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The Cameron County Dark Sky Park Master Site Plan represents the revitalization of a reclaimed landfill near Emporium, PA. A grant has been awarded to the Lumber Heritage Region and Cameron County for enhancing public access to the site. The master site planning process includes research, public input, and analysis that leads to a plan illustrating the size, type and location of physical improvements and management needs for Cameron County’s Dark Sky Park. Cameron County Dark Sky Park Master Site Plan PROJECT OVERVIEW The Cameron County Dark Sky Park Master Site Plan represents the revitalization of a reclaimed landfill not far from Emporium, Pennsylvania. A grant for developing planning strategies for county-owned land has been awarded to the Lumber Heritage Region and Cameron County for enhancing public access to the site. Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has granted permission for limited development of the property, with minor stipulations aimed to protect and maintain the integrity of the underlying landfill. This project is expected to serve Cameron County residents for nature-based recreation and education, and as a draw for eco-tourism, attracting night-sky and wildlife-viewing enthusiasts to the region. Consideration is being given to pursuing an International Dark Sky Place certification from the DarkSky International. Currently, the nearby Cherry Springs State Park holds the only Dark Sky Place certificate in Pennsylvania. This project is sponsored by the Lumber Heritage Region (LHR) and Cameron County, funded in part by a grant from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program and the Heritage Areas Program under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. MASTER SITE PLAN The master site planning process includes research, public input, and analysis that leads to a plan illustrating the size, type and location of physical improvements and management needs for Cameron County’s Dark Sky Park. As part of this process Cameron County has formed a Dark Sky Committee to help gather public input and establish priorities for specific improvements that are needed to support the use of site for dark sky viewing and education as well as compatible daytime uses. Three public meetings are anticipated. The tentative schedule is noted in the "file cabinet” where information will be added about each step in the planning process as they proceed. The purpose of this web page is to provide easy access to resources, presentations, meeting notes, draft and final reports utilized in the conduct of study. Do you have a suggestion or idea? Send an email to the planning team: (click here ) Meeting is now from 6:00 to 7:30 pm SCHEDULE AND FILE CABINET : (CLICK RED LINKS TO DOWNLOAD FILES BELOW) Initial Field Work/Site Research: April/May 2024 Dark Sky Committee Meeting #1 April 9 2024 Public Meeting #1 June 6, 2024 What are the overall goals for the Dark Sky Park? How should the Dark Sky Park be utilized? What are compatible daytime activities? What are the issues and concerns that need to be addressed? Public Meeting Information Cameron County Dark Sky Park Location Display Boards Handout Slide Presentation Dark Sky Committee Meeting #2 August 2024 Review options and alternatives Dark Sky Committee Meeting #3 September 2024 Discuss management and phasing considerations Public Meeting #2 November 14th 2024 6:00 - 7:30 pm Cameron County Camber of Commerce (NEW LOCATION) 24 W 4th St Emporium, PA 15834 Review draft master site plan and provide input on priorities for implementation Slide Presentation Display Boards Media Release Handout Dark Sky Committee Meeting #4 December 2024 Review plan and finalize phasing and implementation recommendations Public Meeting/Cameron County Commissioners/Lumber Heritage Region Board April 2025 Plan approval and all final revisions PRESENTATION , to be provided MASTER SITE PLAN , to be provided

Neabsco Creek Boardwalk Prince William County, Virginia L/KLA designed the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk with the help of a multi-disciplined team that included Wiley|Wilson (civil and structural), Environmental Systems Analysis, Inc. (environmental), The Robert B. Balter Company (geotechnical), John Milner Associates, now CHG, Inc. (cultural), Dawson Associates (interpretive signage), and Dominion Surveyors. L/KLA’s collaborative design approach helped to address the complex issues associated with flooding, storm surge, and related environmental permitting. The Neabsco Creek Boardwalk Crossing is a critical linkage of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail connecting Rippon Lodge and Rippon Landing Park with the Metz Wetlands. It provides