...for the notable quotables that helped bring this project to presentation. The support provided by "Philosoper's Notes" was invaluable in maintaining an "attitude" for completion during the ten months it took me to put my bikeway project together.  

Gave a presentation on sustainable economic development to community leaders in Trumbull County, Ohio,on August 19th, 2009.

"The economic thrust is based on the regional recreational resources of The Lake-to-River Greenway and Mosquito Lake, in Trumbull County, and factors in the current and future trends of cycling and sustainability. The project should help meet administration costs and stabilize safety services in the County. Any manufacturing we get after, is frosting on the cake. Also; what better way to market the area to "green" business than through the sustainable development of our communities." 

Hello my name is Michael Swiatkwich. Thank you for your attention. Special thanks go to the Bazetta Township Trustees and Trumbull County Metroparks. Though these agencies have provided an opportunity, our opinions and ideas are our own. We are a Citizen's Initiative Action operating as Bazetta Township Bikeways. What we're offering is a citizen's perspective on sustainable economic development represented by the joining together of two regional recreational resources, resulting in "The Mosquito Lake Bikeway".

Sustainable development is an alternative to our present economic pattern of growth and consumption. Sustainable development recognizes the finite limits of our world's resources and expanding populations. It recognizes that the health of our world and the co-existence of all cultures and species are necessary for any future.

In a meeting with the Trumbull County Planning Commission early on, it was brought to my attention that certain aspects of our basic plan were shared with Trumbull County Metroparks. On closer inspection of Metroparks heretofore unknown Comprehensive Plan for 2009 and follow-up meetings with their Chair, Mr. Mike Wilson, we realized that the groundwork for key physical aspects had already been done. The shift of our focus now is marketing the economic development that would come as a result of those joined plans.

The ideas you'll hear today represent a major change in perspective, a paradigm shift in thinking. Culturally and sociologically, we resist these kinds of change because new ideas threaten the status quo of our comfort zone.  We also resist change because we have an investment of time and money in our education and/or experience. To be open to alternatives, you have to open your mind and look at things differently. (All bold face type that follows is my emphasis.)

We are not going to be talking about JUST a bike path. We are going to be talking about sustainable economic development, building communities and the marketing of both of those aspects. The regional focus is Mosquito Lake and the surrounding municipalities consisting of Bazetta Township, Cortland, Mecca Township and Greene Township. These areas will be hereinafter referred to collectively as "The Lake Communities", a term I first heard while serving on Cortland's ad hoc Appearance Committee working to implement their Strategic Focus. Though these areas are mentioned specifically, we feel that all of Trumbull County would benefit.

http://mappass.mytopo.com/maps/print_mytopo.asp?print=20&scale=40.64&layer=DRG&layer=HILLSHADE&lat=41.34073147559029&lon=-80.74470520019531&orient=0&res=144

Approximately 2.2 million people used Mosquito Lake recreationally last year. (Kevin Kuriatnyk ODNR)  A lot of those people were boating and fishing. Some were walking and some were swimming and/or picnicking

To give an idea of the economic factor represented by just the boating industry, I've included an excerpt from a press release by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/home_page/newsreleasefeed/tabid/18276/EntryID/4/Default.aspx

In this release they cite a 2007 study by the Great Lakes Commission and the Recreational Marine Research Center of Michigan State University, showing that the recreational boating industry generates an estimated $3.5 billion for Ohio's economy and supports more than 26,000 jobs. 

• "We know recreational boating is a viable and growing industry in the region, which explains why Ohio and five other Great Lakes states are among the top ten states nationally in number of registered watercraft," said Sean D. Logan, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

A majority of those boats ply the waterways of Lake Erie, but Mosquito Lake is the second largest inland body of water in the state. Our Committee's position is that by adding cycling to the mix of boating and other activities, we can increase our share of those revenues and more.

