Bike racks installed along Main Street in Slatington

Slatington hopes its newest upgrade will move it one step closer to becoming a trail town.

To further that initiative, three new bike racks have been installed recently in front of businesses along Main Street.

The bike racks have been installed in front of Sal’s Pizza, Bechtel’s Pharmacy and Charlotte Fay’s Main Street Diner.

Mike Kukitz, director of the Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority, said the bike racks cost about $650 each, and were installed by the Slatington Borough Public Works Department.

Kukitz said funding came from the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, the borough, Sal’s Pizza, Bechtel’s Pharmacy and Charlotte Fay’s Main Street Diner.

He said the locations were chosen because they are trail-friendly businesses that trail-users will utilize, “As well as the fact that these three business owners are dedicated to improving the functionality and beautification with regard to making Northern Lehigh a more bikeable/walkable friendly community.”

Kukitz noted there are many businesses throughout the town that support the initiative, but they could not all have bike racks installed in front of their locations.

“This is part of the whole trail town process that we’re going through, looking to make our area more bicycle friendly and pedestrian friendly,” Kukitz said. “So, along with some of the beautification projects and other things you’re seeing around town, this is just another part.”

Alice Wanamaker, assistant vice president of the northern region for the Greater Northern Lehigh Chamber of Commerce, said the bike racks are a nice complement to the area.

“It’s nice to show people something,” Wanamaker said. “Something flashy like that.”

Kukitz said the initiative is being done to promote economic development and promotion of local businesses.

“We want everyone to view the area as the beautiful weekday/weekend destination that it is, and encourage both local residents, as well as outdoor enthusiasts from all over, to come to Northern Lehigh to see the beauty of Walnutport, Slatington and Washington Township,” he said.

Kukitz said the Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority officially began in December 2015 after the two boroughs and the township partnered with the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to create the program. In the spring of 2016, Walnutport joined and took the place of the Community Center Committee.

“Although we are still working closely with that committee to finish construction of the Community Center facility over the next few years,” he said. “It is truly commendable to have three municipalities working together to improve the area as a whole.”

Wanamaker urged community members to get involved, whether it’s business owners, nonprofits or residents.

“We need them to start coming to our meetings and start getting involved,” she said. “Those little things are going to add up to big changes.”

Wanamaker said she believes the sky is the limit for the borough.

“We have such an opportunity with this trail town process to really change the Slatington area,” she said. “Get involved now.”