Blair County holds public hearing on proposed Trail Authority; residents urge trail upgrades and park repairs

Blair County commissioners held a public hearing to gather public comment on a proposed ordinance to create a Blair County Trail Authority. County Solicitor Chris Fuhrman opened the hearing, saying, “The purpose of today's hearing is to take public comment, get your information, get your comments on the record.”

Commissioners who spoke described the authority as a coordination and funding tool. One commissioner said the county held a public meeting last year that drew an unusually large turnout and “there was strong support ... they were in favor of a trail authority.” Another commissioner said the authority would “give us more grant opportunities that doesn't impact the general fund” and could bring economic benefits to the county. A different commissioner cited a Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) figure he described as “over 17,000,000,000” for outdoor-industry receipts in 2022 while urging the county to tap that market.

The hearing was procedural: exhibits and letters submitted to the county were entered into the record, and no final vote on the ordinance was taken at the session. Solicitor Fuhrman noted copies of the proposed ordinance had been available at the county building and published in local outlets; he asked that those materials and several letters of support be marked as exhibits and entered into the record. Commissioners moved to enter the exhibits and later moved to close the record and adjourn.

Public commenters generally supported forming the authority but also pressed the commissioners on specific local needs. Ron Beatty, a Blair County resident and city councilman, thanked the commissioners for taking steps toward trails and recreation development. Steve McKnight, president and CEO of the Altoona Blair County Development Corporation, said trails and outdoor recreation are “a cornerstone” of economic development strategy and praised the county’s move to form an authority.

Other members of the public recommended site-specific priorities. Mike Savino, who identified himself as an outdoor enthusiast, described roughly eight miles of mostly hand-built trails near the Kettle and the Elias Baker Foundry area, suggested a short pedestrian bridge (he described it as a roughly 20-foot span) to improve access, and urged work to document and protect historic trail features. Frank Barry, a Valley View resident, said the county built a $300,000 amphitheater at Valley View Park in 2023 that “has never been used” and urged the authority and county staff to publicize and maintain park facilities, including a disc-golf course and a bridge that he said has been deteriorating for three years.

Kaye Stevens of the Altoona Mirror asked whether the new authority would replace the county’s existing recreational advisory board, whether the commissioners had set priorities or seed funding for the authority, and how members were selected. Fuhrman and commissioners characterized the session as the public comment portion of the process prior to a vote and invited written exhibits and further input. Several letters of support were noted on the record from organizations including Curry Supply Holdings, the Blair County Airport Authority, Plamondon Hospitality Partners (spelled in the record variously), Keystone Development, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy/Central Pennsylvania, and Altoona Curve; those were entered as exhibits.

No formal action to adopt the ordinance occurred at the hearing. Commissioners indicated the submission of public comments and exhibits will be part of the record the board reviews before taking any final action.

Ending: The hearing record was closed after the commissioners moved to accept the submitted exhibits and adjourn. The county solicitor and commissioners said any further written comments could be submitted for inclusion in the record before the board votes on the proposed ordinance.