To give some insight into the economics of cycling, I'll start with a study done by Alta, Planning & Design, a company firmly committed to the development of a sustainable global community and planet by enhancing transportation options, investing in local communities and reducing their carbon footprint in their personal and professional lives.  http://www.altaplanning.com/about+us.aspx

Oregon Bicycling Economic Study Update 9/11/08

Alta announced the results of the Portland Economic Study Update today. The value of the bicycling-related industry to Portland's economy has grown nearly 40 percent since 2006, and is now worth nearly $90 million.  This economic sector also provides between 850 and 1150 jobs in Portland. 67 companies participated in a web survey and follow-up interviews, and results were compared to 2006 study data.

The report only estimates direct bicycle-related business activity (gross revenues and incidental expenditures by event participants) in Portland, and does not include bicycle-related benefits to residents' health, traffic congestion, air quality, or quality of life. It also does not include the increasing number of businesses that use bicycles as delivery vehicles.

The 2006 Growth in Bicycle-Related Businesses study (funded by the City of Portland) generated an unprecedented level of interest from national and local media, decision makers, and tourism and economic development professionals. We have seen the positive results of that attention in new partnerships, like the PDC airport installation, major tourism marketing campaigns about bicycling in Portland, national conferences and trade fairs, and new bicycle-related businesses relocating to Portland.

Portland, OR has a population of 575,930 people (2008 Statistics). Dividing $90,000,000.00 by the population of Portland equals $156.27 per person. Multiply the combined populations of "The Lake communities", which is 16,951  (2000 Statistics) by $156.27 and you get $2,648,932.77. This is just a rough comparison to give you an idea on the value of cycling if we had a similar community. There are a lot of variables to consider in this example. Portland is also the number one city of the number fourth state in the country of "Bicycle Friendly Communities". (League of American Cyclists)

To further profile cycling economics, I've included part of the 2008 Industry Overview of the National Bicycle Dealers association.

http://nbda.com/page.cfm?pageID=34

• CYCLING PARTICIPATION

44.7 million Americans age seven and older were estimated to have ridden a bicycle six times or more in 2008, according to the National Sporting Goods Association. This was up 11% from 2007... Cycling is the seventh most popular recreational activity in the U.S., behind exercise walking, swimming, camping, fishing, exercising with equipment and bowling.

Bicycles and related products appeal primarily to a recreation market in the United States. NBDA research conducted by the Bicycle Market Research Institute in 2006 reported that 73% of adult cyclists rode for recreation, 53% for fitness, 10% for commuting, 8% racing and 6% sport. The figures add up to more than 100% because some ride in multiple ways.

Riding for transportation is a growing market that is important for the industry because it establishes cycling as a legitimate part of the nation's transportation mix. The industry, as well as cyclists across the country, have strongly advocated for streets and roads to be made more friendly to bicyclists and pedestrians in recent years. Bicycles are important not only as vehicles to make an entire trip to work, for instance, but also as connectors for short trips from mass transit. Several cities and companies have instituted bike sharing programs that allow people to borrow a bike for transportation and return it later.

Bicycles are clearly much more than toys, and their combination of utility and recreation use continues to justify support for cycling-friendly roads, trails and related facilities. Cycling facilities construction is at an all-time high. This continues to be an important factor in the industry's growth, as bicycles continue to provide Americans with a clean and healthy transportation alternative. Bicycle use continues to be a potential solution for improving peoples' health, as well as contributing to more livable communities.

How does Ohio look when it comes to cycling interest? High Altitude 2U, an on-line resource for cycling enthusiasts, lists 107 clubs in the State of Ohio. One of those clubs, The Out-Spokin' Wheelmen http://www.outspokinwheelmen.com/ has approximately 500 members in Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties in Ohio and Lawrence county in Pennsylvania. An example of what kind of draw one cycling event represents was recently held in Mahoning County. The three-day series of bike races in, sponsored by Carbon Racing bicycle racing club, was "projected to fill 1,800 hotel rooms in the area." So said Phil Moore, the head of Mahoning County's Convention and Visitor's Bureau. "Carbon Racing will be attracting riders and teams from several different states, and they will be bringing team members, mechanics and family members with them to the races."

You received a copy of the 2009 issue of the Bicycle Friendly America Yearbook, which comes to us courtesy of the League of American Cyclists http://www.bikeleague.org/ (handed out at presentation) The League is a national organization that represents cycling interests at the national, regional and local levels. The Yearbook is an annual publication by the League profiling the most progressive bicycle friendly communities in the country. They rank Ohio 32^nd out of 50 as a bicycle friendly state. According to a past e-mail from Mr. Jeff Peel, the League's "Bicycle Friendly Community Specialist", Ohio had just received their first BFC award for Columbus.  With only one city in Ohio qualifying for BFC status and a state ranking of 32^nd out of 50, we have a lot of opportunity for growth, national exposure and the economics that would come with it. A group of bicycling advocates has even recently taken steps to form a "Bicycle Friendly Community" in Warren. The goal is to establish a City of Warren Bicycle Advisory Committee. The group is preparing a proposal for city leaders.

Remember those highlighted recreational activities: exercise walking, swimming, camping and fishing. With the introduction of cycling to the Mosquito Lake area, we capture 5 of the top 7 recreational activities in the country. Adding the cabins and yurts the Trumbull County Commissioners have proposed, increases the camping facilities that already exist, adds depth to the type of camping available and expands our market share of the third most popular activity.

The "Lake Communities" all share the natural resource of Mosquito Lake and are in close proximity of the Lake to River Greenway, a rail-trail that extends approximately 100 miles from Lake Erie to the Ohio River. The Lake to River Greenway is scheduled for completion sometime between 2010 and 2012. It has been such a local success that there is a need to expand parking and amenities in Trumbull County. (Trumbull County Planning Commission) If you look at the Greenway as an interstate, we would be like an off-ramp that could provide lodging, food and recreation. After all, where better to place a service plaza than half-way between The Lake and The River.. 

Developing a sustainable community model based on the conjoined recreational resources of Mosquito Lake and the Lake to River Greenway opens the doors to more economic growth. We're marketing the lake, the Greenway, the addition of spurs extending that rail-trail into our communities, additional bike lanes connecting population centers and sustainable economic development.

With re-positioning, recreational bicycling also becomes bicycle transportation. Cycling, as an alternate form of transportation, is an integral part of sustainable infrastructure.  An edited excerpt from David C. Korten's book, "Agenda for a New Economy", supports that premise.

• We'll re-build our infrastructure around a model of walk able, bicycle-friendly communities with efficient public transportation to conserve energy, nurture the relationships of community and recover our farms and forestlands.

I've included an Ohio Department of Transportation map of the state's bicycle trails,

http://www2.dot.state.oh.us/bike/MAPList.htm

and a map of the cycle trails in Northeastern Ohio.

http://www2.dot.state.oh.us/bike/Northeast.htm

The next map comes from Trumbull County Metroparks Comprehensive Plan for 2009 prepared by the Trumbull County Planning Commission.

http://metroparks.co.trumbull.oh.us/DocLibrary/2009CompPlan/TCMPCompPlanPart2-20090123.pdf

This map shows part of the trail system that we want to build. Our focus at this time is specifically on the spurs attaching the Greenway to Mosquito Lake and the trail surrounding the lake. One distinctive feature is readily apparent when compared with other trails in the state. All the other trails in the state are linear. We would be the only system in the state that has not only one loop, but possibly two or three. Cyclists could ride the southern loop, the northern loop or the whole lake.  Logistically, since your trailhead and end are the same, you can park your vehicles if you drove and not have to worry about ferrying bicycles or riders. It might seem simple, but not having to re-ride your path is unique.

