Published: September 28, 2007 11:23 pm      

20-year plan for Rock Run Recreation Area unveiled

PATTON — A 20-year plan to boost the economy surrounding Rock Run Recreation Area was unveiled Friday, with officials hoping to increase tourism and encourage development.

The plan comes after two months of collaboration with 17 communities in two counties that surround Rock Run.

Southern Alleghenies Planning and Development Commission presented five projects to pursue within the next six to 12 months.

Commission representatives and a regional steering committee have designed the plan as a detailed road map for achieving unified economic and community-development goals.

This year, the committee plans to:

• Form a regional main street development management program to assist municipalities in upgrading their downtowns and residential areas.

• Encourage a cellular telephone service provider to utilize a new tower in Patton Borough to expand coverage in the Rock Run area.

• Develop signs and directional systems, focusing on major transportation routes in the region.

• Create a Rock Run Region Web site with information about the surrounding communities.

• Explore a joint effort to situate a satellite state police barracks in the Glendale area.

Tracy Plessinger, a White Township supervisor who serves on the steering committee, said the cooperation of the 17 municipalities must continue for the projects to succeed.

“Between Cambria and Clearfield counties is a large divide in the state,” Plessinger said. “We’re in two different state transportation, environment and planning districts, which makes it hard for our area to cooperate together on these things.

“These 17 communities are trying to work together to bridge that gap,” Plessinger said.

Ed Silvetti, the Southern Alleghenies commission’s executive director, praised the effort.

“I applaud all of the municipalities who have been working on this project,” Silvetti said.

“This is going to be a key to attracting people to this region.”

State Rep. Gary Haluska, D-Patton, who chairs Rock Run’s board of directors, said the visioning project will go hand-in-hand with future plans to increase visitors at both Rock Run and Prince Gallitzin State Park.

He said four more phases are planned at Rock Run, including addition of equestrian and motorbike trails, extension of water and sewage lines from Patton Borough and installation of 250 campsites.

“Rock Run is getting good numbers of visitors on the weekends, most coming from more than an hour away,” Haluska said. “We’re looking for the future, and we’re building for the future.”