With the snip of over-sized scissors on a dark blue ribbon sparked loud cheers that perfectly captured the excitement surrounding opening the first 0.4 miles of the North Branch Canal Trail. Already a decade in the works, the trail will eventually cover 12 miles, linking Danville and Bloomsburg together.

The first segment of the trail became a reality thanks to many organizations working together to improve their area, including the Montour Area Recreation Commission, the Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau, Susquehanna Greenway Partnership, SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Commissions of Montour and Columbia Counties, and many others.

The Susquehanna Greenway Partnership and MARC were awarded $146,000 in grant funding from the Williams Transco Pipeline Atlantic Sunrise Project / Conservation Fund Environmental Stewardship Program to support the construction of the North Branch Canal Trail between Danville and Catawissa, as well as planning for the Catawissa to Bloomsburg portion of the trail.

Trish Carothers, Executive Director of the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership, stated that “Fortunately, what you see here in this community is starting to happen in other places. It takes patience, commitment, and passion – and it’s worth it. It’s the people that have this passion that really drive these projects, and give these communities what they deserve.”

Among many others, Sen. John R. Gordner (R-Columbia) was also in attendance, and offered congratulatory remarks. The enthusiastic crowd were the first to trek along the trail, returning with flushed faces and promises to return soon.

If you’re in the area, be sure to check out the North Branch Canal Trail, and if you’re not nearby, it’s worth the trip!

The Susquehanna Greenway is a corridor of connected trails, parks, river access points, and communities, linking people to the natural and cultural treasures of the Susquehanna River and its West Branch.

 Over 500 miles in the length, the Greenway is one of our state’s greatest resources, conserving the environment for all living things, and creating recreational opportunities for healthy communities.

For more information on programs and activities, visit the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership.

NewsClips:

Funds Needed To Designate Allegheny River Water Trail

Man Stranded 2 Days In Tunnel On Great Allegheny Passage Trail

10/12/2015