and promotion to generate new members and partner organizations. Next Steps: Tim Poole to develop this strategy in more detail.
1.C. Continue to Expand Web Site and Social Networking
CAGA has had a web site for quite a few years, and a committee is currently at work on a major re-design. This effort will employ the latest technology that will allow us to spread the work of keeping the site up to date across a number of people. Next Steps: Tim to work with Don O'Hara to outline the effort to improve the Association's membership and outreach capabilities in this area, and develop this strategy in more detail.
1.D. Evaluate Need for Staffing and Contracting for Services
Throughout its history, CAGA has taken pride in being an all-volunteer organization (although we do pay lawyers, accountants, engineers, etc on an as-needed basis). Before and during the strategic planning process, there have been suggestions that CAGA might be ready to consider hiring paid staff. Next Steps: Tim will further develop the pros and cons of these alternatives after completion of the financial analysis.
2. Seek Permanent Trail Protection in South Harrisburg
This portion of the Greenbelt from the southern terminus of Riverfront Park at the I-83 Bridge to the Cameron Parkway entrance is not protected by easements or covenants, could be affected by future development, and therefore has the highest priority for action to achieve permanent protection. Next Steps: Mike K will develop a strategy for the Association for the next five years to work with the City of Harrisburg, the Dauphin County Authority and the private landowners to try to guarantee that the trail in this area will be permanently protected as the area is redeveloped. This may include a grant proposal for federal funding for improvements to the trail.
3. Seek Funding for Key Capital Improvement Projects
3.A. Address Safety Concerns at the Linglestown Road Intersection
The lack of a separate, dedicated trail lane on the Linglestown Road Bridge and a safe crossing of Industrial Road are thought to be the highest priority need for safety improvements on the Greenbelt. Norfolk Southern is seeking state assistance to expand their intermodal facility along Industrial Road, and Senator Piccola is working with the Association, to seek funding to provide a separate bike lane on the Linglestown Road Bridge as a condition of state support.. Next Steps: Tim Poole to meet with Jill Rondeau to summarize the status of current discussions and to include this area in the tour with Penn Dot and HATS officials.
3.B. Improve the Gateways to the Greenbelt
This is a high-priority item that can be started almost immediately and can be implemented in a way that increases our visibility and outreach efforts in addition to the physical Greenbelt Next Steps: Tim Poole should include at least some of these areas in the tour of the Greenbelt for Penn Dot and HATS officials.
3.C. Improve Safety at Key Intersections
Several Greenbelt intersections with state roads provide significant challenges to users and present significant safety concerns. These include the Greenbelt intersections at North Front, South Cameron, and Derry Streets and PA 441 as well as several others. Possible changes range from simple signage and pavement markings to raised crossings to signalization. This project is considered a medium priority. Next Steps: Tim to assemble more detail about each of these areas including present condition, issues, and possible solutions, and engage Penn DOT and HATS, including a tour of these sites, to get their input on the best solution to these concerns and possible sources of funding. Approaches that have been discussed to date include a comprehensive DOT/DCNR-funded study.
3.D. Explore Improvements Where the Greenbelt is on Local Streets
The Greenbelt has four sections located on local streets, where signage and other improvements could improve the trail users safety and recreational experience. These include:
- Industrial Road, to the northern end of Riverfront Park via Linglestown Road, North Sixth St Green St and Vaughn Street; while there is no separate bike lane or path, with the exception of Linglestown Road, these are primarily residential, low-traffic streets.
- Parkway Blvd to Reservoir Park; this short stretch has a problem intersection at Market Street Extension and 28th Street.
- Parkway Drive from Reservoir Park to Herr Street; the intersection at State Street has been improved with a pedestrian crossing and pedestrian signal and the City installed bike lanes on from the Park to the City boundary; however the remaining three blocks and the signal at Herr Street remain difficult for trail users.
- Arsenal Blvd; there is a small section of the trail in the northern corridor in Susquehanna Township which was not relocated off road during the major trail construction project using federal enhancement funds.
Next Steps: Tim to prepare a list and brief description of these areas, and to include them in the tour with Penn Dot and HATS officials.
4. Develop a Formal Maintenance System for the Trail Corridor
4.A. Identify Maintenance Needs and Ways to Meet Them
A better understanding of current and on-going maintenance needs should be established. This would identify the kinds of tasks that are needed to properly maintain the various sections and identify whether the work is best done by Diakon Youth Teams, monthly work crews, major spring and fall volunteer days etc. Next Steps: Tim to convene meetings with the volunteers most involved in Greenbelt maintenance. Representatives of Diakon and some of the municipalities may also be included as appropriate. These meetings will be the foundation for a more formal maintenance plan that identifies recurring, seasonal and emergency maintenance needs, appropriate ways of addressing them.
4.B. Revive Greenbelt Stewards Program
A significant priority should be placed on re-energizing the Greenbelt Stewards program. The first task would be to identify a coordinator who can recruit groups and work with them to maintain their commitments. Next Steps: Tim to provide additional detail on how this element would be developed in conjunction with the membership recruitment effort noted above.
5. Develop a Sound Understanding of the Association's Financial Strengths, Challenges and Opportunities
This will include review of:
- Historic financial trends of recurring and special one- time, income and expenditures
- Previous grant funding, grant sources and contacts
- Past sources of income and their viability going forward
- Possible impact of raising dues
- CAGA's fund structure
- Need for additional on-going income to support the plan's recommendations
- Implications of constructing the equipment storage building and the purchase of a new tractor and associated equipment.
Next Steps: Tim to obtain CAGA's financial records from the current treasurer and use this information to build on the analysis work that was begun by Temple.
6. Strengthen the Association's Municipal Partnerships
Establish a Communication Network with Municipal Partners and Support Key Projects This is a high priority action item. It is intended to build on the current project by project cooperation by most municipalities. This network would stress email communications to share information, discuss ways to recruit volunteers to support maintenance, and support municipal trail links and improvements, including:
- Susquehanna Township Connector to Harris Hills
- Fort Hunter Trail Connector
- Paxtang Trail Relocation along Derry Street
- Swatara Township "TecPort" Connector
- Paxtang Borough Side Trail
- Penbrook Borough Park Connector
- Greenbelt Trail Near Proposed HACC Public Safety Training Center
Next Steps: As a starting point, Tim will provide an email list of government contacts identified through this project. A discussion group should be considered for implementation through the CAGA web site or one of the social networking sites.