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 October
12-14, 2000, the Hamer Center embarked on its inaugural Mobile
Studio visit to Johnsonburg, PA. The Hamer Center was contacted
by the Johnsonburg Community Trust to assist the community in
prioritizing areas for future implementation including streetscape
improvements, restoration of buildings in the historic district,
and economic development strategies for the downtown and surrounding
area. The Mobile Studio team that the Hamer Center assembled was
comprised of Hamer Center staff, faculty, extension agents, and
graduate students in landscape architecture, architecture, civil
engineering, community and economic development. The team worked
with members of the Johnsonburg community to develop a series
of recommendations related to community entrances and gateways,
downtown redevelopment, a greenway along the Clarion River, and
community building and networking.
During the visit, the Mobile Studio team stayed with host families,
and worked intensively for two days. The first day of the Team's
visit consisted of a community tour and meetings with community
leaders and area youth. On the second day, the team pulled together
the issues and developed a series of recommended action steps
for the future of Johnsonburg. These recommendations were presented
at a town meeting on the final night, which was attended by over
100 residents.
After the visit, Hamer Center staff refined the team’s recommendations
into a final report. This report will serve as a working document
for the community, complete with a strategic projects list and
timeline, detailed explanations of the recommendations, sketches,
plans, information on funding sources, and contact information
for potential partners.
In the spring of 2001, Hamer Center staff worked with the Johnsonburg
Community Trust and members of the Johnsonburg community to begin
one of the strategic projects. In April of 2001, community members,
Hamer Center staff, and representatives from Penn State Cooperative
Extension planted trees along Market Street in the downtown.
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