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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

Meet the Team Jim Klein Owner, Principal, Landscape Architect, ASLA Mr. Klein, with forty-five years of experience in the field, is well known for his extensive expertise in planning and design of all kinds of “long and skinny places” including river corridors, byways, heritage areas, touring routes, greenways, and trails. Jim served as the lead landscape architect for Virginia’s Route 50 Traffic Calming Project—a fifteen year national demonstration project for rural traffic calming. Mr. Klein's greenway and trail planning and design efforts including the design of the northern section of the Anacostia River Trail in Washington DC and Maryland suburbs, the Capital Crescent and the Metropolitan Branch Trails in Silver Spring and Takoma Park, MD, the East Peoria Riverfront Trails Plan, and the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk, a prime destination on the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. Municipal scale active transportation planning experience includes the Peoria Heights Active Transportation Plan, Bowie Trails Master Plan, and Brookeville’s Active Transportation Comprehensive Plan amendment, Mr. Klein has graduate and professional degrees in Landscape Architecture from the University of Oregon and a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Vermont. Elisabeth Lardner Owner, Principal, Landscape Architect, Planner, AICP Elisabeth Lardner has been practicing landscape architecture, planning, and urban design for forty-five years. She is a graduate of Harvard University’s Urban Design department with the honor of distinction, and the University of Oregon’s Landscape Architecture department. Ms. Lardner is highly skilled at working with community groups and other stakeholders to establish long-term partnerships in support of the implementation and management of public spaces. Ms. Lardner led the firm’s work on the award-winning master plan for Hindman, Kentucky, which started as a community-based development plan and resulted in implementation of 41 million dollars in investments in community infrastructure, open space enhancements, and transportation improvements over a ten-year period. Ms. Lardner is well known for Lardner/Klein’s park and recreation work including trail development projects in highly sensitive natural areas and cultural sites. Ms. Lardner is completing trail projects for the Idaho Nature Conservancy at the Silver Creek Preserve and for Baltimore County at Oregon Ridge Park. Rebecca Sibinga MLA, MArch, Landscape Architectural Designer Rebecca graduated from University of Pennsylvania with Masters degrees in Architecture and Landscape Architecture, and is preparing for licensure while working with L/KLA. Rebecca embraces multidisciplinary systems thinking: how does it all work, and what elements are vital for it to work for its users better? Rebecca has worked on public landscape projects at L/KLA, including concept designs for Oregon Ridge Park’s master planning process, trail assessment, and park master plans for Hopkins Quarry in Port Deposit, MD. She has managed and developed GIS data for sites ranging from parks to corridor scales; conducted and documented field reconnaissance; prepared concept plans, AutoCAD Civil 3D drawings, renderings, maps, and graphics for many of L/KLA's recent projects. Contact Us info@lardnerklein.com phone (703) 739-0972 fax (703) 739-0973 120 N Alfred St # 100, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA Home About Projects

Route 50 Traffic Calming Aldie, Middleburg Upperville, VA L/KLA served as the landscape architect on a multi-disciplined team that prepared conceptual, preliminary and final engineering plans for traffic calming measures along twenty miles of U.S. Route 50 in Virginia. The award-winning conceptual plan resulted in a $13.8 million federal demonstration grant for rural traffic calming. Traffic calming measures have been designed to increase highway safety by reducing speeding and aggressive driving through roadway design that naturally encourages motorists to drive at slower and safer speeds, while at the same time maintaining the character defining features of each of the town’s historic context. The project began in 1995 with a community-designed traffic calming conceptual plan prepared with the assistance of Ian Lockwood, an international expert in traffic calming. The award-winning plan resulted in a $13.8 million federal demonstration grant for rural traffic calming. The design includes: • Entryway treatments for Upperville, Middleburg, and Aldie • Special warning strips approaching the entrances to villages and towns • In-town measures including raised intersections, valley gutters, and the use of different pavers to narrow the look and feel of the road • Rural intersection treatments to protect left turning traffic • Changes to in-town horizontal alignment deflect the path of vehicles Construction in Upperville was completed in 2008 (above and right) and in Aldie in 2012. Roundabouts at Gilbert’s Corner (top left) were constructed in 2009 as part of a separate design build contract (by others). L/KLA continued its fifteen year effort as the landscape architect on a multi-disciplined team, led by HW Lochner that prepared conceptual, preliminary and final engineering plans for traffic calming measures along twenty miles of U.S. Route 50 in Virginia. The award-winning conceptual plan resulted in a $13.8 million federal demonstration grant for rural traffic calming. In Middleburg, L/KLA worked with the Town, its streetscape committee, and VDOT to incorporate the federally funded traffic calming measures into an ongoing streetscape renovation, completed in 2016. L/KLA was responsible for developing design concepts to ensure the project fit within MIddleburg’s historic context, including preliminary and final design plans for: • Curb extensions incorporated into eight intersections within the historic downtown • Working with the Town to select historically appropriate materials including vehicular clay pavers for crosswalks and matching existing brick pavers for the sidewalk areas • Installing new and expanding existing tree wells and incorporate soil cells, where appropriate to expand the root zone • Detailed design to carefully match existing conditions along the construction limits for the project • Worked with VDOT staff to develop special provisions for specialized project details not utilized on previous VDOT projects including soil cells and vehicular clay pavers Click here to read the Route 50 Traffic Calming Design Memorandum (February 2003)

