Press release shared with permission by Pennsylvania Environmental Council
posted 10 September 2026
Partnerships are at the heart of trails and greenways work in Western PA. Just like your backyard garden, these partnerships require cultivation. These connections need time, space, and intention to be productive. WeConservePA and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) facilitate this type of connection for trail builders, outdoor enthusiasts, parks and recreation professionals, volunteers, and advocates for our natural resources, through statewide and regional Greenways and Trails Summits.
PEC, buoyed by a planning team with partners from Southwestern PA Commission, Friends of the Riverfront, DCNR, Northwest Commission, Oil Region Alliance, and Western PA Conservancy, had the opportunity to host one of this year’s regional Summits in Indiana, PA. We gathered more than 150 dedicated individuals to explore the unique assets of Indiana County and learn about new opportunities and approaches to trail and greenway development and management highlighting case studies and examples from the western part of the state.
The Western PA Trails and Greenways Summit kicked off with three mobile workshops. While an adventurous group of two-wheeled enthusiasts covered the twenty-mile round trip from Levity Brewing Company to Saylor Park, a second group met with Josh Krug from Indiana County Office of Planning and Development at the newly constructed Hoodlebug Pedestrian-Bicycle Trail Bridge and discussed critical trail connections and infrastructure in the area. Ed Patterson, Director of Indiana County Parks and Trails, met with crew three and headed to the Waterworks Conservation Area to learn more about conservation efforts in Indiana County. Walking along Two Lick Creek, the group explored the connection between local outdoor recreation opportunities and remediation efforts. The day wrapped up with a reception at Levity Brewing Company.
On day two, we got down to business networking and sharing ideas with our partners. Opening remarks from Laurie Lafontaine, Commissioner Sherene Hess, and DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn set a welcoming and conversational tone. Indiana University of Pennsylvania Professor Dr. Kevin Patrick delivered an engaging talk focused on ‘Near Woods.’ The rest of the day continued with panel discussions, rapid-fire table topics, and plenty of time to rekindle longstanding relationships. Leaders such as Courtney Mahronich-Vita from Pittsburgh-based Friends of the Riverfront, Dave Washousky from the Trust for Public Land, PEC’s very own Tom Gilbert, and many others led panel discussions surrounding property negotiations and how organizations can capitalize on emerging funding trends. Other discussions focused on trail maintenance, building identity, and creating the next generation of greenway and trail stewards.
Participants engaged in the mobile workshop held at Indiana County Waterworks Conservation Area
“It’s easy to have doubts when you’re helping to organize an event like this. You think ‘are folks going to show?’ ‘are the sessions going to resonate with participants?’ ‘will we have enough coffee?’. The biggest challenge we faced though, was having to curb the conversations happening at every corner of the venue to press on with the program! It’s always encouraging when you see people taking group photos with their peers and exchanging contact info,” said PEC Program Manager Chris Corbran. “Our planning team worked hard to bring forth a program that highlighted some of the great activity in the region. The Western PA Trails and Greenways Summit also gave us a chance to do what PEC does best: bring people together to recognize that the trails and greenways community works best when we’re working together.”
From left to right: Nathan Reigner, PA’s Director of Outdoor Recreation, Cindy Adams Dunn, Secretary of the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Tom Gilbert, President of PEC
The statewide Greenways and Trails Summit takes place every other year, meaning the western and eastern regions of the state can host their own gathering on the off years. Alternating between regional and statewide gatherings creates strong local connections as well as a solid statewide network with a shared vision for the future of greenways and trails in Pennsylvania. The Western PA Trails and Greenways Summit will return in 2028!
In its second iteration, the 2026 event confirmed what the planning recognized with our last event; there’s a strong appetite for continued regional events. Without question, the 2026 Western PA Trails and Greenways Summit was a success, only made possible by the support of our sponsors and in part by the Appalachian Regional Commission’s READY Grants to Grow program. We’d like to give a huge thank you to the Appalachian Regional Commission, Rails to Trails Conservancy, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, KJ Consulting & Environmental Services LLC, Environmental Planning & Design, Oil Region Alliance National Heritage Area, and Gibson-Thomas Engineering.
If you live in the eastern part of the state, don’t worry, your summit is happening soon! The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor is hosting the 2026 Eastern PA Greenways and Trails Summit on September 16th – September 18th in Bethlehem, PA. Much like the Western PA Summit, this event is packed with engaging programming, mobile workshops, and networking events. If you haven’t signed up yet, you can here. We’ll see our partners in the eastern part of the state soon!