The York County Rail Trail Authority is a volunteer, ten-member Authority formed in 1990 under the direction of the York County Board of Commissioners. The Authority’s mission is to enrich York County communities and countryside through the development of a network of public trails.
The Authority, which is incorporated under the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Act of 1945, is a political subdivision of the County of York.
Here is where you can find the latest Meeting Minutes and our Policies and Procedures.
York County Rail Trail Authority
- Executive Director: Gwenyth Loose, CPRP
- Executive Assistant: Denise Tushingham
- Chairman: Frank Kempf
- Vice-Chair: Brandon Wingert
- Treasurer: Albert Gleichauf
- Secretary: [ VACANT ]
- Members: Silas Chamberlin, Sean Kenney, Karen Knuepfer and Ann Yost; Emeritus Members, Henry Herrman and Lori Mitrick
- Solicitor: Scott Beaverson, Esq.
- Engineer: Jeffrey Shue, C.S. Davidson, Inc
Authority Committees
- Executive Committee – Frank Kempf, Brandon Wingert, Albert Gleichauf.
- Hanover Trolley Trail Development Committee — Frank Kempf, Silas Chamberlin, Carl Knoch, Ann Yost, Jeff Shue, and Gwenyth Loose
- Hanover Trolley Trail Operating Committee — Authority Members: Brandon Wingert. Municipal representatives: AJ Grimm (Hanover Borough), Clayton Black (Penn Twp), Dave Brown (Jackson Twp), Peg Moulton (Heidelberg Twp), and Scott Miller (Spring Grove Borough). Citizen Members: Al Kuhn, Jake Taylor, Pete Smith, Kate King, Terry Reichard, and Chris Wagman, Joe Montminy.
- Planning Committee— Chairman: Carl Knoch; Authority Members: Karen Knuepfer. Citizen Members: Tim Senft, Beverly Hilt, Matt Chronister, Kathy Deporter, Kim Hogeman, Denise Tushingham, Brian Greth, and Terry Steyer.
Authority Members
- Frank Kempf, Chairman | Frank was appointed to the Authority in January 2014. Prior to this, Frank served as a citizen member of the Authority’s planning committee and Hanover Trolley Trail operating committee since 2012. Frank became chairman of the planning committee in November 2015, and then stepped down from this position to become Authority chairman in October 2018. Frank has more than 40 years public and private-sector experiences in the highway-building industry. Most notably, Frank retired as chief engineer of the PA Turnpike Commission. He is an avid hiker, runner, and cyclist who looks forward to expanding his community service.
- Brandon Wingert, Vice-chairman | Brandon joined the Authority in February 2022 and became vice-chairman in 2023. Brandon is a lifelong resident of Hanover, PA, where he and his brother started Legacy Athletic, a custom-decorated baseball cap and apparel company in 1992. Their company has grown into L2 Brands, now employing over 400 workers and serving retail customers across the USA and around the world. Bandon also serves the Hanover community as vice-president of the Kiwanis Club of Hanover and member of Hanover’s action team for the Trails Town Program.
- Albert Gleichauf, Treasurer | Having been appointed to the Authority in April 2020, Albert offers his financial expertise as a property tax consultant and senior vice-president of Weinstein Realty Consultants. Albert believes in giving back to the York community, which he does as an assistant wrestling coach for York College of Pennsylvania and as a past varsity wresting coach for Red Lion School District. He resides in the City of York.
- Silas Chamberlin | Silas Chamberlin, PhD, is vice president for economic development at the York County Economic Alliance. Silas previously served as CEO of Downtown Inc, executive director of the Schuylkill River National Heritage Area, and in regional leadership roles with DCNR and the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. His book, On the Trail: A History of American Hiking was published by Yale University Press in 2016, and his research has been published by Landscape Architecture Magazine and other national publications. Silas holds a PhD in environmental history from Lehigh University and is the Chief Strategy Officer and Vice-President of Economic and Community Development for the York County Economic Alliance.
-
Sean Kenny | Sean is Executive Director of Farm & Natural Lands Trust of York County, which preserves land through conservation easements – including many along the Heritage Rail Trail. FNLT has over 14,000 acres in their preservation family on over 160 properties – growing that number annually by an average of 1,000 acres with a small staff and volunteers. Sean lives along the Heritage Rail Trail on a FNLT preserved farm with his family. In addition to addition to joining the Rail Trail Authority in 2023, Sean has or had volunteered with York County Planning Commission, York Central Market, York Young Professionals and the York Saint Patrick’s Day Parade – to name a few.
- Karen Knuepfer | Karen joined the Authority in July 2024, after serving on its planning committee since 2020. As a life-long avid runner and cyclist, Karen uses her road and trail experiences to assist in the planning and development of new rail trail miles across the county. Following a career as a certified personnel consultant, Karen became actively involved in a broad range of community organizations including Humane Action for Pets, York Wildcare, York County Parks, and Penn State Master Gardeners. Karen is best recognized as an active member and past president of York Road Runners Club.
- Ann Yost | Ann was appointed to the Authority in November 2014. She is a registered landscape architect and principal with YSM Landscape Architects, a York-based landscape, architectural, and park and recreation planning firm. Ann brings to the Authority a wealth of talent, including over thirty-five years of experience in both private and public landscape design, feasibility studies, master plans, and construction documents for parks and trails. She resides in Hopewell Township, where she serves as chairman of the planning commission.
Emeritus Members
-
Henry Herrman | Henry served on the Authority since its beginning in 1990 and became its first emeritus member in May 2016. His service included chairman of the Owners and Operators Committee and most recently as a member of the Hanover Trolley Trail’s Trail Operations Committee. During his active tenure, Henry brought to the Authority a tremendous amount of local railroad knowledge and enthusiasm for converting the County’s Northern Central rail line to a rails-with-trails county park. Henry’s other community service included the Red Lion Historical Society, the local volunteer fire company, and St. Paul UM Church.
-
Lori Mitrick | Lori was appointed to the Authority in June 2016. Her public service includes President Commissioner of the York County Board of Commissioners from 2004 to 2008 and Chairman of the Board of the Springettsbury Township Board of Supervisors from 1992 to 2003. Other community service includes President of the Board for the York County Literacy Council and Board Director of the York County Community Foundation, as well as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of History and Political Science of York College of Pennsylvania. She was awarded emeritus status in August 2020.
Executive Staff
-
Gwenyth Loose / Executive Director | Gwen began her work as Executive Director of the Rail Trail Authority in 1997, having worked for several years with York County Department of Parks and Recreation. She is a Certified Parks & Recreation Professional with the National Recreation and Park Association. She holds a Masters Degree from Penn State University, serves as vice-president of the Appalachian Trail Museum, and is a member of several local, state and national hiking organization.
-
Denise Tushingham / Executive Assistant | Denise began her work with York County Rail Trail Authority in April 2023. Her broad professional experiences as a real estate paralegal and events facilitator and donor solicitor for Junior Achievement, combine with her avid interest in all-things-outdoors. Denise is a life-long resident of Hanover with a primary interest in the development of the Hanover Trolley Trail.
Who's Using Our Trails?
A study was conducted in 2022 and the results can be viewed by downloading the PDF below!