United by resource and bikeway, each municipality within "The Lake Communities" makes a contribution to the sustainable marketing of our regional recreational resources. Their individual strengths will be played out area by area so you can better assess their roles in the organic whole.

We'll start with Greene Township, "The Greene Jewel" of the Lake Communities. We've chosen this identifier because approximately 1/3 of the Township serves under State and Federal mandates as a refuge for wildlife. With sustainable vision, we understand the importance of conservation and preservation, the need and value of protecting our green spaces, of respect for life in all of its' forms. Through our eyes, "The Greene Jewel" is priceless. It represents the highest level of environmental stewardship.

Trumbull County Metroparks want to establish a trailhead in Greene. We consider that not only important, but vital to the local economy of Greene Township and the "Lake Communities". With approximately one third of their property eliminated from a formula that would increase their tax base through normal growth or development, there is a need and an opportunity to market their biggest sustainable asset, The Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area.

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/DesktopModules/Repository/MakeThumbnail.aspx?tabid=10579&id=225

What we envision is not just a trailhead, but a building that houses a gallery showcasing the work of ODNR, their mission to preserve habitat and their management of Mosquito Lake for The Army Corps of Engineers. A gallery that features depictions of local wildlife, both flora and fauna, captured on film, canvas or sculptured material. Seasonal shows and juried exhibits add to a permanent collection, an artistic memorial honoring their efforts to peacefully co-exist with our natural neighbors. The sounds you hear on entering the building replicate the sounds of the Reserve: crickets, splashes of water as fish feed, a conversational chirping of birds, frogs croaking their dusky melodies, the sound of feathers in the wind as waterfowl take wing, the quiet sounds of life other than our own.

The design of the whole system surrounding the lake, including the northern loop, will be done under the supervision of the Army Corps of Engineers and ODNR. These agencies are the most qualified to implement with the least impact. Information taken from the ODNR website mentions that the entire wildlife area is closed to the public, but that special tours are provided. Those special tours become even more special as cyclists are guided through the refuge on paths and bridges unique in design and materials that blend quietly into the landscape. It is our feeling that this immersion in a natural environment will further the appreciation and understanding of the need for sanctuaries. After the initial construction, the negligible impact of observation from a bicycle could open portals for visual experiences not available from parking areas and roadsides. We feel this aspect of development is so unique as to enjoy destination status for cycling enthusiasts and families in the tri-state area and beyond.

Mecca Township is the next municipality as we travel south. It's the halfway point of either the northern or southern loop, the ideal place to stop and take a break on a long ride. Because of this, there exist small business opportunities and more business for cafés, stores that sell beverages and healthy snacks. Bicycle rentals, sales and maintenance facilities could exist in Mecca or anywhere along the "Mosquito Lake Bikeway", where zoning permits.

We also look at Mecca as being the gateway to the farming communities of the north, west and east. Situated at the intersection of State Route 46 and 88 it is in an excellent position for the logistics of transport and sale of local agricultural products. There is a growing national trend towards buying local and Mecca could be the marketplace for those products. Mecca's Annual Corn Roast already has the potential for developing into a Harvest Festival or Harvest Holiday, which would support this agricultural direction.

Small family farms are enjoying a comeback with the introduction of Community Supported Agriculture and the increasing national trend towards buying locally grown products. With the concept of CSA's, the family farmer or small grower, contracts directly with consumers for a season of produce. The farmers make more money on what they sell, the consumers get fresh locally grown products at a competitive price and the money spent stays in the community. http://www.sare.org/csa/

On the flip side, "the industrialization of agriculture has transformed a system that in 1940 produced 2.3 calories of food energy for every calorie of fossil-fuel energy it used, into one that now takes 10 calories of fossil-fuel energy to produce a single calorie of modern supermarket food." (Michael Pollan)

