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s e r v i n g m i d va l l e y & u p pe r l ac k awa n n a va l l e y thevalleyadvantage.com | oct. 21, 2016
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Follow the trail Initiative shows towns how to capitalize on trails by Tucker HoTTes
trails can attract people into their town and make your town what we call a Trail Town,” sTAFF WrITer Conrad said. Conrad said after hearing about the Trail Fall’s splendor is in full swing throughout the region, bringing many residents and Town program, she and Rail-Trail Council program manager Deb McNamera began visitors alike to marvel at nature and take to think about bringing the initiative to the advantage of outdoor opportunities like D&H trail. the D&H Rail Trail. Those people passing “Working with the Forest City Business through are what the “Trail Town initiative” Alliance, we thought it would be a great is all about. thing to do together, and see what the town Forest City will be the first Trail Town in the region through the combined efforts has, what it needs and one of the most important parts: how do you get people of the Rail-Trail Council of Northeastern to the town,” Conrad said. “What are the Pennsylvania and the Forest City Business portals and the best ways to get them off Alliance. the trail and to the town? That includes Lynn Conrad, executive director of the signage, maps, something very friendly to Rail-Trail Council, said the concept began encourage people who may not realize as roughly a decade ago. they’re on the trail that a town is just two “It’s an initiative that started in Westblocks away.” ern Pennsylvania, in the Pittsburgh area, Recently, the Rail-Trail council presented where there are a lot of trails that surround Pittsburgh and go off in all directions,” she its Trail Town plan at a mixer hosted in the Forest City Regional High School auditosaid. “A group of people got together to help towns along the trails take advantage rium. “The mixer was set up by the Greater of the economic benefits that the trails Forest City Business Alliance in conjunction may provide.” with the high school,” Conrad said. “SuperThat initial group “came up with a prointendent Jessica Leitzel-Aquilina was able cess as to how towns that are located near to get a lot of the school groups together to provide entertainment, food, a bake sale. They decorated and sang. As part of that, we presented the Trail Town concept to about
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100 people. We had some great feedback and good questions.” Naturally, one of the biggest questions focused on the next steps for the Trail Town initiative, and Conrad said a committee will soon convene to continue moving forward with the project. “The next step is to put together a committee to do an assessment,” she said. “You get together at the trail and answer questions as you walk yourselves to town. It’s a good idea to get some people who aren’t familiar with the town for some unbiased eyes.” On Tuesday, Nov. 1, Forest City will unveil a sign on Main Street. One side will rep-
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resent all of Susquehanna County, featuring places to visit throughout the county, while the other side will display a map of the town and businesses. Conrad said the new sign will complement the work the Rail-Trail Council has done and will do. “For people to know where and what’s available in town, we have a similar map in a kiosk at our trailhead in Forest City,” she said. “If someone was riding the trail — someday they’ll be able to come up from down in Scranton as the trail continues to improve — they can look on the map and see what Forest City has to offer.” For more information on the Rail-Trail Council, visit nepa-rail-trails.org. 1313 Wyoming Ave., Exeter •
655-8811
639 Wyoming Ave., Kingston • 287-9631
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