2011 Hamer Center for Community Design Student Internship Program:

Susquehanna River Towns Program

In the summer of 2011 the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership conducted a test to develop a process and assessment tool for creation of a network of Susquehanna River Towns. A committee consisting of Greenway leaders, board members and staff have been defining this process, which has been vetted by preliminary community evaluation during two River Town workshops.

Student interns assisted directly in the application of this process with SEDA-COG, the Regional Lead organization for the Greenway. Three towns in different regions of the river, and representing different town types, where chosen for the project.  For examples of these towns visit the Shickshinny and Montgomery Projects. Working directly with leaders and public groups within the towns, teams assessed readiness and opportunities for River Town application. Physical and cultural analysis were conducted to define opportunities for enhancement. Concept plans defining connections and improvement programs followed. River Towns signed formal resolutions pledging commitment to River Town Stewardship Principles. Towns will be officially designated members of the Susquehanna River Towns Network.

The student work will assist in what will become an ongoing process to define and plan River Towns. As the process was applied this summer, it was expected that modifications would be made to improve results. Students were involved with all aspects of the work. The Susquehanna Greenway Partnership expects to continue application of the process defined this summer for many years, as the River Towns Network is defined, and as programs to improve the towns mature.

The internship program for 2011 builds on a decades long history of internship and studio cooperation with SEDA-COG. Opportunity for continued cooperation with the Hamer Center for Community Design will be created as future initiatives for the Greenway are defined and implemented.

Summer 2011 Interns:

Abigail Thomas, 5th year Landscape Architecture student, avt5049@psu.edu

Bryan Heritage, 5th Year Architecture student, bwh5028@psu.edu