opportunities to link nearby neighborhoods with Neabsco Creek and with each other. The boardwalk crossing is a regional destination for wildlife viewing, outdoor education and nature appreciation for all ages and abilities. It provides significant educational opportunities for students ranging from pre-K to graduate school, telling the story of the ebb and flow of Neabsco Creek and its inhabitants through the day, month, year, and over our lifetime and beyond. Landing areas at each end of the boardwalk are designed to include orientation space suitable for a classroom with staging areas near each landing to accommodate school field trips. A floating pier at the south landing allows students of all ages to get up close and personal with the aquatic life of Neabsco Creek. Permitting for the Boardwalk included a Conditional Letter of Map Revision (FEMA), NEPA, USACOE, and various state and local regulatory approvals. The 3,200-linear foot boardwalk is designed for all ages and abilities, and includes two long span crossings of Neabsco Creek, five additional short span crossings of tributaries, two landings, an observation deck and water level platforms for classroom use. Construction began in fall of 2017. A ribbon cutting event was held in early June 2019. In August 2020, the project was awarded a Gold Medal award from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. Neasbsco Creek Boardwalk Receives State Environmental Award Virginia DEQ Gold Medal August 2020 Neasbsco Creek Boardwalk was the Recipient of a Virginia ASLA merit award in the General Design category in 2019 Click here for the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk Prospectus (preliminary design 09/16/13) Click here to read Neabsco Creek Boardwalk brings new view to Woodbridge article in Inside Nova (06/01/19) Click here to read Neabsco Creek Boardwalk Opening Draws Rave Reviews In Woodbridge article in the Patch (06/04/19) Click here to read This Stunning Boardwalk Hike is Virginia's Best Kept Secret for Outdoor Lovers article on My Family Travels (02/16/26)

Parks, Trails and Natural Areas Stewardship is the key to L/KLA’s philosophy and practice, our foundation and outlook. In an era of limited resources—natural and economic—L/KLA brings skills and understanding on how to best manage and leverage a place’s assets while adjusting to the realities of capacity and site conditions. L/KLA has completed Natural Resource Management Plans for sites with rare and endangered species and important cultural resources and human interest; developed best practices for site management for treeless areas and homeowners; co-founded the Northern Virginia Urban Forestry Roundtable; and is an early implementor of bioinfiltration and complete streets practices. Beaverdam Reservoir Trail Assessment East Peoria Riverfront Trail Corridor Plan and Feasibility Study Simpson Park + Passive Lawn Renovation - Alexandria, VA Upperville Community Park Playground Intelligent Community Campus - Bethesda, MD Vienna Town Green - Vienna, VA Oregon Ridge Park Trails Master Plan - Baltimore County, MD Oregon Ridge Park Master Plan - Baltimore County, MD Dark Sky Park Master Plan - Cameron County, PA Cosca Regional Park Master Plan - PG County, MD Bull Run Natural Surface Trails Pin Oak Parkway Trail Connection - City of Bowie, MD Chapel Point State Park - Charles County, MD Arlington Natural Surface Trails - Arlington, VA Neabsco Creek Boardwalk Nachusa Grasslands OTHER PROJECTS Active Park Planning Cameron County Dark Sky Park Resource Management Old Colchester Park + Preserve Natural Resources Managment Plan Laurel Hill Natural Resource Management Plan, Fairfax County, VA Elklick Woodlands Natural Resource Management Plan Rural Villages Study, M-NCPPC Ecological Planning, Guidelines and Manuals New River Gorge National River Landscape Management Plan + Vista Management Plan Treeless Area Technical Manual, Fairfax County Park Authority, VA You and Your Land - A Homeowner's Guide for the Potomac River Watershed Urban Forestry Culpeper Downtown Plan Roundtable/Trees Virginia Board Bioinfiltration and Complete Streets Chincoteague's Robert Reed Park Sarah Walker Mercer Park Master Plans, Parks and Trails City of Alexandria Open Space Master Plan 2017 Updated Implementation Strategy Fort Ward Park and Museum Area Management Plan Master Plan for Facilities and Interpretation American Chestnut Land Trust Preserve Chesterfield Riverfront Plan Master Interpretive Plan Rappahannock Station I and II Historic Dove Bank ADA Accessible Trail, Historic St. Mary's City, MD Appomattox River Heritage Trail LEED- Certification Cromley Lofts- LEED Certified Gold Watkins Regional Park Bowie Trails Plan Van Dyck Master Plan Anacostia River Trail

