COAL TOWNSHIP - If approved by the Northumberland County commissioners and proper funding is secured, the proposed Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA) covering more than 6,000 acres in five local townships could generate $5.2 million and create 184 new jobs over a five-year period.
That optimistic projection was revealed Wednesday night at a public meeting attended by approximately 200 people in the auditorium at Shamokin Area Middle/High School to discuss the master plan for the AOAA.
In addition to revenue and employment projections for the AOAA, a fee schedule to use the outdoor facility, funding sources and a tentative opening date were announced by officials from Pashek Associates of Pittsburgh, who conducted the 90-minute presentation in conjunction with county planning director Pat Mack, AOAA project coordinator Kathy Jeremiah and Steve Barber, regional vice president for Pennoni Associates of Mechanicsburg.
Mack opened the program by stating, "The status quo of the property is not acceptable. In addition to providing an outdoor adventure area in the county, this project, which has been in the works for 1 1/2 years, will help alleviate dumping and burning on the property. We need to stick to this plan."
Prior to the meeting, Mack said the 332-page master plan developed by Pashek Associates cost $238,000. He said a $200,000 grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and a $38,000 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) were used to pay for the plan.
The county, which was seeking $3.5 million in grant funding for the AOAA, received $400,000 late last year from DCNR.
The $400,000 came from state snowmobile and ATV funds. The largest source of potential funding would have been from Growing Greener II; however, the state has not renewed that fund, which will be depleted this year.
In June, the county received a $20,000 Yamaha Off-Highway Vehicle Access Initiative Grant for trail development, mapping and signage in AOAA. The county also was awarded a $10,000 Polaris TRAILS Program grant for trail design and development.
Mack said pending funding applications include a $1,500,000 DCNR grant, $300,000 ARC/DCED grant (access road funding) and $1,300,000 grant for an abandoned mine reclamation project at Boyer's Knob.
Mack pointed out that no county money will be spent on the AOAA.
John Buerkle, principal of Pashek Associates in charge of site planning, said the master plan contains recommendations for 6,596 acres of county-owned property in Coal, Mount Carmel, Zerbe, East Cameron and West Cameron townships that officials hope will become a formalized venue for motorized and non-motorized recreation activities.
If additional funding is secured for the project, the AOAA trailhead would be located off Route 125 on the Burnside Mountain south of Shamokin.
Buerkle said the plan includes facility and activity areas, Phase I funding and development, rules for use of the AOAA, safety and security procedures for visitors to the outdoor adventure area, a proposed fee structure to cover operating and maintenance expenses and future capital development, and the projected economic impact to Northumberland County.
He said, "We want to make this a world-class facility. The AOAA will contain 318 miles of trail, 50 of which will be for non-motorized usage."
Buerkle said the land also will have 27 miles of access roads and 15 miles of equestrian trails.
He explained 41 percent of the AOAA will be used for ATVs, 27 percent for full-size vehicles and 32 percent for off-highway vehicles.
The proposed admission fee schedule for the AOAA is as follows:
- $25 for a one-day pass, $40 for a two-day pass, $80 for an annual pass, $10 for a spectator/non-motorized day pass, and $25 for a spectator/non-motorized annual pass.
Buerkle said implementing the master plan will formalize and secure public access to the land for current and future residents of the county, provide a safe venue for responsible motorized and non-motorized recreation, and provide the county with much needed economic development by spurring the creation of new businesses and jobs, increasing the tax base and increasing spending in the local communities. The Pashek Associates official said economic development was the impetus for the project. He noted Bloomsburg University has agreed to study and report on the actual economic impact of the AOAA on the region as the plan is set in motion.
Bob Good, who is charge of financial planning with Pashek Associates, optimistically predicted that if everything falls into place and proper funding is secured for the project, the AOAA could open by early 2013.
Under the plan, Good said a municipal authority appointed by the county would manage the AOAA and be responsible for financially supporting it. He said the authority members would be paid with funds generated by the AOAA.
Good said the county would maintain ownership over the land and would be responsible for managing all non-recreational uses for the property.
Good said the AOAA would require hiring a full-time manager, full-time maintenance director, part-time administrative assistant, part-time seasonal maintenance staff and part-time seasonal and weekend admissions staff. He said volunteers could be used to support paid staff positions and additional staff could be hired if funds become available.
Based on his projection in comparing the AOAA with attendance at similar outdoor adventure areas in West Virginia and Kentucky, Good said the outdoor adventure area in Northumberland could generate $5.2 million in revenue at the end of five years, while creating 184 new jobs. He anticipated the AOAA would generate $238,000 in its first year of operation.
He said the financial objectives in developing the plan included making the AOAA a world-class facility that would attract thousands of people each year, keeping the admission fee affordable, making sure revenues outweigh expenses year after year, expanding the facility as more funding sources become available, establishing long-term stability, gaining support from local communities and having a significant positive economic impact on the area.
The master plan recommends providing a six-week opportunity for hunting by closing Monday through Saturday, beginning with the Saturday before Thanksgiving through the first week of January. That time frame would encompass a portion of the fall and winter small game season, bear, rifled deer and a portion of winter archery deer seasons, bobcat and a portion of the raccoon and fox seasons.
During the public input portion of the meeting, local real estate agent Joe Bressi stated, "Many years ago, there used to be a slogan that said, 'Come to Shamokin - City of Opportunity.' We can't afford to lose this opportunity. We must take advantage of this and work and cooperate with these folks who have put a lot of effort into this."
Bressi's remarks met with loud applause from the crowd, as did comments from Dick Lepley, executive director for the Pennsylvania Off-Highway Vehicle Association in Harrisburg who has 44 years of experience in the profession.
Lepley stated, "History shows that local businesses and communities thrive from outdoor adventure areas. I believe this project will rival the Hatfield-McCoy trails in West Virginia in terms of generating revenue and raising property values in the area. Motorized recreation also will preserve the great heritage of this area. It will serve as an economic engine for generations to come."
Dave Miller, president of the Lehigh Valley ATV Association, described the AOAA as a "revolutionary idea" that will become a huge attraction for the coal region. He commended county officials for their initiative in proposing the AOAA.
The vast majority of speakers voiced their support for the AOAA and one man even offered to pay his admission fee Wednesday night.
Good said the next step in the process is receiving a commitment from the county commissioners to move forward with the project.
Mack said he expects a final draft of the master plan to be presented to state officials by early December.
Vinny Clausi, who was the lone commissioner in attendance, reserved comment.
Clausi previously voiced his support for the project.