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Users of the Susquehanna Riverwalk who take relaxing strolls, power walk for exercise or bicycle on this pathway along the levee and West Branch of the Susquehanna River in Williamsport will be excited about what's happening in coming months.
Celebrants gathered Wednesday at the New Trail Brewing Co., 240 Arch St., to hear more about the first phase of the development of the four-mile extension of the walking and biking trail.
The riverwalk makes up a key regional section of Susquehanna Greenway's 500-plus miles of parks, trails and communities along the river.
It is considered to be what is called a "Top Ten Trail Gap," said state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn.
The trail will be extended from where it ends in the city at Maynard Street, link to Elm Park and there will be spurs that will either take users to Susquehanna State Park and close to the river or continue along Lycoming Creek and connect to Old Lycoming Township trail section, according to city and county planners.
The trail also goes across both the Maynard and Market Street bridges running through South Williamsport borough and links to Loyalsock Township, dropping off walkers and riders into Montoursville borough as well.
The estimated $5 million project is a joint effort by the city and Lycoming County, as part of a larger goal of extending the trail to another in the Jersey Shore area and Pine Creek in Clinton County.
The long term vision is to eventually see extensions that connect to trails from Rochester, New York to Maryland in the area of the Chesapeake Bay.
The secretary said she viewed the goal of Gov. Josh Shapiro to significantly invest in trails across Pennsylvania as important to creating new recreational opportunities, while addressing critical trail gaps and to keep and attract young people to places such as Williamsport.
"It is a small piece of the trail, but much bigger and more meaningful for the future of this area and the aspirations for this trail," Dunn said.
Statewide, the DCNR, Community Conservation Partnerships Program, has announced $10 million to support trails, including nine projects aimed at addressing critical trail gaps.
These investments reflect Gov. Josh Shapiro's commitment to supporting Pennsylvania communities and driving regional economic development through key cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects.
Overall, the state's outdoor industry's economic impact went from $17.3 billion to $18.9 billion since last year, according to the Bureau of Economic Administration, as quoted by the secretary.
There's also been employment increasing by 10% in outdoor industry businesses, Dunn observed.
"So we are trending up," she said. "We are seeing growth in the recreation economy."
These walking and biking trails are beneficial to creating healthier communities with walking and bicycling two of the best forms of exercise and they provide connections to the communities river towns they run along, with businesses that supply equipment or cater to outdoor recreation the benefactors.
Joining Dunn to show their support were Mayor Derek Slaughter, state Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township, state Rep. Jamie Flick, R-South Williamsport and Lycoming County Commissioner Mark Mussina along with other guests.