City of Bowie Trails Master Plan Update Bowie, MD The City of Bowie, Maryland is blessed with many small segments of bicycle and pedestrian facilities, but they lack 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 includes 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 plan was approved in September of 2019.

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Maple Avenue Commercial Code Update Vienna, VA L/KLA was the prime contractor for assisting the Town of Vienna in articulating their vision for their commercial corridor and then updating the zoning code to reflect that vision. Team members Clarion and Seth Harry & Associates supported the work effort through code authoring and illustrative and development analysis. Vienna’s commercial corridor runs more than a mile through the heart of the community in a typical strip retail/commercial pattern. With the new Metro stations coming to nearby Tysons, the Town Council embarked on a long delayed update to their commercial code with the intent of encouraging taller buildings in a more urban, pedestrian supportive environment. Premised on the understanding that change will occur as Tysons to the town’s east and Reston to the town’s west grow, the effort asked the community how they wished to address and shape that change to benefit the Town of Vienna. Several existing sites were selected for a capacity analysis (see illustrations), demonstrating what changes could occur and what infrastructure such as structured parking would be required to support the change. From this exercise, Steering Committee members were better able to understand the potential change and to offer ideas of how best to shape it. Desires ranged from better building modulation to support for pedestrian gathering spaces to bicycle parking and interest in bioinfiltration and other green building techniques. Team members worked for over two years with a Mayor-appointed Steering Committee. Many public forums and hearings were held that shaped the final proposal, adopted by the Town Council with a 6-1 vote in September 2014.

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

East Peoria Riverfront Trail Corridor Plan and Feasibility Study The study efforts focused on East Peoria to leverage the pedestrian and bicycle accommodations included with two capital projects: McClugage Bridge Project includes a multi-use pathway (completion, 2023). Bob Michel Bridge Project includes a barrier-protected pedestrian and bicycle pathway as part of overall improvements slated to occur between state fiscal years 2021 and 2025. While a riverfront trail alignment is the long-term goal, the planning concepts under consideration include short- and mid-term actions for increasing access to the riverfront, improving pedestrian and bicycle connectivity along North Main, and linkages from the Fondulac/Highview corridor and Illinois Central College. A planning committee advised the City of East Peoria and the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission provided input and reviewed the study recommendations. The planned riverfront trail network will be built over time. Trail development is coordinated with the completion of the bridge trail sections over the McClugage Bridge (opening 2023) and the Bob Michel Bridge. The Bob Michel Bridge includes pedestrian and bicycle facilities built in conjunction with work on the bridge deck overlay, joint replacement and navigation lighting repairs slated for the state fiscal years 2021 - 2025. Riverfront trail segments can be built as properties are redeveloped or easements agreed upon. In the near term, the North Main Alignment will be implemented to link the McClugage Bridge with the Bob Michel Bridge using adjoining access roads and by making pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements at existing North Main intersections. As a key subconsultant, Farnsworth Group provided engineering expertise to evaluate the feasibility of a trail crossing at the intersection of Main Street and Marina Park Road to access the college. Two potential crossing types were evaluated: an at-grade crossing and an overhead pedestrian bridge crossing.

