SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — People in Schuylkill County and those visiting have another reason to get out and enjoy nature with the addition of a 1.4-mile trail in North Manheim Township.

Local and state leaders, members of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area and others attended a ribbon cutting for the addition to the John Bartram Trail that starts on Tumbling Run Road, North Manheim Township, near the Schuylkill Haven Borough's Water Treatment facility, and ends at Seven Stars Road in the township. There is parking available for about 12 vehicles. Schuylkill Haven owns most of the area because it owns own the water line there. Volunteers will maintain the trail.

"This is a really exciting day for us today here," Elaine Schaefer, executive director of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area, said.

The completion of the 1.4-mile trail is a step closer to the goal of a 130-mile trail that will go to Philadelphia. She said half of the trail is built.

"It (the trail) brings people to the river," Schaefer said.

The 1.4-mile trail is part of a larger 8.4-mile trail, part of the Schuylkill River Trail that starts at the Kernsville Dam and ends 6 1/2 miles later in Auburn. Another three-fourths of a mile section runs from Auburn to Route 895, while a 1 1/4-mile section is in Landingville, Robert Folwell, trails project manager of the Schuylkill River & State Heritage Area, said. The trail is along an old railroad bed. Work started June 27 and was completed two weeks ago, Folwell said. It consisted of cutting back shrubbery and installing fencing. The Heritage Conservation Corps helped to make the trail a reality. Schuylkill Haven borough workers added additional signs, fencing and needed improvements prior to the ribbon cutting. The total project cost $45,000 and included funding for the Heritage Conservation Corps. Money for the project was made possible by The William Penn Foundation, state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Thrivent Financial, the Clif Bar Family Foundation, the Schuylkill Area Community Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Summer Youth Work Experience program through the Schuylkill County CareerLink office, according to a press release from the Schuylkill River Heritage Area.

Jerry Bowman, a member of the Schuylkill Haven Borough Council, echoed the sentiment of many when he said he was happy to see the trail a reality.

"It really improves our quality of life in Schuylkill County. We don't have a lot of managed trails," he said.

Schuylkill County commissioners Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr. was equally as happy.

"What a great day that we have here. This moves my heart," he said.

Schuylkill County Commissioner Gary Hess said the completion of the trail is good for the borough and for the county. He said the trail will bring more people to the county who can explore what it has to offer.

Tiara Campbell, Schuylkill River Heritage Area sustainability coordinator, said the finalization of the section of the trail is a long time coming.

"When we all want progress, it happens," she said.

State Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125, Pottsville; Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-124, Rush Township; Christine Verdier, chief of staff for Sen. David Argall, R-29, Rush Township; and Bill Hanley, with U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright's office, D-17, Moosic; attended. Also attending were Schuylkill Haven Borough Manager Scott Graver; B.J. Folk, Schuylkill Haven borough recreation manager; Mark Palerino, director of the Blue Mountain Recreation Commission; Bill Reichert, president of the Schuylkill Headwaters Association; Regina Gargano, executive director of the Schuylkill County Visitor's Bureau; J. Gregory Greco, business and cooperative programs director with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Rural Development; and Rory Piermattei, loan specialist at the USDA.

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