A small slice of land sits between downtown State College and Rothrock State Forest. Unknown to many, this beautiful piece of rolling hills, farms, and forest, known as the Musser Gap Greenway, is actually managed by Penn State. The University’s vision for the site is to be an area that “not only helps protect the local water supply and plant and animal species but also makes it a place where people can enjoy nature, learn about the environment, and be inspired.” Part of this vision focuses on increasing access to the vast and unique natural resources of our area by creating a direct connection between downtown State College and Rothrock State Forest via the Greenway Trail, public transit, and the area’s sidewalk and bikeway networks.
At the start of 2023, Mike Toolan took on the role of Musser Gap Conservation Director at Penn State’s Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center to oversee the development of the Musser Gap Greenway. He learned quickly that his new role — the first full-time role overseeing the Greenway — is as much about relationship building as it is about land management.
Many volunteers, community partners, and University students, faculty, and staff have been involved with the Musser Gap Greenway initiatives since before Mike arrived on the project and have helped Mike ground himself to take on the University’s implementation plan. He ultimately sees the land as an opportunity for community members to steward and engage with the outdoors. Not only does it serve as a direct connection between State College and Rothrock State Forest, the Greenway offers endless educational and research opportunities in areas like habitat restoration, agriculture, health and environment, and conservation. Mike recognizes the project as a way to connect humans to ecology, paralleling Shaver’s Creek’s motto of “connecting people to people and people to the natural world.”
As the manager of the Musser Gap Greenway project, Mike has been connecting to people more than he expected. Building relationships is an important aspect of his project management duties to ensure that the work is supported by nearby citizens who represent various local communities. One relationship Mike maintains is with Wasson Farm, a neighboring century farm that has cultivated the agricultural portion of the Greenway for decades. Because of their long relationship with the property, the Wasson family knows the land better than most. Their knowledge of the site and local community has been invaluable when it comes to planning projects and day-to-day activities.
Mike has also found committed student groups and community organizations who are willing to share their time and expertise to help move the project forward. ClearWater Conservancy is one such partner that has been instrumental in implementing many different initiatives at the Musser Gap Greenway over the years. These relationships provide momentum to the many projects at the Greenway.
After Mike’s first year in this role, he has learned that while his fieldwork may be less physical in the winter months, the relationships that make the project possible are working year-round. The Greenway has allowed Mike to turn his ideas and creativity into an exciting and fulfilling project for himself and Penn State. Visit the Musser Gap Greenway and maybe you will find Mike and other community members learning about this beautiful place, or you can ask how you and your group can volunteer to be a part of its future.