East Penn gets $175K grant to build section of trail

Delaware and Lehigh trail users will soon have a safe alternative to walking and riding along Riverview Drive in East Penn Township.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources recently awarded East Penn Township a $174,000 grant to build a 0.8-mile trail section.

“The trail will be installed alongside the road so they don’t have to share the road anymore,” said Elissa Garofalo, executive director of the D&L National Heritage Corridor.

Four miles of the D&L trail are located in East Penn Township. The new trail would replace the only part where users share the road with cars.

The northern end of the section is Route 895, and the southern end is the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Boat Launch.

William Schwab, chairman of the East Penn Township board of supervisors, said the goal was to separate trail users and vehicular traffic.

“We’re looking for safety reasons,” he said.

The township hopes to begin work on the section of trail in 2019. They already own the land where the trail will be located.

Schwab said the first step will be clearing the land for the trail.

Garofalo said that this section of trail was originally planned to be built along with the section between Lehighton and Route 895, but was cut from the final version of the project.

Instead, the D&L put up “Share the road” signs to encourage vehicles using Riverview Drive to be aware of cyclists.

State Sen. John Yudichak and state Rep. Doyle Heffley helped secure the funding in Harrisburg.

“The D&L Trail has proven to be the crown jewel of outdoor recreation in Carbon County, while continuing to create jobs and drive economic growth throughout the region,” Yudichak said. “The state’s investment in the trail is an investment in the people of Carbon County, its emerging tourism workforce, and the improvement and conservation of its beautiful trail system.”

Garofalo also credited Schwab and East Penn Township with making the application to get the state grant.

“This is definitely a case where the township stepped up to the plate to get this piece done,” she said.

In recent years, the township has also added restrooms, tent camping, a dog park and other improvements at Riverview Park along the trail.

“They’re a great local partner,” Garofalo said.