By Pam Shellenberger, AICP

Trail Towns are communities adjacent to public trails that choose to embrace the trail as an opportunity for economic growth and improved quality of life. The program considers each town’s existing resources, character, local businesses, and other assets to develop a memorable and inviting trail experience for trail users, including both residents and visitors. The basic premise is that most towns already have what trail users want—food, supplies, accommodations, bathrooms, and history—and with a little tweaking, they can become welcoming places that entice trail users to visit for longer periods of time. The longer a trail user stays in town, the more money they are likely to spend in local businesses.

The concept of a “Trail Town” is not new. The idea was pioneered more than a decade ago in small, rural towns along the Great Allegheny Passage in southwestern Pennsylvania, where the program has generated at least 64 new, trail-related businesses and an estimated $50 million in annual economic impact. Today, you will find similar programs on the D&L Trail in eastern Pennsylvania and several other long-distance, multi-use trails throughout the country, including the Appalachian Trail.

The York County Economic Alliance (YCEA) launched its Trail Towns program in June 2020. This initiative is part of YCEA’s overall strategy to boost the economies of small, historic communities throughout York County, as set forth in the County’s Economic Action Plan (EAP). This Plan, developed by YCEA and the York County Planning Commission with assistance from a Steering Committee and Fourth Economy, is a component of the York County Comprehensive Plan. More specifically, the program aligns with the EAP’s “Enhance York County’s Sense of Place” theme and its Rural Economy and Quality of Place strategies. It also supports the “improve quality of life for York County residents” guiding principle in the County’s Strategic Plan.

The goal of the YCEA Trail Towns program is to use local trails as a platform for economic development by encouraging hundreds of thousands of annual trail users to venture off the trails and into our towns to patronize local businesses. An impetus to launch the program was a $300,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED). With this grant, YCEA had funding to implement Trail Town projects identified by each community to support the program.

The first phase of the program was to create five Trail Towns along the Heritage Rail Trail County Park, a 25-mile trail between the Mason Dixon Line and John Rudy County Park in East Manchester Township. York City and the Boroughs of Glen Rock, New Freedom, Railroad, and Seven Valleys were the targeted communities. YCEA, working in partnership with York County Parks, York County Rail Trail Authority, and Explore York conducted dozens of interviews, surveyed the trail-related services and assets in each community, and sketched out a Trail Towns Process that could lead to each community becoming an official “York County Trail Town.” The process is collaborative, with outreach to local governments, residents, and business owners, enabling each town to reach its potential as a vibrant hub for trail users. 

An overview of the program and the preliminary assessment findings were presented to municipal officials in each community. With their buy-in, the next step was engaging officials, residents, businesses, and other community partners to form an Action Team and conduct a “walkshop” to audit their community from the perspective of a trail user. Those findings were translated into an actionable plan to shape the future of the municipality as a Trail Town. Finally, the plan was shared with the public to seek their assistance with establishing priorities.

To further stimulate the Trail Towns Program, YCEA created the “Trail-Friendly Business” designation. This designation signifies that the business offers excellent customer service for the trail user and promotes it to potential customers. Designation includes many promotional channels, through social media and the Trail Towns website.

With the DCED grant, YCEA offered financial assistance to initiate priority projects identified by each community, such as wayfinding, promotional materials, educational workshops for businesses, and physical improvements. Additionally, YCEA awarded BLOOM Grants to a dozen businesses and nonprofits along the Heritage Rail Trail. The BLOOM grant program now includes a specific York County Trail Towns edition. This funding comes through the BLOOM Business Empowerment Center, an entity of the YCEA that works to accelerate small business ownership and success, promote Pathways to Prosperity for talent development, and advance representation in leadership and access to opportunities.

Having proven success and using the same educational and community engagement process, YCEA expanded the Trail Towns program in 2021 to include Hanover and Wrightsville Boroughs. Historic Hanover Borough is the southern terminus of the Hanover Trolley Trail. This trail, which is a work in progress, will eventually extend from Hanover to York City. Wrightsville Borough is emerging as a recreational hub at the crossroads of the Susquehanna River, Northwest Lancaster County River Trail, and Mason Dixon Trail. The River Trail is a 14-mile multi-purpose, recreation trail with easy access to Wrightsville from Columbia Borough via Veterans Memorial Bridge. The 200-mile Mason Dixon Trail for hikers connects the Appalachian Trail with the Brandywine Trail and passes directly through Wrightsville.

YCEA envisions future phases of the Trail Towns program to support additional communities along existing and future trails in the County. Spring Grove Borough, through which the Hanover Trolley Trail passes, is the next likely candidate. In the meantime, YCEA will make its educational workshops, tool kits, and other Trail Towns-related materials available to any community interested in more closely connecting their town to their trail.

The Trail Town Action Teams remain active and are beginning to see the fruits of their work. Being a Trail Town has provided a platform for focused economic development by increasing trail tourism and supporting and encouraging local businesses to provide the services and amenities desired by the many trail users who pass through their communities each year. It has also been a springboard for improving the quality of life and vitality of the communities.

Along the trails in York County, the Trail Towns and Trail-Friendly Businesses are ready to greet you. Whether a tasty snack, a unique lunch spot, or a refreshing libation is calling your name, a few moments exploring one of the seven York County Trail Towns, is time well spent. Experience the history of the railways and towns, cultural adventures, bustling businesses, and the landscape of the Susquehanna Riverlands, while enjoying modern and trendy accommodations along the way. Each Trail Town welcomes bikers, hikers, families, casual walkers, runners, and more.