Wednesday, June 24
7:30 a.m.
REGISTER HERE
Join us for our June Economics Club Virtual Event and a panel discussion on Rails and Trails in Pennsylvania. The York County Economic Alliance is excited to welcome Diane Kripas, Division Chief for the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; Gwen Loose, Executive Director of the York County Rail Trail Authority; and Tom Sexton, Regional Director with the Rails to Trails Conservancy; to our panel to talk about the economic and community benefits of converting former rail lines to multi-use trails. York County Economic Alliance Vice President of Economic Development, Silas Chamberlin, will also share details about the recently launched York County Trail Towns program that will leverage the Heritage Rail Trail to promote economic growth for the businesses and towns along the trail, as well as all of YoCo.
Diane Kripas has been providing trail-related technical and grant assistance for more than 20 years, and manages over $8 million in annual funding for Pennsylvania’s trails. She is currently leading the development of Pennsylvania’s 2020-2024 Pennsylvania Outdoor Recreation Plan.
Gwen Loose has served as the Executive Director for the York County Rail Trail Authority for more than 20 years. Under her leadership, the Authority completed the Heritage Rail Trail County Park in 1999, and has continued work to connect it through the city of York with the northern extension of the trail.
Tom Sexton joined the Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC) in 1991 and has focused on policy, promotion and trail-assistance efforts across 10 states in the Northeast. He also worked as a recreation planner for the National Park Service, as a naturalist in New York City, and established the Pennsylvania office of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and served as executive director.
Following the program will be a Q&A session open to attendees.