City of Bowie Pin Oak Trail Bowie, MD The City of Bowie, Maryland is blessed with many small segments of bicycle and pedestrian facilities, but lacks an identifiable network with a strong community image. The City of Bowie’s 2016 Sustainability Plan targeted two specific goals for improving the City’s walkability and expanding existing trails for biking, hiking and family walks into a safe interconnected network. The City funded an update to the Trails Master Plan to address these goals and to set new priorities for future capital improvement projects to help achieve the goals. Updating the City Trails Master Plan presented an opportunity to address current issues and the needs of the trail system’s users. The Trails Plan Update was conducted over an eight-month process that included a community survey and two trails planning workshops that formed the basis for the draft plan. The resulting document included the network goals and priorities, gap analysis, alternatives evaluation, trail network recommendations and trail design recommendations, as well as guidance on implementation and funding. The purpose of the Bowie Byway Trail: Pin Oak Parkway to Mt. Oak Drive Feasibility Study/Plan was to investigate two alternative routes for the Bowie Byway (the primary, planned, north-south pedestrian and bicycle spine within the City of Bowie) between Pin Oak Parkway and Mount Oak Road. The Bowie Trails Master Plan proposes a paved, shared use path that would begin at the terminus of Pin Oak Parkway and would extend through the neighborhood open space (city-owned property) and connect to Mount Oak Park (M-NCPPC parkland) where it then aligns with the M-NCPPC planned Path 1. Then, new side path or shared use path would need to be constructed along Mount Oak Road (County) where it would connect to the existing side path along Nottinghill Dr. and an existing side path on the north side of Mount Oak Dr. (east of Nottinghill). Check out the Community Meeting Announcement: Help Us Plan - Pin Oak Parkway to Mount Oak Road Path Check out the Draft Plan: Pin Oak Parkway to Mount Oak Road Path

Beaverdam Reservoir Trail Assessment Loudoun County, VA L/KLA and Robert Fina prepared an assessment and recommendations for the establishment of a sustainable perimeter trail and related linkages around Beaverdam Reservoir. The analysis includes: A summary of existing conditions gathered from existing and readily available GIS data Discussion of trail design considerations and potential treatments for existing trails as well as realignments of existing trails as flagged in the field Confirmation of planned structures (armored stream crossings, bottomless culverts, small bridges (less than 12’) and large bridges) Recommendations for engineered trail surfaces (crushed stone/stone dust, soil stabilizers such as resin-based polymers, permeable asphalt pavement systems) and realignment projects needed to establish a more sustainable trail around the perimeter of Beaverdam Reservoir Realignments shift the trail to achieve better crossing points in the bottomland areas, avoid fall line alignment and trail grades greater than 5% Alignments that take better advantage of landform and views to the water to create a more immersive natural experience and address the desire lines of users in a more sustainable manner

Ideas + Perspectives New Bridge Improves Access Along Broad Run Trail September 10, 2026 Prince William County posts: "Calling all hikers! The newly installed Rocky Branch Bridge at Broad Run Trail is now open! The bridge restores an important trail connection across Broad Run in the Braemar/Dunbarton community. The original bridge, installed in 2012–2013, was washed out during a major flooding event in July 2018. Replacing the bridge required significant redesign and environmental review to create a more resilient structure. The new 55-foot-long, 6-foot-wide bridge includes a deep foundation system designed to better withstand future flooding and reduce the risk of another washout. Lardner/Klein Landscape Architects were contracted for the design and engineering, and PBS Contracting for construction." Read the full article here: https://www.pwcva.gov/news/new-bridge-improves-access-along-broad-run-trail Neabsco Boardwalk: 'Virginia's Best Kept Secret' February 16, 2026 Dylan Mercer writes: "Tucked away in Woodbridge, Virginia, there’s a trail that makes you feel like you’ve stumbled into a nature documentary. Neabsco Creek Boardwalk Trail isn’t your typical dirt path through the woods. This elevated wooden walkway takes you straight through a tidal wetland ecosystem where herons strut, turtles sunbathe, and the creek whispers secrets only patient listeners can hear. Most folks zoom past this spot on their way to more famous Virginia