Trail Learning
Release – February 25, 2026. CU-Mansfield (Mansfield University’s North Hall Library).
MANSFIELD, PA – WeConservePA is excited to announce that the 2027 Pennsylvania Greenways and Trails Summit will be hosted by Tioga County Planning and the Pennsylvania Route 6 Alliance Heritage Corridor. This biennial event is a collaborative effort led by WeConservePA and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, who select host sites through a competitive proposal process. The summit is expected to attract over 300 trail builders, volunteers, advocates, park and recreation professionals, and outdoor enthusiasts for three days of mobile workshops, educational sessions, and networking in Tioga County, the “Keystone of the Keystone State.”
Tioga County Planning Director, Rachel Courtney, and PA Route 6 Alliance Executive Director, Candace Hillyard, will serve as the planning committee co-chairs for the event, which will be hosted jointly by the communities of Wellsboro and Mansfield. The co-chairs aim to immerse attendees in the authentic, everyday experience of rural Pennsylvania and showcase the unique role that outdoor recreation plays in community identity, resilience, and revitalization. From Wellsboro’s charming, walkable Main Street and direct access to the Pine Creek Rail Trail via the Marsh Creek Greenway, to Mansfield’s deep-rooted history and evolving identity centered on education, heritage, and public access to Army Corps-managed recreation areas, the Summit will demonstrate how different rural communities embrace and steward their greenways, blueways, and trail systems. The Summit will emphasize experiential learning and place-based connection, not just discussing best practices in outdoor recreation and conservation but experiencing them firsthand.
From Rachel Courtney, Tioga County Planning Director:
Guided by Tioga County’s Comprehensive Plan, the Planning Department brings partners together to thoughtfully plan, develop, and promote outdoor recreation assets that serve both residents and visitors. Being selected to host the 2027 Pennsylvania Greenways & Trails Summit, a premier event for professionals, volunteers, and enthusiasts engaged in trail and greenway work, in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Route 6 Alliance Heritage Corridor, is an incredible honor and a meaningful affirmation of the care we invest in our landscapes, our heritage, and our people.
The Summit’s focus on training, collaboration, and sharing best practices aligns seamlessly with Tioga County’s commitment to stewardship and forward-thinking recreation planning. We’re excited to work alongside WeConservePA and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to welcome trail and greenway leaders from across the Commonwealth and beyond.
Attendees will gather not only to network, learn, and exchange ideas, but also to experience the greater Wellsboro and Mansfield area as rural Pennsylvania is truly lived—where trails connect neighbors, outdoor recreation builds resilience, and inspiration comes from boots on the ground and eyes on the landscape. We’re honored to offer these experiences in the Keystone of the Keystone State—Tioga County. Our Keystone Roots aren’t just a slogan, but a foundation supporting a future grounded in stewardship, curiosity, and connection. Hosting this statewide Summit is a powerful opportunity to showcase how partnerships, education, and outdoor recreation come together to strengthen communities, spark collaboration, and enrich the experience of everyone who lives, works, and visits here.
The Summit is financed in part by a grant from the Federal Highway Administration’s Pennsylvania Recreational Trails Program, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.
The planning committee, joined by the leadership teams of both Tioga County Planning and PA Route 6 Alliance, is also comprised of representatives from: WeConservePA; Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; Mill Cove Environmental Area; Mansfield Chamber of Commerce; Mansfield Borough; Wellsboro Chamber of Commerce; Develop Tioga; Visit Potter-Tioga; Army Corps of Engineers; Northern Tier Regional Planning; PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship; Lumber Heritage Region; Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development; Pennsylvania Office of Outdoor Recreation; and Pennsylvania Environmental Council.
