Knox-Kane trail ideas shared at meeting

Now that the 75-mile stretch of the Knox and Kane Railroad has been acquired for use as a biking and hiking trail, a group of experts gathered Friday in Marienville to share ideas on how to maximize the opportunity.

The railroad ceased operations in 2006, and the trail was recently acquired by Headwaters Charitable Trust, creating a connection between the Route 8 corridor and the Great Allegheny Passageway.

Friday’s forum, which was held at the Marienville Area Civic Association building and coordinated by the Pennsylvania Wilds Community Development Committee, provided presentations covering health benefits and economic community development opportunities.

Speakers were from PennDOT, the Progress Fund, several planning agencies and various nonprofits from around the area.

Dave Kahley, president of the Progress Fund, kicked off the event by sharing a lesson he learned from his involvement with the Great Allegheny Passage Trail, which links Pittsburgh to Washington D.C.

“We’ve seen small town redevelopment, homes turned into bed-and-breakfasts, old bars becoming new restaurants, better jobs in towns and a greater sense of pride in the communities,” he said.

Kahley emphasized that the same opportunity comes with the Kane and Knox trail to turn communities’ slow decline into steady economic improvement.

John Buerkle, a Pittsburgh-based landscape architect, spoke about connecting the trail to the main street businesses of the communities.

“This trail can be really good for the region, but it’s going to take a lot of work and a lot of effort to implement it,” Buerkle said. “There can be a connection to the main streets so that people come into those main street businesses and spend money.”

Rich Viello, a representative from the state Department of Community and Economic Development, gave a similar presentation, focusing on how recreational trails bring money from outside the area, citing Foxburg as an example.

“People come and spend their money for the weekend,” Viello said. “They have the restaurant and the Segway tours, and none of it’s cheap.”

Roy Gothie, a PennDOT representative, offered a different perspective, one that focused on the health and wellness of the community members.

“The big picture is not necessarily economic tourism but that this project can improve the overall health by making every community walkable and bikeable,” Gothie said.

Gothie said PennDOT’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan presents a long-term vision to improve transportation for those who walk or bike out of necessity due to choice, religious affiliation, income or loss of driver’s license.

“It’s a whole other passel of benefits surrounding public health,” he said.