Latest news with #September11thNationalMemorialTrail
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Yahoo
The Big Savage Tunnel open! Let the summer season begin
The Big Savage Tunnel is open. That means warm weather is on its way, and cyclists can now ride on the Great Allegheny Passage from Frostburg, Maryland, to Meyersdale for the summer season. "All went smoothly," said Cathie Beal, parks & trails director, in an email, of Monday's event. "Six bats in the tunnel this year, up from two last year." The tunnel is closed every year before it gets too cold to maintain an ambient temperature inside, Beal said. Keeping it above freezing inside helps preserve the lining of the tunnel because it prevents freezing and thawing. The tunnel is a rail trail tunnel located about nine miles southeast of Meyersdale. It takes approximately two hours to open the tunnel from start to finish, if all goes as planned. More: Rotary Club of Somerset gears up for Walk-Run-Ride fundraiser event "I believe the closing of the tunnel is kind of like hibernation and the opening represents freedom to come and go as you please on our amazing trail, in beautiful Somerset County," Beal said. Helping to open the tunnel were trail maintenance team members Darl Ream, Rick Judy and Austin Beeman; GAP Conservancy Bryan Perry; Somerset Planning Commission members Zeke Werner, Austin Riccota and Sam Deist; SCRTA volunteer Jack Illar; and trail enthusiast Doug Riegner. More: Somerset County applies for grants for GAP and September 11th National Memorial Trail "We are fortunate to have a number of eager helpers. We like to take about 10 people as a variety of skill sets are needed for the entire operation," Beal said. Next on the list for Somerset County Recreation and Trails Association (SCRTA) is a 'Hellbender Hike" at Somerset Lake Nature Park in observance of National Trails Day June 7. The fundraiser is from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Call, text or email SCRTA for registration forms, call 814-442-2288 or scrtainfo@ This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Doors are flung wide! The Big Savage Tunnel is open for the season
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Yahoo
'A win for everybody': Path of the Flood Trail earns state's Trail of the Year award
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Cambria County's historic Path of the Flood Trail has been named Pennsylvania's Trail of the Year for 2025, state officials said Thursday. The recognition "is a testament to the partnership between many individuals and organizations dedicated to preserving this rich, historical trail," Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority Executive Director Cliff Kitner said in a statement. "We are honored and excited to continue sharing this unique journey with all who visit." The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Trails Advisory Committee picks a Trail of the Year annually to boost awareness of the state's 14,000-mile trail network and to highlight the value of those trails to residents and visitors. The 14-mile Path of the Flood Trail, completed in 2023, connects the ruins of the South Fork Dam near St. Michael to downtown Johnstown. It follows and commemorates the path of the 1889 Johnstown Flood that killed more than 2,200 people. The trail receives about 80,000 visitors annually, including international guests, and is the site of the annual Path of the Flood Historic Races that average around 1,000 participants. The crushed-stone and pavement path is accessible for a variety of activities, including hiking, birdwatching, running, cross-country skiing, biking and snowshoeing. The scenic trail features the Staple Bend Tunnel, the first railroad tunnel in the nation, built in the 1830s. It is part of the September 11th National Memorial Trail, which connects the sites in Somerset County, Washington, D.C., and New York City where hijacked jets crashed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. "Outdoor recreation is part of Cambria County's economy and we all rally behind it," Cambria County Commissioner Thomas Chernisky said. "This is a win for everybody." Chernisky, a longtime trail enthusiast and supporter, thanked DCNR for the honor and Kitner and his staff for their dedication to the local trail system. President Commissioner Scott Hunt also congratulated authority staff. Commissioner Keith Rager credited Chernisky for his support of the county's outdoor recreation opportunities for helping achieve the distinction. "In naming the Path of the Flood Trail as the 2025 Trail of the Year, we honor its unique role in preserving history while providing a vibrant space for recreation and community engagement," DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said in a release. "This trail is a destination, inviting visitors from across the nation and the world to experience the history of the 1889 Johnstown Flood while enjoying