2023 NEPA Map & Summit Talks
The 2023 NEPA Trails Map is getting printed prior to the Greenways Summit!
I want to express my gratitude to Janet Sweeney at the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and others in the NEPA Trails Forum. The 2023 Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA) Trails Map will be printed in time for the Pennsylvania State Greenways and Trails Summit, happening in less than two weeks.
Why the NEPA Map matters to me
I love NEPA, and sometimes I find a trail or natural area on the map and just escape from my desk. Actually, the 2023 NEPA Trails Map isn’t just a map; it’s a gateway to community engagement, car-free mobility, and the natural beauty of our region. By consolidating essential trail information, it serves as an invaluable resource for planners, trail advocates, and everyday adventurers like myself. The design of the map was inspired by a map that Bob Thomas, Andy Strauss, Gerry Krieg and I did of the Delaware Watershed for the William Penn Foundation.
The map is online
Check it out at nepatrails.org. View it, download it, or use it within the Avenza Maps App, which lets you see your location on the map.
Yes, people still want printed maps
About 28,000 copies will be printed on 50# uncoated stock—a shift from my usual 70# coated stock. Printing and distribution costs are rising, but people still like something they can put on the wall as a reminder of what’s important to them. Printed maps get attention.
My talks about WikiMapping and QGIS:
On Sept 18 at 11:00 am, join Mike Szilagyi and me for a session on WikiMapping. Mike and the Baker International Team have been using WikiMapping for trails in Montgomery County, so I expect to learn a lot from Mike. Personally, I’m excited to share how WikiMapping is used in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and elsewhere.
On Sept 19 at 9:00 am, I’ll talk about using QGIS for Trail Status Maps. Lynn Conrad, Director of RTC of NEPA, and I collaborated on D&H trail status maps. Christine Dettore shared input with me about why the status maps are so important for DCNR Staff to have. I’m excited because technology to help people communicate spatial information is so accessible.
Getting to Scranton
My friends, family and I are always dreaming about great bicycle trips. This summer I’ve biked in Iowa, Croatia, and the Netherlands. And it’s about time that I bike closer to home. Since Scranton is 150 miles away, it’s the perfect bike destination from the Philadelphia area.
Let’s meet up!
I’m looking forward to meeting and talking with people at the summit.
