EASTON, Pa. — A campaign launched Monday aims to close the 30 miles of remaining gaps on the Delaware & Lehigh Trail, as well as improve area water quality.
- The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor on Monday launched its "Take Action" campaign
- Officials aim to connect D&L Trail users with organizations working to close gaps and improve water quality
- There are 30 miles of trail gaps left to close, costing an estimated $42 million
“The D&L Trail is visited over a quarter million times a year, and almost 60% (83 miles) of D&L Trail is within 100 feet of a stream or river,” said Brit Kondravy who serves as the conservation coordinator for the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, which manages the trail, as well as external lead for the Lehigh Valley Greenways Conservation Landscape.
“Our past research has shown that these visitors are willing to do more than visit.
“They are willing to become a participating member of an organization that supports trails and/or water quality. They just need someone to help make those connections."Brit Kondravy, conservation coordinator for the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor
“They are willing to become a participating member of an organization that supports trails and/or water quality. They just need someone to help make those connections," Kondravy said.
The “Take Action” campaign, hosted on the DLNHC’s website, aims to facilitate those connections by educating residents and providing resources to boost engagement and opportunities to get involved and support the trail. With 30 miles of trail gaps left to close at an estimated $42 million price tag, and waterways threatened amid development, officials said there are plenty of opportunities to foster the trail’s enduring and sustainable benefits for all.
The D&L Trail runs more than 140 miles through the Lehigh Valley, stretching from just outside of Wilkes-Barre to Bristol, Bucks County. When completed, the trail will include 165 miles of hiking, biking and walking trails along old rail beds and canal towpaths on alternating sides of the Lehigh and Delaware rivers.
The webpage is organized into four main categories: Protect Waterways, Close Trail Gaps, Be an Advocate and Lend a Hand.
“The new landing page provides an overview of water quality and D&L Trail gaps within the corridor, providing a base understanding of these topics,” according to a news release. “It dives into the issues facing water quality, the reasons trail gaps exist and the benefits these resources provide for our region. Most importantly, it offers tools to advocate for improving and connecting these resources.
“These tools range from legislator locators, template letters to send to local officials, methods to find local meeting schedules and links to additional resources and partner pages to get more engaged.”
Through the website, officials can direct trail users to local organizations leading improvement projects, Kondravy said.
“The Take Action website highlights local watershed associations, riparian buffer planting opportunities, land conservation efforts and Master Watershed Steward trainings through partners such as Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley, Wildlands Conservancy and Penn State Extension,” she said. “In this way, the LVG Partnership reinforces the DLNHC’s call to take action and amplifies trail users’ ability to do so.”