outdoor activities in a stunning natural setting. We hope this designation will bring even more visitors to explore the trail, supporting local businesses and fostering economic, environmental and social benefits for the region." This is the county's and authority's second Trail of the Year award. The Ghost Town Trail received the nod from DCNR in 2020. "Following the Ghost Town Trail's designation in 2020, the Path of the Flood Trail being named Trail of the Year marks the second time in five years that a trail in our county has received this designation," CCCRA Assistant Executive Director Caytlin Lusk said in a statement. "We are grateful to the Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee and DCNR for recognizing the exceptional trails that we are proud to offer here in Cambria County." For more information about the county's trails system, visit
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Somerset County seeks 9/11 trail funds
SOMERSET, Pa. – With design work complete, Somerset County is seeking funding to build another section of the September 11 National Memorial Trail near Garrett. That section totals less than one-third of a mile in length, but it's a critical piece toward advancing the project, Trail Coordinator Cathie Beal said Tuesday. Somerset County commissioners voted 3-0 to approve an application request seeking $930,319 from the Appalachian Regional System for a project that would also upgrade a trailhead link in Garrett. Vital 9/11 trail piece The 1,500-foot section will extend the trail past a U.S. Route 219 overpass that includes the John P. Vatavuk Bridge, Beal said. It's one of the few areas of the path that doesn't follow former CSX rail bed – instead traveling next to a retaining wall that allows the trail to avoid nearby wetlands, she said. 'It's designed and permitted, and ready to build,' Somerset County Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Steven Spochart said. 'We just need the money to build (it).' The September 11th National Memorial Trail is a 1,300-mile network of roads and multi-use trails that connects the three sites where hijacked planes crashed Sept. 11, 2001, including Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County, the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Virginia, and the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York City. In Somerset County, the path follows the Great Allegheny Passage toward Garrett and heads north into town along a section of former rail bed donated by CSX that winds its way northeast to Berlin. As is, the path currently comes to a halt just north of Garrett, near the recently built Route 219 overpass. Beal already has design work underway on a longer segment of the trail that runs north of the Route 219 underpass area – but until the 1,500-foot segment is built, that segment can't proceed to construction, she said. County commissioner's application approval Tuesday enables the Redevelopment Authority to turn to the Appalachian Regional Commission for trail funds. Appalachian Regional Commission funds are competitive – but with Somerset County aiming to extend the trail toward Berlin prior to September 11's 25th anniversary, there's hope the project will receive support, Spochart said. Match funding through the Community Development Block Grant program and September 11 National Memorial Trail Alliance are set aside for the project, he told county commissioners. That means the county wouldn't have to spend any county tax dollars toward the effort. 'I'm glad they are taking the initiative to pursue this funding,' Somerset County Commissioner Irv Kimmel Jr. said, noting trail projects are costly. Trailhead work Another part of the grant request would cover planned parking improvements for a current Garrett-based Great Allegheny Passage rrailhead, which would also serve as a branching off point for the September 11 trail, Beal said. The lot needs paving, and improved signage as well as landscaping, Beal said. She said the project would add trees and new vegetation to welcome the steady flow of hikers and bikers who travel the trails. Spochart is also hopeful the investment would allow Garrett to realize the benefit other trail towns, such as Meyersdale and Confluence, already receive. Trailheads often spark new shops and restaurants, and that's something that would benefit Garrett Borough residents, too. Rehab grant sought Spochart also received approval in a 3-0 commissioners vote to apply for $250,000 in Department of Community and Economic Development funds. The money would be used to enable as many as six Somerset County homes to see renovations. If awarded, income- eligible homeowners could seek approval for upgrades that address code deficiencies within their primary residence. It's been more than six years since the county last applied for funds through the program, describing the rehab project as a 'test run' for the county's Housing Rehabilitation Program.