destinations, but outdoor lovers who know about it guard this place like a treasured map." Read the full article here: https://myfamilytravels.com/this-stunning-boardwalk-hike-is-virginias-best-kept-secret-for-outdoor-lovers/ FHWA Releases 2021 National Scenic Byway and All-American Road Designation Booklet May 27, 2021 The Federal Highway Administration released its 2021 illustrative National Scenic Byway and All-American Road designation booklet just in time for the summer travel season. The booklet includes the newest designations, announced in February. (https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/scenic_byways/designations/fhwadesignationsbooklet.pdf ) . L/KLA’s corridor management planning efforts supported five of these byway designations in six states including two All-American Roads, the highest designation where a byway is considered as a destination unto itself: California’s Historic Route 66 Scenic Byway from Needles to Barstow (NSB ) Maryland’s Chesapeake Country Scenic Byway (AAR ) New Jersey’s Bayshore Heritage Byway (NSB ) New York’s Palisades Scenic Byway (NSB ) Tennessee and North Carolina’s Newfound Gap Road Byway (AAR ) View of East Point Lighthouse from New Jersey's Bayshore Heritage Byway. View of Roy's Motel and Cafe from California's Historic Route 66 Scenic Byway from Needles to Barstow. SNEP Southern New England Program Network Climate Leadership Exchange December 10, 2020 Jim Klein was an invited participant for the Southern New England Program Network (SNEP) Climate Leadership Exchange webinar on “Revitalizing waterfront communities through comprehensive redevelopment” representing a waterfront case study for Tilghman Island with Talbot County planner Miguel Salinas. Jim and Miguel provided insights regarding Tilghman’s community revitalization efforts through balancing the preservation of working waterfront assets while seeking ways to diversify the small-town economy. Jim also provided additional insights on how to increase public understanding on the need to address climate resiliency, gleaned from his experience leading four additional master plans for working waterfronts in Maryland, including Rock Hall, Port Deposit, Oxford and Bellevue. The webinar was in support of the efforts between the Town of Wareham, Massachusetts and the SNEP Network centered on the Town’s goals for revitalization of the downtown waterfront area in Wareham Village. Invited guests help guide future redevelopment plans for Wareham Village by focusing on incorporating elements of climate resilience, stormwater management, and green infrastructure into design plans that are closely connected to economic development opportunities. Through the exchange, Wareham will also be able to explore innovative and sustainable environmental finance opportunities associated with their redevelopment plans. Link to the Podcast: S1 | E7: Waterfront Redevelopment - Part 3 (ft. Tilghman Island, MD and Working Waterfronts) NeabscoCreekBoardwalkAward Neabsco Creek Boardwalk Receives State Environmental Award August 28, 2020 Delighted that all the hard and rewarding work that went into designing the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk has been recognized with a Gold Medal from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) 2020 Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards. L/KLA served as the prime contractor leading a multidisciplined team that included many of our long-time colleagues including: ESA, Inc. (environmental); Wiley | Wilson (civil and structural engineering); The Robert B. Balter Company (Geotechnical and construction phase services); CHG, Inc. (cultural resources performed by the former John Milner Associates); and Dominion Surveyors. In addition to leading the design team, L/KLA was responsible for the design and detailing for the boardwalk, coordinating the permitting requirements, public outreach and construction phase services. The Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards recognize successful and innovative efforts that improve Virginia's environment. The awards program is run annually by the DEQ in partnership with the Department of Conservation and Recreation. You can learn more at: https://www.deq.virginia.gov/get-involved/pollution-prevention/governor-s-environmental-excellence-awards Link Inside Nova web article: https://www.insidenova.com/news/prince_william/neabsco-creek-boardwalk-receives-state-environmental-award/article_3609e3f4-e7e6-11ea-8939-7b156a12a584.html AnacostiaTrail Trail of the Month: Anacostia River Trail August 17, 2020 Check out the Anacostia River Trail recognized by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy as the Trail of the Month: August 2020 . L/KLA served as the project Landscape Architect for the Kenilworth section from Benning Road in the District of Columbia to just south of Bladensburg Park in Maryland. The article speaks to how the alignment of the trail provided access to the natural areas east of the River and north of RFK Stadium along the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, under AMTRAK and US Route 50 and into Maryland. L/KLA led the work on the field alignment to minimize impact to the mature tree canopy while providing visual and physical access to the Anacostia River and Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens for pedestrians and bicyclists as part of the missing link to the 20-mile trail. Link to Rails-to-Trails Conservancy web article: https://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/2020/august/13/washington-dc-and-maryland-s-anacostia-river-trail/?utm_source=newsletter Making the Grade Anchor Making the Grade: Increasing Access to Parks for All Ages and Abilities May 6, 2020 As we all adjust to the new reality of the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of our parks and trails for health and wellbeing is abundantly clear. While many park amenities are shuttered, trails and open spaces allow for access to outdoor recreation while social distancing. However, not all trails and open spaces are readily accessible to all. Parking lots in many parks are blocked off, making it challenging for people with disabilities to access trails. For those who can access trails, it is likely that some will face challenges, as many trails do not meet current ADA regulations. It has been 30 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. While this 30th anniversary celebrates countless life-changing improvements toward equity and inclusion, the challenge to keep parks, trails, and open spaces in compliance is ongoing. Issues of cost, maintenance, or site constraints often hinder a good faith effort to furnish inclusive recreational facilities. As every design professional knows, site design must address trade-offs due to differing priorities. However, accessibility challenges can often be solved with creative, low-budget solutions. Here are three projects that identify accessibility issues and provide cost-effective solutions for all ages and abilities. Emiquon Preserve Visitor Use Site, IL As a first step, parks and public spaces need to find out whether a facility is accessible to all ages and abilities. In 2018, The Nature Conservancy in Illinois retained L/KLA to provide an accessibility assessment for existing and proposed infrastructure at the Emiquon Visitor Use Site on the shore of Thompson Lake. The Nature Conservancy’s primary mission is conservation and stewardship, but in recent years they have made efforts to increase public access to their natural areas in a way that is sensitive to their primary mission. After reviewing guidance from Illinois and Federal standards, as well as on-site assessments, L/KLA evaluated the Nature Conservancy’s ongoing maintenance practices and opportunities for small-scale new construction or renovation that could increase access for all ages and abilities. The final 2019 report is being used by TNC’s to guide their ongoig efforts and investments needed to meet their goal of increasing public access and outreach for visitors of all ages and abilities at Emiquon, helping to tell the story of their work and multi-faceted benefits of Emiquon’s restored wetlands. Abrupt transitions from adjoining surface conditions are common compliance challenges. An example provided in the Emiquon accessibility report: While a standard handrail is provided, the ramp at Neabsco Creek Boardwalk requires an additional handrail for ADA compliance. L/KLA designed this 3,000+ ft ADA accessible boardwalk in Prince William County, VA. Fort Ward Park, Alexandria, VA Like many jurisdictions, The City of Alexandria is striving to upgrade existing facilities to increase access and mobility for all. An historic city, Alexandria is also faced with infrastructure improvements and limitations arising from existing land use patterns and historic and archaeological resources. L/KLA was selected as the lead consultant for improvements to Fort Ward Park—the location of an historic Civil War Fort and contemporaneous African American neighborhood. Once the City’s arboretum, it is also home to treasured, mature trees, with wooded paths and trails throughout. Improvements include accessible parking and paths to the existing picnic shelter, and relocation/design of a more inclusive playground. Balancing the pros and cons between providing access and preserving mature trees and historic resources, L/KLA is working with the City to design and construct these improvements with minimal impact on resources