Latest news with #VisitJohnstown
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Minutes from our doorstep': Statewide report shows increased tourism revenue to Cambria and Somerset region.
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Sometimes people can take for granted what's in their own backyard, said Lisa Rager, executive director of Visit Johnstown, Cambria County's official destination marketing organization. However, Cambria County generated $300.8 million in visitor spending in 2023 – a $12 million increase over 2022, according to the recently released 'Economic Impact of Travel & Tourism in Pennsylvania Report.' The report, released by the Pennsylvania Office of Tourism, shows that visitor spending in Cambria County directly supported 2,073 jobs in 2023 and generated $74.5 million in labor income; $15 million in state and local taxes; and $17.1 million in federal taxes. 'We are really blessed to have so much that's just minutes from our doorstep, and people from other areas are traveling here to bike and hike our trails, paddle our waterways, attend a festival, and explore our rich history,' Rager said. By category, visitor spending in Cambria County totaled $22.4 million on lodging; $68.3 million on food and beverage; $45.1 million on retail; $58.8 million on recreation; and $106.2 million on transportation, the report said. The latest tally represents a 97.35% recovery from pre-COVID-19 spending, which stood at $309 million in 2019, Visit Johnstown said in a press release. Rager expressed confidence that the county will continue to increase visitor spending in the future. 'Visit Johnstown has been facilitating the rebranding of the area to focus on the area's outdoor recreation and experiences that only this area can claim,' she said. The Path of the Flood Trail passes through the Staple Bend Tunnel, which was America's first railroad tunnel. The Ghost Town Trail will soon be country's second looped rail-trail, Rager said – and the Stonycreek River has the longest continuous set of Class III-IV rapids in the eastern United States. 'The downhill mountain biking trails on the Inclined Plane hillside will become a bigger draw once the Inclined Plane reopens because nobody else has trails that are connected to a transportation system like the Incline, which is also the steepest vehicular inclined plane in the world,' Rager said. In addition, Rock Run Recreation ATV park is considered one of the premier ATV recreation parks in the eastern United States, she said, and Prince Gallitzin State Park is one of the most visited state parks in Pennsylvania. 'We have a lot to capitalize on,' Rager said. 'Our area's contributions to America's story are beautifully told in our national parks, historic sites and museums, which are a big draw for the history and heritage traveler.' The economic impact report also shows Somerset, Fayette and Westmoreland counties – marketed together as one Laurel Highlands region – has reached a tourism milestone. Visitor spending grew by 3% in the Laurel Highlands region in 2023, exceeding $2 billion – a record high, said Eric Knopsnyder, GO Laurel Highlands public relations director. The 2023 visitor spending in the Laurel Highlands surpasses even pre-pandemic spending of $1.9 billion in 2019. 'The world in general has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic and that includes travel,' he said. 'People have found outdoor spaces to their liking and the Laurel Highlands has so many wonderful outdoor spaces, but it's also culture, arts and unique lodging. 'We are seeing more people taking advantage of that.' Russ O'Reilly is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. Follow him on Twitter @RussellOReilly.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Johnstown officials plan to update Central Park, but residents oppose
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) — Controversy over renovation plans for Central Park has residents not on board with the city's plan for progress. The $6 million project, funded through federal money from the COVID-19 pandemic, will change the landscape of Central Park. The water fountain at the epicenter of the park will be taken over to Sandyvale Memorial Park, along with the deconstruction of the stage gazebo. The city plans to add more power outlets and a brand new pavilion stage adjacent to the corner of Locust St. and Gazebo Park, sidewalk upgrades and additional seating. Over $275k awarded to Cambria, Somerset, Bedford nonprofits 'We're going to try and maintain as much as the essence of Central Park as we can,' Johnstown City Manager Art Martyunska said. The project is in line with Visit Johsntown's vision of revamping the landmarks to attract more visitors to the area. Executive Director Lisa Rager has seen what their strong points are and wanted to expand on other areas in town. 'We've got a lot of people enjoying those,' Rager said. 'Obviously, our history and heritage attractions are still a big draw. It's been fun to watch it develop and grow over the years.' The project has been a huge topic of discussion by residents in the area. Some have reservations about the changes to be made by the downtown's centerpiece. 'They're getting rid of the fountain, the gazebo, these monuments, monuments to the people that died in the 1977 flood. The Civil War statue over there,' former Johnstown resident Tim Oravec said. 'All that needs to stay here. That's what gives this town what charm it's got left.' Growing up in Johnstown, Oravec remembers hopping off the bus and meeting up with friends in the park. The memories he holds onto are a message that he says city officials are not grasping. 'People from outside the city want this park to be guarded and turned into what they want,' Oravec added. 'It seems like no one's listening to the people of the city.' Business owners local to the park area have similar opinions on the topic, like Damien Tackett, owner of the Sweet Spot on Franklin St. He posted to his Facebook a video of himself being chained to a tree in Central Park, along with Roots Kitchen & Juicery owner George Heit. 'We thought that our voices weren't being heard,' Tackett said. 'And we were just trying to point out how big of an impact that not only the events, but the park project in general will have on downtown, the community and the business community.' The act was to protest the renovations of the park in favor of other parts of the city that need the funding. It was also a stand to bring back the biweekly farmer's market and the annual Christmas Village. 'If you look at the sidewalks and you can see in many places, they're very barely passable,' Tackett said. 'And we have a lot of people with mobility issues. You look at playgrounds that haven't really had any true attention spent on them in years. You look at all of these blighted buildings on every corner, it could be used for something else.' Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters. With all the controversy and pushback officials have seen from the community, both Rager and Martyunska note that the project will be beneficial to those local and foreign to the area. 'We want to leverage the economic impact of that and get those folks spending time in and spending money in our towns, communities and in businesses,' Rager said. 'There's some things we've eliminated. There's some things we've changed. Not just for cost savings, but also for aesthetics and to make it more user-friendly,' Martyunska said. The Central Park renovations are expected to begin by Labor Day. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ -
