The Lower Trail Phase I
Cleanup Project, Spring 2004
PA
CleanWays of Blair County recently received funding to hold a cleanup
event in a specified greenway, as defined by the Pennsylvania Department
of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the home office of
PA CleanWays, Inc.
The cleanup project,
called the Lower Trail Phase I Cleanup, will be held in partnership
with the Huntingdon Chapter of PA CleanWays and Rails-to-Trails of Central
Pennsylvania. The Lower Trail is an 11-mile rail-trail that extends
from Alexandria in Huntingdon County to Williamsburg in Blair County.
The Lower Trail Phase I Cleanup will focus on eliminating an illegal
dump that exists along the right-of-way of the Lower Trail Extension
Project that is scheduled to begin construction in spring 2004. The
Trail Extension, which will end in Canoe Creek State Park, is hoped
to have a grand opening in late May. However, the illegal dump is abutting
to and within direct eyeshot of the proposed extension and must be eliminated
for the trail project to begin.
Funding for the
cleanup has been awarded from DCNR and PA CleanWays, Inc. because the
trail lies within the Pittsburgh-to-Harrisburg Mainline Canal Greenway.
This greenway is developing through the Allegheny Ridge Corporation,
a state heritage park that is drafting the management plan of the greenway
project.
The Pittsburgh-to-Harrisburg
Mainline Canal Greenway project is one that follows the paths of the
Pennsylvania Mainline Canal and the Allegheny Portage Railroad that
were used in the 1830's to transport people and goods westward from
Philadelphia and Harrisburg to Pittsburgh.
The Lower Trail
Phase I Cleanup is slated to take place on Saturday, April 17, 2004.
Anyone who is interested in participating may contact the Blair
Chapter or the Huntingdon
Chapter for details.