Natural gas is used for fertilizers; oil is used for pesticides and lots of gas, diesel and energy for the large tractors, trucks, machinery and processing plants used by these industrial giants that now produce our food. The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University found in 2001 that the food we ate typically traveled between 1,500 and 3,000 miles from farm to plate, which increases the size of the carbon footprint left by these large factory operations. That distance had increased by up to 25 per cent between 1980 and 2001, when the study was published. Nowadays, there's even beef from Argentina and produce from Brazil and New Zealand, which can be found in our supermarkets. Oil and natural gas are non-renewable, non-sustainable resources. When their prices go up again, and they will, we'll be paying more for food that we could grow ourselves. In addition, the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association found that 25 per cent of a vegetable's nutrition is lost in a day, and up to 80 per cent can be gone in three days. It takes anywhere from five to thirteen days for California-grown food to get from the field to shelves in Ohio. (Rural Action)

Not having the growing season of a California or Florida, we do have The OSU/Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, with a branch office in Cortland, OH. Dr. Matt Kleinhenz, Asst. Professor and Extension Vegetable Specialist at the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science at the OARDC in Wooster, has been doing work with "high tunnels" since 2005. High tunnels can provide almost 12 months of production, even in the upper Midwest. Currently, some "high tunnels" are now being used in Middlefield, OH. http://www.ohio4h.org/~news/story.php?id=3392

A second edited excerpt from David Korten's book, "Agenda for a New Economy" continues to profile the development of local sustainable economies by addressing food production.

• We'll strive for food independence by rebuilding our local food systems based on family farms and eco-friendly farming methods that revitalize the soil, maximize yields per acre, minimize the use of toxic chemicals and create opportunities for the many young people who are returning to the land.

We're not stepping off into unknown territory with this direction for sustainable agriculture. Rural Action is a member-based development organization formed in 1991 out of a citizen action organization, the Appalachian Ohio Public Interest Campaign (AOPIC). "A strategic planning process resulted in the creation of a guiding document to promote a sustainable, just, and inclusive development path for Appalachian Ohio. The Strategy for Rural Renewal has guided Rural Action's work for approximately 18 years. It based Rural Action's future on the three pillars of sustainable development - economy, equity, and the environment. Thus began the transformation of their region from traditional industrial recruitment to sustainable development led from community capacity." (Rural Action)

http://www.ruralaction.org/Rural%20Action/about.html

I've added a map of Appalachia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Appalachianohio.PNG

Trumbull and Mahoning counties are now considered part of the Appalachian Regional Commission. We can utilize those same concepts and funding to develop our communities.

Agriculture demands our attention not only as an important part of building sustainable communities, but because of our agricultural heritage. That heritage can be marketed along with the regional recreational resources of Mosquito Lake and the Greenway. "Heritage Tourism is one of the fastest growing new segments of the tourism industry." http://crm.cr.nps.gov/archive/17-8/17-8-1.pdf According to the National Coalition of Heritage Areas, "Heritage development begins by informing residents and visitors alike about community history, traditions and the environment, while providing support to create opportunities in outdoor recreation, tourism and the expansion and promotion of cultural resources."  (Rural Action) With informing residents of their cultural history, important affinitive steps are taken towards the re-building of community. 

"The Wayne National Forest, which is situated throughout Appalachia in three districts: Athens, Marietta and Ironton, attracted 689,000 visitors in 1996. 384,000, or 55 per cent, were from outside the impact area and spent an average of $82.74 per visit, according to Ted King of the U.S. Forestry Service." (Rural Action)  We don't have the distinction of living in the foothills of Ohio's only National Forest, but we do live close to the second largest inland lake in the state. Mosquito Lake State Park had approximately 2.2 million visitors last year. If we offered more amenities, like a bikeway system, a bicycle tour through the Mosquito Lake Game Refuge, expanded camping facilities and our rediscovered heritage tourism, I believe we could encourage more visitors to stay longer and spend more money. Fifty-five per cent of 2.2 million equals 1.21 million, multiplied by the Appalachian $82.74 equals $100,115,400.00 in potential revenue by their standards.

