Bucknell graduate Alana Jajko (BA ‘15, MA ’18) recently sat down with students in the Public Writing for Media class to discuss her involvement with the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership. Spanning approximately 500 miles, once complete, it will be the biggest greenway in Pennsylvania.
A greenway, a conglomerate of the words “greenspace” and “parkway”, acts as a navigable corridor in which conservation, wildlife, and human connection is the overwhelming focus of function. The Susquehanna Greenway includes parks, walking trails, and waterways. These areas allow citizens to walk, bike, or paddle along the river as they progress from town to town down the greenway. Because the river is also a designated water trail,
Along with recreational benefits, the project will also bring value to nearby residential properties and revenue to the local communities that surround it. It also acts as a natural buffer zone and floodplain to protect nearby towns and neighborhoods from potential flooding.
The greenway has been divided into four sections due to its size. Bucknell rests on the West Branch, the most rural branch of the river, measuring about 228 miles in length. The North Branch consists of 180 miles of more city areas and industry, while the middle and lower sections are both shorter at approximately 50 miles each, but no less important.
The project is undoubtedly off to a great start, but according to Ms. Jajko, the future focus of the program is rooted in education and outreach. “Interacting with people in person and on the ground is really interesting and a great way to get people acquainted with the greenway,” she explained. As a result, she has gone to lengths to begin to implement events that encourage people to get involved and active— cleanup months, photo contests, and river trail sojourns. Those who are interested in getting involved can stay up to date on their FaceBook account, or by following them on Instagram at @susquehannagreenway.
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