The South Branch French Creek runs through Union City Borough for approximately 2 miles. French Creek and its surrounding areas create a significant natural resource and riparian green-way zone in the Borough. The green and sustainable characteristic of French Creek and its surrounding green-way area establishes the overall theme of the French Creek Trail Town planning effort. The Borough wants to develop the French Creek Nature Trail to enhance this natural resource and to maintain the green and sustainable characteristic of French Creek as an important community asset.
Union City Borough recognizes French Creek as an important community asset and desires to undertake a planning effort to determine how to make it a better destination, water based, recreation asset for our and our region’s residents. The Borough recognizes that efforts to connect itself, its residents and visitors, its other recreation assets, and other community points of interest to the French Creek Corridor have been limited.
Other than for a few locally known, non-developed, access points, toe paths and view points, the ability of our residents to properly view, access and enjoy this resource is limited. And, in addition, the ability of visitors who do use the French Creek resource to connect with the Borough and our community assets and resources, our business are as and other places of interest has been very limited. The Borough recognizes that now is the time to undertake an implementable type of planning effort that will result in the Borough becoming a destination French Creek Trail Town.
This Union City Borough Trail Town Plan contains recommendations consistent with the Borough’s Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Plan and Active Transportation Plan. Union City Borough has been very open and public about their plans to improve and rehabilitate community parks, walking and biking opportunities and the French Creek Corridor as part of a community enhancement effort. Borough residents have repeatedly indicated that the existing Park areas should have better access to French Creek and that other approaches, such as incorporating public walking trails, installing benches/seating areas for passive enjoyment, creating access points and completing place-making enhancements should be considered as top community priorities.
Borough staff and officials, members of a Steering Committee and results from the public engagement process reinforced these improvements as priorities for the Borough. Public input received also indicated that enhancing the French Creek experience would increase the attractiveness of the Borough to families with younger children, families/groups outdoor enthusiasts and to other types of tourists/visitors. The Borough has a long history of forming partnerships and gathering community support to develop, complete and maintain community improvement projects. Continued support will be received from the Borough’s Parks & Recreation Committee, Union City Pride, Union City Community Foundation, American Legion and the little league association, various elected officials and from other community shareholders.