Nachusa Grasslands Visitor Pavilion Franklin Grove, Illinois The reintroduction of bison at The Nature Conservancy’s Nachusa Grasslands has resulted in an increase in visitation at the 3,400-acre preserve in Lee and Ogle Counties, Illinois. Much of the acreage is reclaimed from active farmland and is knitted together with remnant (original) prairie. The preserve is home to 700 native plant species and 180 bird species in north central Illinois. The introduction of wild bison in 2014 attracted new visitors, many unfamiliar with the ecological landscape and the role of bison as a land management tool. The Landscape Architect, as the lead project director on a multi-discipline team for the concept and design development phase and team member for the construction administration phase, was asked to provide a sustainable, low-carbon footprint, accessible visitor facility encouraging visitors to educate themselves through a non-staffed, self-guided tour of interpretive exhibits. Visitor accommodations include a large open shelter—powered by the sun, accessible paths and overlooks, a bus drop-off and parking, native granite boulders for sitting and climbing, compost toilets, and potable water via a hand pump for splash playing in the summer. The new facility showcases the site’s stewardship and ecological importance through public, accessible facilities that are environmentally respectful and sustainable. Recognized with a 2019 Merit Award for Design (built) from the Potomac Chapter ASLA Recognized with a 2019 Jens Jensen Award from the Illinois Chapter of the ASLA Featured in ASLA Magazine's November 2015 Issue page 164 The Bison Begin Again By Timothy A. Schuler Click here to read Nachusa Grasslands Visitor Pavilion Development article in the Friends of Nachusa Grasslands Newsletter (3/17/16)

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)

Watkins Regional Park Master Park Development Plan The Maryland-National Capital Park Planning Commission selected L/KLA and team consultants to prepare a master plan for Watkins Regional Park located in Upper Marlboro, Prince George’s County, MD. Park inventories and analyses, facility and maintenance surveys, staff interviews, public meetings, and on-line surveys provided direction and perspective in solidifying a framework and vision for the park. Areas of focus included park circulation and neighborhood connections; parking; revenue and use analysis; park amenities and siting; events and programming; inventory and protection of natural resources; and infrastructure needs. Watkins Regional Park was initially developed in the late 1960’s. Improvements have been made over the years, but many facilities remain as installed over forty years ago. This 835-acre property receives over one million visitors per year. More than half of the park is protected by various environmental and policy constraints from active development. Infrastructure (athletic fields, farm, picnic facilities, restrooms, etc.) is in need of upgrading, and pressures for additional uses continue to challenge the park’s operations. Areas of focus include park circulation, parking, revenue and use analysis, park amenities and siting, events and programming, inventory and protection of natural resources, and infrastructure needs. The plan recognizes the strengths of the existing park and builds off its successes through enhancements to playground and family oriented gathering spaces, nature center, farm/agriculture, and sports facilities. Recommended improvements to picnic and play features include the introduction of social hubs with seating and food options, a sprayground, and parking renovations. An outdoor pavilion is recommended for accommodating special events and revenue-generating programs. Enhancements to the “northern athletic complex” will be supported with new fields, parking, trails, and picnic shelters at the “southern athletic complex.” The Watkins Regional Park Master Park Development Plan was developed with an open and collaborative public engagement process. An array of outreach methods were used, including: public meetings and focus groups; working with an appointed stakeholder group; interviews with key staff and agency representatives; an on-line survey; a participatory dot poster survey with displays at the Watkins Nature Center (WNC) and the Largo/Kettering/Perrywood Community Center; and attendance at park events. A copy of the Watkins Regional Park Master Park Development Plan is available online here .

Upperville Park Concept Plan + Playground Uppervillle, VA L/KLA updated a conceptual master plan for the Upperville Community Park. The concept plan addressed the following key program elements: Historical context of the Upperville battlefield is taken into consideration, as views from the park toward battlefield lands are preserved and existing battlefield interpretive panels and integrated with the design of a pergola to create more of a space for appreciating the battlefield views Materials and construction practices are proposed that are in keeping with the styles and vernacular of Upperville and applied for all park structures. An accessible pedestrian path links the existing interpretive signs and proposed shade pergola to the proposed parking area and restrooms. A parking area with permeable pavers or other porous pavement options is proposed to reduce runoff and address New features include architecturally appropriate structures for a picnic pavilion and to house portable restrooms A nature playground incorporating black locust (Robinia) play components include a swing set, slide,climbing structure, and Robinia log obstacle course. Nature playgrounds are intended to encourage imaginative play and blend with a natural setting, as is appropriate at this historical site. Shade from the existing trees and the pastoral view south makes for a pleasant playground and picnic setting. Driplines of trees were avoided, as this concept takes tree preservation into consideration, with the maximum quantity of existing trees to be preserved.