State of the Region

Planning across generations…

The South Mountain Partnership is excited to launch a multi-year project called the “State of the Region”. This project works collectively with partners and community members to identify the overall health of our region, offering opportunities to collaboratively identify projects and actions that can make the South Mountain an even more incredible place to live, work, and play for generations to come.

State of the Region, Updates

State of the Region Update: Magical Measurements!

The Process

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INDICATOR DETERMINATION AND METRIC SELECTION

August 2022-January 2023
In this phase our consultants will meet with key partners and
subject matter advisors to determine metrics and key
priorities in these categories; nature, agriculture/food, historic/cultural, recreation, and public health.

State of the Region Report Card Development

January 2023- May 2023
Next, these metrics will be measured in the region and evaluated within a report card format. Opportunities will be identified.

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Interactive Map and Story Map

May 2023-August 2023
Metrics will be mapped within the region for both internal and public use.

Recommendations created and released

February 2023-September 2023
Our consultant team will use public feedback and metric results to identify key regional landscape issues and recommendations to address them.

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Communicating the State of the Region

September 2023-September 2025
We plan to strategically use the study’s recommendations and results to direct the partnership’s work through 2025 and prepare to communicate actionable steps for our partners to take advantage of opportunities to better protect and preserve our region for generations to come.

Deliverables of the Project

State of the Region Report Card

Evaluates data and trends in environmental categories such as Air, Energy, Land, Waste, and Water to assess the current conditions of our landscape. An interactive process selects the environmental categories. We have worked closely with planning department staff in Adams, Cumberland, Franklin, and York counties on the final scope of work.

Interactive Map

Dynamic and interactive visual product that shows environmental categories and indicators data, along with county comprehensive plans, in an interactive map, leading to the creation of a South Mountain Partnership landscape conservation map.

Community Conversations

Present State of the Region Report Card and observations and trends from the report card and interactive map to counties, communities, municipalities, elected officials, and organizations; facilitate discussion about what is working well and any needed course corrections to ensure a more sustainable future.

Outcomes

Outcome #1

A snapshot of public health and current conditions will be created and presented to the public, community leaders, and elected officials to understand the current conditions around public health better. Together, we can protect and enhance public health, recreation and conservation, and Quality of life by having the data and context necessary.

Outcome #2

Communities, elected officials, and economic development organizations have additional tools to leverage natural resources and outdoor recreation to boost the economy through sustainable development that balances nature and commerce.

Outcome #3

Work alongside county agencies, partners, and staff to identify actions or distinct projects and collaborate on accomplishing those together. For example, potential projects could be conservation and recreation projects that could inform policy and funding priorities while using the map and report to inform planning.