I've included a graph showing the top five tourist activities and the percentage of tourists engaging in each activity in Appalachia versus the State of Ohio. (Rural Action) While they are not manufacturing jobs, these figures do represent a lot of small business opportunities. Biking, which is at the bottom of the list in Appalachia and Ohio, would receive more attention and make our offering unique. The remaining tourist activities of shopping, visiting historic sites, cultural activities/museums and Mosquito State Park will make their economic contributions directly and indirectly to our regional package.

	Appalachia	State
Activities	Dollars Spent	Average
Shopping	32%	7.3%
Visiting Historic Sites	21%	6.5%
Cultural Activities/Museums	15.5%	12.1%
Parks State & National	12.1%	6.6%
Hiking & Biking	10.3%	3%

The City of Cortland, http://www.cityofcortland.org/ the next community as we move south, was once called Baconsburg before becoming the village of Cortland in 1874. Cortland is the home for the Trumbull County branch of the Ohio State University Extension. Their local Master Gardener Program began in 1997 and  "provides researched based knowledge and leadership development to volunteers and the local community. Their consumer horticulture program strives to maximize human, material and natural resources, and values teamwork and excellence in educational programming. The trained, volunteer members help empower people, to improve the quality of life at home and in the community, to respect the environment and to network through horticultural education, projects and activities. " (Master Gardener Mission Statement) Sounds to me like a sustainable mission that would help to promote our agricultural heritage.

Cortland also represents the cultural and commercial center needed for development.  "The Opera House" and "The Viet's Museum", located in Cortland and a very active Cortland-Bazetta Historical Society continue to build value for the heritage tourism of the "Lake Communities". Efforts in the past have been made to organize a "Historical District". Situated on a hill, with a scenic overlook of Mosquito Lake, the main street of Cortland has charm and beauty. It is lined with storefronts that could cater to some of the 2.2 million local and non-local visitors that Mosquito received last year.

Bazetta Township sits at the tail waters of Mosquito Creek and is the home for Mosquito State Park, the recreational center of the "Lake Communities" and the dam built by the Army Corps of Engineers, which created Mosquito Lake. Though some of us might know that the dam was built for flood control, do you have any idea on the amount of money that has been saved by the Dam's construction? The Army Corps of Engineer's website, gives us that information. http://www.lrp.usace.army.mil/rec/lakes/mosquito.htm

• Since its completion in 1944, Mosquito Creek Lake has prevented flood damages estimated to be in excess of $196 million. (July 16, 2007) Mosquito has the capability to store the equivalent run-off of 29 inches of precipitation from its 97 square mile drainage area.  When compared to the savings which have resulted, the construction cost of just over $4 million appears small.

The Dam, the reservoir, and the Army Corps of Engineers are a part of our community and a part of our heritage. There should be at the very least, informational kiosks telling the story about the creation of Mosquito Lake and the history of the Corps. "Pittsburgh District's 26,000 square miles include portions of western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, eastern Ohio, western Maryland and southwestern New York. Their jurisdiction includes more than 328 miles of navigable waterways, 23 navigation locks and dams, 16 multi-purpose flood damage reduction reservoirs, 40 local flood damage reduction projects and other projects to protect and enhance the Nation's water resources, infrastructure and environment." (Army Corps of Engineers website) Sounds like a sustainable mission to me, totally congruent with the direction we want to take for economic development. http://www.bazettatwp.org/

http://metroparks.co.trumbull.oh.us/DocLibrary/2009CompPlan/TCMPCompPlanPart2-20090123.pdf

