Research shows that spending time outdoors doing some physical activity can increase attention spans and creative problem-solving skills by as much as 50 percent, and a Stanford University study demonstrated that walking gets the creative juices flowing far more than sitting.
Translation: Let's get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. One way to do that is to support the construction and maintenance of your local public trail network.
The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor is a federally designated heritage trail area that follows the 165-mile route that anthracite coal took from mine to market. It starts here in the Wyoming Valley, winds through Northeastern Pennsylvania to the Lehigh Valley, and then goes through Bucks County to its terminus in Bristol. The trail mainly follows abandoned rail beds – the same rail that carried anthracite coal, lumber and other goods from Northeastern Pennsylvania to points south – and exposes walkers, hikers and cyclists to some of Pennsylvania's finest natural and historic amenities.
The trail is not quite complete on the Wyoming Valley end, but that is about to change! North Branch Land Trust is working closely with partners at the D&L, Earth Conservancy, Anthracite Scenic Trails Association and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources' Bureau of Forestry to complete the trail from Mountain Top to Wilkes-Barre, one of the final links in the entire 165-mile trail.
DCNR has committed to take ownership of the trail from White Haven to Wilkes-Barre once it is complete. This is important, as DCNR will provide excellent stewardship and maintenance for the trail into the future.
The section from White Haven to Mountain Top is finished, thanks to the hard work of the Anthracite Scenic Trails Association, and it has been transferred to DCNR. The section from Mountain Top to Oliver Mills in Laurel Run is owned by the trails association; its members are working with the D&L folks to get this section constructed and turned over to DCNR. The section from Oliver Mills to The Seven Tubs Natural Area has been acquired by the North Branch Land Trust from Earth Conservancy, and construction on this section is expected to begin in spring 2017.
The final section from the Seven Tubs Natural Area to Wilkes-Barre is under development. The land trust is working closely with our friends at Earth Conservancy and DCNR, who own the land and the old rail bed, to map a route for this final section of trail. We hope to have the route finalized in the next few months.
You can see the entire D&L Heritage Trail from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol with this interactive web link: delawareandlehigh.org/map.
How can you help? Over the next year or so, the land trust, trails association and the D&L National Heritage Corridor will work together to complete this wonderful recreational trail. You can pitch in by offering your volunteer or financial support to any one of the participating organizations.
You also can support our trail-building efforts by spreading the word about the project on social media. Let others know about this initiative and its recreational benefits for our region. Share the project map and D&L Trail web link, talk it up, and definitely get out and enjoy the great outdoors!
Paul Lumia is executive director of the North Branch Land Trust. For information, visit nblt.org.
Source: Paul Lumia: Delaware & Lehigh Trail nearing completion in heart of Wyoming Valley
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