and high impact on the City’s ability to provide access to residents of all ages and abilities. An accessible route will link new ADA parking spaces to the picnic shelter and sidewalk, as shown above. In addition to providing access, protection of existing archaeological resources and existing trees is paramount in this effort. View toward the picnic shelter from the parking lot, looking in the general location of the future accessible route. Prince William County, Woodbridge, VA After an accessibility compliance report was conducted, evaluating over 70 parks in Prince William County’s Parks and Recreation system, the department retained L/KLA through an open-end services contract to design accessibility improvements for several of their aging parks. John D. Jenkins Park, serving a neighborhood park in Woodbridge, includes wooded open space, a basketball court, and a playground. Immediately adjacent to the park are the offices of The ARC of Prince William County and a care center for children with developmental disabilities. Prince William County took the opportunity to replace a timber retaining wall to create an accessible pathway from the parking area to the basketball courts below. Before and after photos of ramp designed with pickets, connecting parking with the basketball courts below. A maximum of 20 percent of handrail length may be obstructed on the bottom (505.6 Gripping Surface. ADAAG.). The railings in this design meet this requirement. With site constraints such as steep slopes and shallow underground utilities, coupled with budget constraints, the final design needed to be low-impact and cost effective. L/KLA designed a series of concrete ramps with railing and a lower (<3’ tall) segmental retaining wall to provide a simple, direct route that provides ADA accessibility, aesthetic improvements, and limited site disturbance. The ramp has a standard rail with pickets and incorporates a retaining wall and surface drainage as part of the ramp system, addressing all site requirements in a cost effective, but attractive manner. As landscape architects, we approach ADA as a minimum standard, while striving to do more than “check off the boxes” to meet requirements. We seek a comprehensive solution to inclusivity, encompassing ease of access, aesthetics, and ecological stewardship. With ingenuity and rigorous site analysis, accessibility improvements for aging park facilities can be implemented as part of a holistic approach, often with minimal modifications, constructed as part of ongoing maintenance projects, using small-scale design interventions. At some point, the backlog of accessibility needs will disappear as all new park projects incorporate universal design as an integral design and budget component right from the start.

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Links Project Pages New Road Corridor Master Plan Cameron County Dark Sky Park Parks, Trails, and Natural Areas New River Gorge Stacked Loop Trail System Laurel Hill Resource Management Plan, Fairfax County, VA Elklick Woodlands Natural Resource Management Plan Rural Villages Study, M-NCPPC Treeless Area Technical Manual, Fairfax County Park Authority, VA You and Your Land - A Homeowner's Guide for the Potomac River Watershed Landscape Architecture Design Riverside Park Phase 1 Renovations Ribbon Cutting, News & Advance, May 19, 2016 Allen Pond Park Master Plan, Bowie, MD Facility Plan for the Capital Crescent and Metropolitan Branch Trails Community Development Initiative Master Plan and Site Development, City of Hindman/Knott County, KY Merrifield Streetscape Design Manual, Fairfax County, VA Infrastructure and Resiliency Anacostia Riverwalk Trail Kenilworth Section Design Unveiled Neabsco Creek Boardwalk Crossing Grand Opening Residents Celebrate Opening of Neabsco Creek Boardwalk Neabsco Creek Boardwalk Brings New View to Woodbridge Route 50 Traffic Calming Measures , Loudoun and Fauquier Counties, VA Ped - Bike Image Library You and Your Land - A Homeowner's Guide for the Potomac River Watershed Treeless Area Technical Manual, Fairfax County Park Authority, VA Context Sensitive Solutions for Maryland's Scenic Byways, MD SHA Urban/Community Design Van Dyck Park Master Plan - 2018 Maple Avenue Commercial Corridor Zoning Code Update Consultant Picked for Maple Ave. Vision Fort Ward Park and Museum Area Management Plan - 2015 Maple Avenue Commercial Corridor Zoning Code Update, Vienna VA - 2014 Rural Villages Study, Prince Georges County, Maryland Community Appearance Manual and Highway Beautification Plan, Cary, NC Cultural Heritage Tourism Oxford Working Waterfront Strategic Plan Commissioners Draft September 2017 Rock Hall Waterfront Master Plan - Adopted February 2017 Bellevue Village Master Plan - June 2017 Tilghman Village Master Plan -June 2017 California Historic Route 66 Corridor Management Plan - May 2015 Bayshore Heritage Byway Bayshore Heritage Byway: Appendix Walton Road Historic Byway Corridor Management Plan Maryland Historic National Road Corridor Partnership Plan Update Flight 93 National Memorial Travel Corridor Study Brandywine Valley Byway Corridor Management Plan Delaware River Valley Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan FHWA Scenic Byways Community Pages Maryland Scenic Byways Journey Through Hallowed Ground Corridor Management Plan Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail CMP, MD Crossroads of the Revolution National Heritage Area Management Plan, NJ Millstone Valley Scenic Byway , Somerset County, NJ Blue Crab Byway, Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland Charles Street National Scenic Byway, Baltimore, MD US 15 Catoctin Mountain Scenic Byway, Frederick County, MD

Illinois River Road Corridor Management Plan Update Ottawa to Havana, Illinois The effort helped various partners and stakeholders associated with the Illinois River Road to update their management plan and to reorganize their efforts to bring together like-minded partners into a new umbrella organization as part of the process. The updated CMP identified common priorities for the organization and its partners. Recommendations provide the rationale, implementation steps and potential sources of funding for each action. Getting outdoors, reaching various age groups and demographics, tying byway activities to the health and livbility quality of the Illinois River Valley are all endorsements for the activities the Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway is promoting in the region. People powered activities are an untapped reservoir of activities to support in future byway efforts. Tying any proposed improvements, linkages or promotions to health care programs targeting the 25-44 year old demographic may also open a potential funding avenue. Beyond the health incentives, getting people out and on or near the water will do much to dispel the stereotype of the river and to communicate the positive changes that have occurred over the past thirty years in the Illinois River basin. No longer a place to avoid, it is a great natural resource for canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding and even swimming as demonstrated by the recent Bradley University triathlon where the swim segment took place in the river. Getting visitors and residents ‘to the river’ is a key focus of the byway. River access needs specifics – support river infrastructure for canoe trails, e.g. shuttling/outfitters – blue trails. This system will also give access to new stories (river landings, early history of settlement) that can be interpreted. New and improved mapping, noting water access points such as those found in Peoria, East Peoria, potential access points such as at the Bass Pro property along the backwater (top right), the access point to the easily paddled loop such as at the USFWS Chautauqua site or between Henry and Lacon (2nd from bottom at right) will make it easier for visitors to get to the river and to build on nature tourism opportunities. Similarly, there are minor and major improvements that can be made to enhance the bicycle ‘friendliness’ of the byway and local communities. Maintaining a route for nonevent oriented riders is as important as sponsoring and supporting organized rides.

Port Tobacco Courthouse Preliminary Design Charles County, Maryland L/KLA worked with Charles County, the Town of Port Tobacco (population 15) and key stakeholders to prepare a preliminary design that expands the capacity of the site to accommodate visitors while respecting the rights and privacy of individual property owners. The preliminary design addressed the following key program elements: Historical context of the village, once a bustling port along the Tobacco River and now a site rich in archaeological resources Expanding parking capacity utilizing permeable and/or turf pavers while avoiding archaeological sites Developing a village interpretive walk to tell the story of the once bustling town utilizing the original footprints of former building sites and historic photographs A landscape plan that captures the historic character of the town and hits heritage as a once bustling port Developing a signage plan for a family of five sign types (entry, orientation, wayside exhibits, historic markers, and regulatory signs Developing new sanitary facilities that do not rely on existing septic tank drainfields (architecturally appropriate portable facilities or composting toilet) A phasing plan that illustrates how the projects can be build out over time