Glossary

PA Greenway Terms

Listed below are definitions to greenway terms that are specific to Pennsylvania.

Equestrian Trails: Horseback riding trails.

Gray infrastructure: That which is manmade and part of the built environment in a community including but not limited to roads and other transportation systems, stormwater drainage, sewer and drinking water systems, schools and utilities.

Green infrastructure: An interconnected web of green space that conserves natural ecosystem values and functions and provides associated benefits to human populations.

Greenways: Linear corridors of public and private land that serve as the linkages between specifically identified natural resource-based or manmade features. They can be either land or water based and serve a variety of functions and benefits including recreation, transportation, community revitalization and economic development, natural resource conservation, environmental protection, wildlife habitat and migration and education. These corridors often follow old railways, canals, ridge tops, rivers and stream valleys.

Greenways Network: A greenways network includes greenways as well as hubs of specifically identified natural resources or open space and manmade features or destinations that influence the development of the linear greenway corridor.

Heritage Park Regions: Specifically designated portions of the state that implement a regional strategy for promoting PA’s rich industrial and cultural heritage to stimulate community revitalization and economic development.

Land-Based Trails: Route on land with protected status and public access for recreation or transportation purposes such as walking, jogging, motorcycling, hiking, bicycling, ATVing, horseback riding, mountain biking, and backpacking.

"Livable" Communities: Communities that offer a wide range of recreation and transportation alternatives - such as bicycling and walking - and that display unique character defined by valued natural and cultural features.

Mega-Greenways: Greenway corridors that are 100 miles or more in length, pass through multiple counties and regions, and are recognized in an official planning document.

Major Corridors: Long-distance corridors (at least 50 miles long) that pass through two or more counties and are recognized in official planning documents by counties. They represent the major “arteries” of the developing statewide greenway system.

Millennium Trails: Trails that preserve historically significant events in America's past.

Multi-use Trails: Greenways designed for recreational purposes that accommodate more than one type of use (e.g. horseback riding, hiking, bicycling, etc.)

National Scenic Trails: Federally designated extended trails, which provide for the maximum outdoor recreation potential and for the conservation and enjoyment of the significant qualities of the areas through which they pass. The Appalachian and the Pacific Crest trails were the first to be designated as National Scenic Trails in 1968.

Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Trails: Greenways designed for recreational purposes to accommodate motorized off-road vehicles such as snowmobiles, all terrain vehicles (ATV') etc.

Rail-Trails: Former railroad corridors converted to trails.

Scenic Byways: Roads for touring, designated for the scenic or historic character of the landscapes they traverse.

State Forest Hiking Trails: Hiking trails designated by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry. There are currently 21 designated trails across the Commonwealth. For more information: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/hiking/

Sustainable Growth: Economic development that does not deplete natural resources and is sensitive to its surroundings and the environment.

Water Trails: Water trails are recreational corridors between specific locations that can be used for both single day and multiple-day trips.

Click below for a complete listing of greenway terms used in the United States:
http://www.railstotrails.org/whatwedo/railtrailinfo/resources/glossary.html/