HomeLocal NewsRails to Trails extension meeting Thursday in BrookvilleRails to Trails extension meeting Thursday in BrookvilleWed, January 19, 2022 by wcednewsSHARE NOW Brookville, PA – Help extend our Rails to Trails and connect the two trails in Jefferson County! An informational meeting will be held on Thursday, Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. at the Brookville Chamber of Commerce on Franklin Ave in Brookville.The meeting will help make plans to form a non-profit organization to link the northern terminus of the Redbank Valley Trail in Brookville to the Five Bridges Trail with its western terminus in Allens Mills, both in Jefferson County.***Organization for local rail trail extensionMEETING DATE: Thursday, January 20, 2022TIME: 6:00PMPLACE: Brookville Chamber of Commerce, 100 Franklin Ave, Brookville, PAAn informational meeting with the purpose of forming a non-profit organization to link the northern terminus of the Redbank Valley Trail in Brookville to the Five Bridges Trail with its western terminus in Allens Mills, both in Jefferson County. The intention is to complete a missing link which will provide a continuous 104 mile trail from the Armstrong Trails in the south to Ridgway in the north. This path will provide a multi-day journey for hikers and bicyclists and contribute greatly to the economic impact of the region, as well as providing additional outdoor recreation. The facebook link above provide detailed information.MEETING AGENDA6:00 Paul Boboige – Introduction and purpose6:20 Chris Corbran, Pennsylvania Environmental Council – Importance of linking trails and goals of the multi-state Industrial Heartlands Trails Coalition and the PA Wilds Loop6:40 Q&A7:00 Erin Wiley-Moyers, PA DCNR, Clarion Office – Priority of linking trails and future funding7:20 Q&A7:35 Where do we go from here?7:50 Enlistment of Executive CommitteeA 2015 User Survey conducted by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy calculated the annual economic impact of the Clarion/Little Toby Trail to be $897,593 for a stand-alone 18 mile trail which can easily be round-tripped in one day.The impact of a multi-day trail alliance will multiply that amount greatly, as has been the experience of the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) https://gaptrail.org/ Purple route is designated as the PA Wilds Loop which has an economic impact of $8.3 annually.
