 Luzerne County Levee Trail System
COMPLETE*
Luzerne County Engineer’s Office
James Brozena, County Engineer
200 North River Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
P: (570)825-1600
F: (570)825-1606
WEBSITE
www.luzernecounty.org
TRAIL DESCRIPTION: Eight foot wide asphalt paved trail on top of Susquehanna River Levee. There are about 12 miles of trail in total, in four different “reaches” on both the east and west sides of the river. This trail is open to walkers, joggers, bikers, dog-walkers, and roller-bladers. In winter, it is used by cross-country skiers and sled-riders. Benches and kiosks along the trail offer a place to rest and learn about the Wyoming Valley.
The Susquehanna River Levee Trail is a recreational improvement to the Susquehanna River Levee Raising Project, started in 1996. Before the improvement the Levee was used by “die-hard joggers”. The improvements have been extremely successful, and users have expanded beyond joggers to recreational walkers, dogwalkers, and others. This trail also includes connections to key bridges: the Market Street, and Pierce Street bridges in Wilkes-Barre and the Carey Avenue Bridge in Hanover Township and Plymouth Borough, allowing bicyclists and pedestrians to cross the river.
The Susquehanna River Levee trail system includes engineering and heritage kiosks designed by the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. The text and illustrations on the kiosks can also be found in the book, A Story Runs Through It: the Wyoming Valley Levee System.
The four reaches of the Levee Trail are: the First Resident’s Path/Forty Fort Reach, the Anthracite Heritage Walk/Kingston Reach, the Riverside Ramble/Wilkes-Barre and Hanover Reach, and the Plymouth Passage/Plymouth Reach.
FIRST RESIDENT'S PATH / FORTY FORT REACH: This is a 2.7 mile stretch of trail on the West side of the Susquehanna, going through the towns of Forty Fort and Wyoming, and connecting to the West Side Trail system. At the south end of the trail is an on-street connection to the nearby Kingston Reach of the Levee system, via River Street and Rutter Avenue—follow signs. The north end of the trail connects to the developing West Side Trail, an in-town heritage trail system.
THINGS TO SEE: Expansive views of the Susquehanna river, connections to the Forty Fort County Recreational park, the Forty Fort Airport, and the Midway shopping center. At the north end of the trail find the historic Swetland homestead, and the Wyoming Monument, commemorating a tragic Revolutionary War event.
TRAILHEADS AND PARKING / FORTY FORT REACH:
- Parking and trail access is available on the east side of Wyoming Avenue (Rt. 11) just north of the Midway shopping center, at the border between the boroughs of Forty Fort and Wyoming.
- Parking and trail access is also available at the Forty Fort County Recreational Park: turn east from Wyoming Avenue (Rt. 11) at the first turn after the County Airport if travelling south, or just after Dennison Street if travelling north. The facility is about a half mile down the road.
- Trail access, but no parking, is available just off of River Street at Fort Street in Forty Fort.
ANTHRACITE HERITAGE WALK / KINGSTON REACH: This is a 3.5 mile stretch of trail on the West side of the Susquehanna, going through the towns of Kingston and Edwardsville. At the North end of the trail is on on-street connection to the nearby Forty Fort Reach of the Levee system, via Rutter Avenue and River street—follow signs.
THINGS TO SEE: Connections to Kingston’s Church Street recreation fields, and playground, the Third Street Recreation Center, the Pierce Street Bridge with access to the landmark County Courthouse on the east side of the River, the monumental Market Street Bridge, and Nesbitt and Kirby parks, including playing fields, exercise stations, walking paths, a duck pond, and, on the river side of the trail, natural areas, and remnants of improvements from an Olmstead brothers designed park (1930’s). In Edwardsville, the trail accesses Kmart Plaza shopping center.
For more information on the natural areas of Kirby and Nesbitt parks, see the Riparian Trail Guide:
Kirby Park Natural Area, published by the Riverfront Parks Committee of Wilkes-Barre.
TRAILHEADS AND PARKING / KINGSTON REACH:
- Parking and trail access available at the intersection of Rutter Avenue and Church Street in Kingston.
- Parking and trail access available at the Third Street Recreational Facility in Kingston, on Third Street north of Pierce Street.
- Parking and trail access available at Kirby Park—turn south off Market Street in Kingston. To access trail, turn south from the parking lot.
- Trail access, without parking is available at the Pierce and Market Street Bridges, and at the
crossing of Wyoming Avenue in Edwardsville.
RIVERSIDE RAMBLE / WILKES-BARRE AND HANOVER REACH: This is a four mile stretch of trail on the East side of the Susquehanna, going through the City of Wilkes-Barre and Hanover Township. Between the County Courthouse and Wilkes University the trail will run through Wilkes-Barre’s new riverfront park, currently in construction, then go on-street connection before connecting with the east side Levee trail system in south Wilkes-Barre. The trail provides connections to the Market Street, Pierce Street and Carey Avenue bridges. The Market Street and Pierce Street bridges access the Kingston Reach of the Levee trail. The Carey Avenue bridge provides access to the Borough of Plymouth and the Plymouth Reach of the Levee trail.
THINGS TO SEE: Natural areas and attractive River scenery from the Hanover Township Sewage Treatment plant to beyond Willow Street park, on the river side of the levee. The new Riverfront park in Wilkes-Barre, when complete. At its north end, the trail will go by Wilkes University, King’s College and the County Courthouse. Just two blocks west of the trail by Market Street, you will find Wilkes-Barre’s Public Square, where Farmers’ Markets are held every Thursday from June through October and the eating, shopping and cultural amenities of the surrounding downtown.
TRAILHEADS AND PARKING / WILKES-BARRE AND HANOVER REACH:
- Parking and trail access available at the parking facility on the North side of Pierce Street by the County Court House. Take the tunnel under Pierce Street to get to the Courthouse and the Riverfront park.
- Parking and trail access available at Willow Street park in South Wilkes-Barre. Park at the park, and cross the street for trail access.
- Parking and trail access available off Delaney street in the Breslau area of Hanover Township, just south of the Carey Avenue Bridge.
PLYMOUTH PASSAGE / PLYMOUTH REACH: This is a 1.8 mile stretch of trail on the West side of the Susquehanna, going through the towns of Plymouth. An on-street connection accesses the Carey Avenue bridge and the Wilkes-Barre/Hanover Township Reach on the other side of the river.
THINGS TO SEE: This trail runs parallel to densely developed Rt. 11/Main Street in Plymouth, with small town restaurants and other establishments, just a few blocks away. The trail accesses a small recreational facility off of Academy Street in Plymouth.
TRAILHEADS AND PARKING / PLYMOUTH REACH:
- Parking and trail access is available on the east side of Main Street right by Academy Street, where Plymouth has a small outdoor recreation facility.
- Parking and trail access is also available at Coal Street, near the river.
FUNDING: The Susquehanna River Levee Trail is a recreational improvement to the Susquehanna River Levee Raising Project, started in 1996. The total Levee raising project is now approaching $200 million in cost. The recreational component represents approximately $2 million, and is shared by the following funding agencies: Army Corps of Engineers $1 million, PA DEP $500,000 and Luzerne County $500,000.
RECENT ACTIVITIES: The Wilkes-Barre River Common project groundbreaking was held on October 19, 2006. Construction should take 2 years. This project includes improving the Levee and opening the Levee in two locations and installing massive pocket doors to allow citizens to access the river in most conditions. It also includes extending walkways and bikeways between Pierce and Market Street bridges (about .5 miles) and providing a link with the existing Levee trail, as well as other park improvements. The total project will cost $22.6 million to complete.
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