Marianna outdoor club working to revitalize area
Justin Stepp, 12, of Marianna, left, with his brother Jacob, 9, take advantage of the new handicap-accessible ramp to throw rocks into Ten Mile Creek during the Marianna Outdoorsmen Association ribbon-cutting of a water trail Friday.
Veteran Ed Leeper, left, of Washington, and Greg Traynor of Canonsburg, try out the new ramp Friday before the ribbon-cuting ceremony for the eight-mile trail along Ten Mile Creek in Marianna.
Justin Stepp, 12, of Marianna, left, with his brother Jacob, 9, throw rocks into the creek during Friday’s event.
Jason White, Marianna Outdoorsmen Association, walks with Greg Traynor, of Canonsburg, during the ribbon-cuting for a handicap-accessible trail along Ten Mile Creek.
Justin Stepp, left, and his brother Jacob, 9, of Marianna, enjoy the handicap-accessible trail along Ten Mile Creek that was unveiled Friday.
Justin Stepp, left, and his brother Jacob,9, play on the handcap-accessible trail along Ten Mile Creek that was developed by the Marianna Outdoorsmen Association.
MARIANNA – Type “Marianna, Pa.” into any Internet search engine, and the phrase “historic coal mining town” pops up.
Someday in the near future, area native Jason White expects to see words like ‘outdoor,’ ‘recreation,’ ‘fishing’ and ‘camping.'
White, 28, is president and one of the founding members of the nonprofit Marianna Outdoorsmen Association, a group of 75 outdoor enthusiasts who believe in promoting the resources of Southwestern Pennsylvania. The group hosts the annual Marianna canoe race, the largest of its kind in the state and a successful fundraiser that has grown from 17 vessels to almost 200. The association also works with veterans and community organizations to revitalize the region.
With help from volunteers, business owners and Marianna Borough, the association recently completed a $150,000 Ten Mile Creek handicapped-accessible water trail project. They unveiled the resource to the community during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday, followed by a catfish stocking.
“This has been a blessing,” said White. “From here, we have to go bigger.”
White, a former engineering student, was almost killed in a 2013 coal mining accident. He said the experience opened his eyes to the limited amount of resources available to people with disabilities.
He looks to Ohiopyle in Fayette County, an outdoor enthusiast’s oasis with more than 1 million annual visitors, as a model for what Marianna and surrounding communities can become.
He hopes to entice the state Fish and Boat Commission to stock trout, a move he believes will entice tourists to the area. He also hopes more political figures follow state Sen. Camera Bartolotta’s lead and get behind the project.
“We’ve been working on it. Maybe next year, we can get it stocked,” said Bartolotta, R-Carroll Township, after the ceremony.
“Ten Mile Valley and the Mon Valley are huge assets that can no longer be ignored,” said White. “I’ve always had hope. I’ve always believed this area could be more. It’s extremely important for people to look outside the box. You can’t expect different results without trying different or innovative ideas. Small town America is right here. This area can prosper.”
Ed Thomas, the association’s senior director, shares the younger man’s vision.
“I remember what Marianna was,” said Thomas, 77. “I’m so anxious to make sure Marianna is like it used to be.”
The association is working on many future endeavors, including creating a rails-to-trails bike path, a coal mining memorial with restoration of coke ovens and an overlook of the creek’s dam at the old pump house.
“This will bring opportunity, and with opportunity comes progress,” said White. “I believe in this. I believe in these communities.”