The Fort Roberdeau Association has recently acquired additional land which surrounds the fort in Sinking Valley.
Now the question becomes what to do with it. Efforts toward that end are being made at a county level with the involvement of the Blair County Planning Commission and a thumbs up from the Blair County Commissioners toward a long range plan for the site.
“We’ve had a substantial increase in acreage at the Fort,” said Commissioner John Eichelberger. “We have opportunities there.”
Those opportunities include a “focus on an ag classroom,” according to Eichelberger along with the possibility of farm demonstrations.
The Revolutionary War historic site was reconstructed nearly 30 years ago as part of the nation’s 200th birthday celebration.
County assistant planner Lee Slusser explained an opportunity for the county to receive state funding for the Fort when he addressed the commissioners at their Tuesday meeting.
“The DCNR (Department of Conservation and Natural Resources) likes to see a long range plan before giving funding,” said Slusser. “They want to know what the optimal use of the land is. More than even a land analysis it will be based on heavy public input.”
He said the plan would be based on “what the users of the Fort want-the people of Sinking Valley and the Tyrone area, who are most of the Fort’s users.”
Some of the specifics of the long- range plan would include identifying natural trails along with areas where conventional farming practices could be implemented for educational purposes, as well as identifying conservation and preservation areas and identifying new facilities for visitor education.
“We got our wish list,” said Slusser. “(Now), let’s prioritize it and see how much we can actually afford.”
Slusser said the next steps for developing the plan include a study committee and public meetings including meeting with Tyrone Township supervisors.
“These are the first-time efforts to develop a long range plan for the Fort,” said Commissioner Barry Wright. “We as commissioners look forward to endorsing the plan.
“Twenty-thousand dollars is being sought from the Department of Conservation and Natural resources,” said Wright. “We decided to agree to allow them (the planning commission) to seek (the funding from DCNR).”
“The Fort will need to come up with an additional $5,000 towards the long-range plan,” explained Wright. “With DCNR, it’s expected they will come through with this $20,000. So, this can all be part of a Greenways study plan.”
The county planning commission has been working on a Greenways plan that is expected to be incorporated into a state plan. Counties were directed to prepare such a plan two years ago by the state. The plan involves the management of land use based on a number of criteria including recreation, protection of open spaces and goals for community revitalization.
“The planning commission will look to name a consultant for this long-range plan, not the association,” said Wright.
Commission Donna Gority had made the point at the commissioner’s meeting, according to Wright. She also endorsed the plan.
The association had previously been turned down for a DCNR grant and were told the reason was the association did not own the fort. Instead, it manages it, while the fort is owned by the county.
However, by including the fort’s plan as part of the Greenways plan, the county learned DCNR would most likely make the funds available.
