EASTON, Pa. — Nearly $650,000 in grants from Northampton County’s Livable Landscapes program will fund six projects after approval Thursday by Northampton County Council.
Two-thirds of the grants, and more than three-quarters of the money awarded, will fund projects expanding or improving the network of public trails in the county.
The annual grants “protect the county's resources by assisting not only our municipalities, but our organizations, our eligible organizations, like our nonprofits, to acquire, restore, enhance and permanently protect these lands,” county Conservation Coordinator Sherry Acevedo said.
The largest of the six grants by far, for $300,000, will help Bethlehem buy just under a mile of abandoned Norfolk Southern rail right-of-way for a new trail.Northampton County Conservation
The largest of the six grants by far, for $300,000, will help Bethlehem buy just under a mile of abandoned Norfolk Southern rail right-of-way for a new trail.
When complete, the new section will connect the South Bethlehem Greenway to the Saucon Rail Trail, closing a gap on the Top 10 priority list for both the county and the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
The land purchase alone will cost $6.2 million. With the land in hand, city officials can seek funding for the rest of the project.
“That will be their next phase, is going to design and engineering,” Acevedo said. “They won't be eligible for any funding through any grant programs at any state, federal level, or even local level until they have ownership and control of the property.”
Existing paths and other projects
To further grow the county trail network, the county awarded $75,000 to Lafayette University to plan new trails connecting between its main campus in Easton and the Metzgar Fields complex in Forks Township.
The resulting network will tie into the September 11th National Memorial Trail, Karl Stirner Arts Trail, Tatamy Trail and the D&L Trail.
Existing paths also got attention.
Northampton got $50,000 to improve a section of the D&L in Canal Park, improving accessibility for people with disabilities, and increasing stormwater management.
A further $75,000 will help reconstruct a section of the Lower Mount Bethel Township trail system severely damaged by flash floods in 2023.
The township will tear out and rebuild a nearly quarter-mile stretch with improved stormwater infrastructure and new elevated boardwalks so the path can better weather future storms.
Beyond trails, the county awarded $120,000 to Upper Nazareth Township for new playground equipment at Sycamore Park, improving safety and accessibility.
A final grant, about $29,000, will let Lower Nazareth Township plant at least 70 native deciduous trees in Newburg Community Park.
The large caliper trees used for the project, Acevedo said, will be more mature than commonly used saplings.
