History of the Luzerne County Trail System Development |
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Home » Luzerne County » Departments/Agencies » Parks and Recreation » Trails » History of the Luzerne County Trail System Development |
In the early 1990s, the National Park Service (NPS), the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC), and interested citizens began to examine trail and greenway development opportunities in the Greater Wyoming Valley in Luzerne County. Out of these early discussions, the Greater Wyoming Valley Greenways Coalition was formed with the intent to advise local partners in the development of trails and greenways. Through support from the Edith Reynolds Trust, a Greenways Opportunities Map for the Greater Wyoming Valley was developed in 1995. Simultaneously, a group of interested citizens in the Back Mountain area of Luzerne County formed the Anthracite Scenic Trails Association in 1993 with the mission to develop a rail trail on the former Lehigh Valley Railroad bed between Luzerne Borough and Dushore.
Utilizing the Greater Wyoming Valley Greenways Opportunities Map, PEC and other local partners pursued the planning of various trails. The trail planning process was made possible by grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and Luzerne County Office of Community Development. During the mid to late 1990’s the Governor Ridge Administration increased the available state funding for the greenways/trails movement in Pennsylvania. Additionally, without the local Luzerne County financial support, the trail planning process would not have been possible.
As trail plans were completed, fledging trail organizations and developers were charting new territory in trail design and construction. Realizing the struggles that trail developers in Luzerne County as well as the northeast region of Pennsylvania were facing, PEC and the National Park Service hosted a series of three “How to Grow a Greenways” workshops. The intent of these workshops was to provide “hands on” information regarding trail design, construction and maintenance issues.
The concept of forming a partnership between trail developers and the healthcare community arose out of the third “How to Grow a Greenways” workshop. PEC and the National Park Service once again partnered to develop this new concept. With funding from DCNR, Luzerne County, the Sordoni Foundation, and the NPS, the Wyoming Valley Wellness Trails Partnership was born. A vision and Action Plan for the Partnership were created by the intense effort of community partners, and embodied in the document, Stepping Forward.
Trail planning and development continues today. Since the early 1990s fourteen new trails have been/will be planned and 23 new or improved miles of trail are open to the public. This explosion of trail development would not have been possible were it not for the efforts of local champions, financial support from the State and Luzerne County, support from area legislatures and the recognition that trails and greenways not only provide recreational opportunities but also have a very positive impact on the local economies, public health and overall quality of life of area residents.
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Last Updated: Thu Feb 14 14:20:04 EST 2008
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