Bazetta Township is also the "front door" of the "Lake Communities", and the nexus of our bikeway development connecting the population centers of the Mosquito Lake region.  The bike lanes we want along St. Rte. 305 and State Route 87 connect the Greenway to Mosquito Lake top to bottom. The additional bike lanes that we propose will run alongside the balance of 305, State Routes 5 and 46, Bazetta Rd., Warren-Meadville and McCleary-Jacoby.  These bike lanes connect our neighborhoods to the recreational center of the State Park, the "Mosquito Lake Bikeway", the commercial, cultural center of Cortland, Champion Township, Fowler Township, Howland Township and transition to the city of Warren and it's suburbs. While the spurs off of The Greenway servicing the northern and southern portions of the "Mosquito Lake Bikeway" open development westward towards Akron and Cleveland, the southern direction of the "Bazetta Township Bikeways" further develop economic corridors with Howland Township and Warren, the historic capitol of the Western Reserve and the Trumbull County seat of government.

With the sustainable development of our regional resources, we also create a climate that would attract similar business and industry. The third edited excerpt from David Korten's book, "Agenda for a New Economy":

• We'll strive for energy independence by supporting local entrepreneurs who are creating and growing local businesses to retrofit our buildings and develop and apply renewable energy technologies.

Sustainable small business opportunities would grow in that climate we've created and we would be on the short list of "Green" manufacturers looking for a home. "The soft infrastructure of a cycling system also directly addresses a quality of life issue that is important to green businesses and the Tech industry," said Mr. Hunter Morrison, Director of Campus Planning and Community Projects at Youngstown State University.  No longer will we have to chase the "Holy Grail " of manufacturing.

http://www.lrp.usace.army.mil/rec/lakes/images/mosquito/mosquito_aerial.jpg

With these previous pages, I've tried to create a vision. Not only to provide some sort of economic framework for this development, but also to create a sense of identity. The purpose in creating an identity lies in utilizing the psychological concept of affiliation to re-build a sense of community. Dr. Al Pondillo, a psychologist and a friend, has consented to give an explanation of affiliation.

"Affiliation is essentially the psychological desire to be with others.

Human beings are gregarious; fond of the sociable company of others.  In this sense, we are similar to animals that live in flocks, herds or packs. As such, in order to be healthy, we need to be part of an affinitive group. Affiliation is a high order need that has its roots in survival. Once an individual's lower order needs, such as survival are taken care of, then the personality and character development of the higher levels begin.

Our earliest affinitive group is our parents and siblings, followed by friends and classmates. As we grow older we seek affiliation in other ways such as being a member of a club, team organization or other social group.

There was a time when the family unit was stronger and our corresponding communities reflected that strength. In rural communities, if you needed help, you could count on your neighbors. Ethnic communities within our cities reinforced that sense of belonging through cultural heritage. Even the architecture of those early communities was designed with this group sense in mind. We used to have sidewalks, and every home had a front porch. As people would take their evening walks, they would meet others. When they would walk by a neighbor who was sitting on the porch, people would stop, talk and visit. Visits would sometimes reveal that a neighbor was in need, and immediately, plans to help that neighbor were in the works. Committees were not required to provide help, friendship or assistance.

Modern architecture does not recognize affiliation. Sidewalks are disappearing and a back-yard deck has replaced the front porch. It is not unusual for individuals to return home from work, push their garage door opener and enter their homes never to be seen by others. Both parents working, latchkey kids and the electronic miracles of television and computer technology further isolate us from this high order function. Technology has its benefits, but it cannot change the fact we are still human and have intrinsic psychological needs.

As affiliation decreases, the ability to trust others also decreases. Without trust, relationships do not form and neighbors stop helping neighbors. If help is needed, it is now provided by a publicly funded agency. In lieu of positive affiliations, negative affiliations can also take hold. That same sense of affiliation, of needing to belong, is at work in the creation of gangs. Communities with strong affiliations have experienced lower neighborhood crime. Neighbors in these communities are not afraid to "get involved" and the monitoring of their friends properties is almost instinctive. Communities with strong affiliations commonly experience lower delinquency rates and vandalism."

Now that we're aware of the validity of this high level order, how can we use it to re-build communities? A community is not defined exclusively by geographical boundaries; a community is also defined by its people. The important work of building or re-surfacing roads and sewer excavations is being done, but we're ignoring our most important asset. What are we doing to re-build the psychology of our citizens? If we can restore some small measure of self-respect, we can help re-create that sense of community. If we can establish a positive group identity, residents will respond psychologically to that image because of the higher order human need for "affiliation". The Lake Communities" will re-build that sense of "community" directly by identity and by combined efforts on a common project.

Why is it important to re-build our communities? We've discovered the commonality of a community has a binding, building and strengthening psychological effect.  Working to develop local resources also builds ownership and some degree of independence from the vagaries of a worldwide economy. Whereas a manufacturer, like Delphi, General Motors or Severstal, affected by the macro-economics of a world market, can make the decision to curtail or close operations; regional resources are not going to move or close. The economic development that surrounds our resources might experience an ebb and flow, but those resources will continue to be an anchor of stability through the ebb of economic downturns and provide the foundation for the flow of re-development afterwards. If a region were beset by calamity, be it man-made or natural, which areas would be more likely to survive or rebound? In that consultation with Mr. Hunter Morrison at Youngstown State University, he mentioned that the English have a word describing that quality, a community's ability to survive, as "Resilience". This move towards the sustainable development of our regional resources places us in the vanguard of current community development, while at the same time laying the groundwork for the strategic contingency of self-sustenance, should there be a break down or monetary increase in the centralized methods of distribution currently used. My Mother always taught me to hope for the best, and prepare for the worst. I think that lesson should apply to community planning also.

Mr. David Korten's last edited excerpt from "Agenda for a New Economy".

• We'll seek to create a true ownership society in which all people have the opportunity to own their own homes and have an ownership stake in the enterprises on which their livelihoods depend. Our economic policies will favor local ownership of local enterprises by people who have a stake in the health of their local communities and economies.

This is an example of independent regional economics. These are communities where everybody has an investment, and everyone shares in the return. Sounds ideal.....  but you and I know, we live in a real world.

While we wallow in the quagmire of those realities that we helped to create, if we turn our development in a direction that serves the higher nature of our citizens and our communities, we will become a beacon of hope in this darkness of economic uncertainty. While leading our communities from the dusk to the dawn of development, we will create a model that others will benefit from.

With puffery and grandiose visions, I have portrayed an ideal direction. In the real world it all starts with "just a bike path"; but by conceptually developing the ideals associated with "just a bike path": the recreational aspect, the sustainable elements, the economic development, the health factors both physical and psychological and the community rebuilding; we accomplish a full spectrum of benefits. An assortment of agencies represent those different benefits, and those same agencies also represent different sources of funding.

The Army Corps of Engineers and ODNR are cast in new roles with this direction. While the Engineers have been successful in saving millions of dollars in damages with their projects, we are now asking them to help save our communities. While ODNR has been successful in protecting our natural resources, we're now asking for their help in protecting our way of life.

Trumbull County has been recently listed in the top ten of 88 counties in the State of Ohio for unemployment. A Fund for Economic Future survey found that the residents of the Mahoning Valley (Trumbull and Mahoning Counties) had the highest dissatisfaction with their communities in all of northeastern Ohio. We not only need the Engineers and ODNR, we also need for our communities, agencies and leaders to join together on one plan, to move in one direction and with one step make the best of what we have. Since nobody can close the doors or move the factory of our regional recreational resources, it seems like a good place to start. Our resources and our communities are who we are; and we, and they, are here to stay.

Bazetta Township Bikeway Committee

Michael Swiatkwich                         Ted Webb                              Michele Kubicina

2445 Niles-Cortland Rd. NE          1979 Timber Creek Dr.       3241 Circle Dr.

Cortland, OH  44410                        Cortland, OH  44410           Cortland, OH  44410

330-240-2445                                   web.ted@gmail.com            shelcina@yahoo.com

mswiatkwic@aol.com