The article notes that: Funding for the trail project includes $281,000 from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, $150,000 from the state Department of Community and Economic Development and $10,000 each from the Friends of Blairsville Parks and Recreation Foundation and the Arnold Palmer Foundation, with additional costs covered by local in-kind services.
Blairsville Breaks Ground for Trail
Construction has begun on the town's long-awaited Riverfront Trail hiking and biking path while demolition of nine vacant properties is under way nearby to clear ground for a proposed Riverfront Village residential development.
Local advocates have pushed for the trail project for more than a decade. It's realization has arrived at a time when, combined with the riverfront housing, it's expected to raise Blairsville's profile as a walkable, bike-friendly community that offers trail and water recreation.
Blairsville Borough is involved in both projects. The borough holds a 25-year lease on the federal flood control property where the trail will run, and an entity borough council created, the Blairsville Community Development Authority, is the prime mover behind the Riverfront Village proposal.
"It's going to be a great redevelopment area down here," borough manager Tim Evans said of the West Market riverfront area. "The buildings have started to come down, and the trail has started. Some dozers have already gone through and cut out the path." In front of Blairsville's bandstand, at the Diamond intersection of West Market and Liberty streets, the gathered officials last Thursday symbolically broke ground for the 1.8-mile Riverfront Trail. Later, some in attendance walked about two blocks to view the western terminus of the trail, near the intersection of Water and Brown streets.
The trail will arc south of town, roughly parallelling the bank of the Conemaugh River, and will end at WyoTech Park, off Johnston Avenue. The trail will follow a 25-foot-wide right-of-way granted to Blairsville Borough by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, which controls the flood impoundment area along the river. A finished bed and a surface of mostly crushed limestone is being constructed by the Blairsville-based 12th Congressional Regional Equipment Company and its subcontractor, Gregori Construction and Engineering of Sarver. Evans has said a portion of the trail that will be most prone to flood damage during periods of high water may require a more durable surface. A trailhead and parking area are to be included at either end of the trail.
The trail construction is to be completed in about three months at a cost to Blairsville Borough that is not to exceed $436,690. The Indiana County Parks and Trails department has agreed to maintain the Blairsville Riverfront Trail once construction is completed. It will be added to the nearly 46 miles of trails already under the jurisdiction of County Parks and Trails Director Ed Patterson. Patterson, who is based at Blue Spruce Park north of Indiana, said he and his work crew will rely upon volunteers in the Blairsville community to alert them when a maintenance issue arises. "We're going to be relying on the community to help us take care of it," Patterson said of the trail. "We're hoping that people will take ownership of it and let us know when something needs addressed."
Blairsville resident and BCDA board member Linda Gwinn, who has been a leading advocate for the Blairsville trail since the inception of planning, expressed confidence that local volunteers organized by the BCDA also will work with the Johnstown-based Natural Biodiversity group to assist in the constant battle of controlling invasive Japanese knotweed along the trail route. Volunteers additionally will help with litter clean-ups along the trail.
Funding for the trail project includes $281,000 from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, $150,000 from the state Department of Community and Economic Development and $10,000 each from the Friends of Blairsville Parks and Recreation Foundation and the Arnold Palmer Foundation, with additional costs covered by local in-kind services.
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