U.S. Congressman Glenn Thompson visits local Trail Club regarding 'Pennsylvania Trail of the Year 2023'
U.S Congressman Glenn ' GT' Thompson, serving the 15th District of Pennsylvania and Chairman of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, initiated a public gathering at MJ2KB ( Mount Jewett to Kinzua Bridge) Trail Club's section of the Knox & Kane Rail Trail to deliver a speech regarding 'Pennsylvania Trail of the Year 2023' on Friday.
To clarify, Trail of the Year is awarded to a section of the Knox & Kane Rail Trail that was purchased by Headwaters Charitable Trust ( HWCT) and developed by the MJ2KB Trail Club.
Mount Jewett Borough's Mayor, Brianna Howard, kicked off the event by introducing Thompson and thanking him, DCNR (Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources) staff, Mount Jewett Borough Council, staff from the Kinzua Bridge State Park, and HWCT Executive Director, Janie French, for gathering at the Club's Trailhead on Center Street in Mount Jewett.
"It is a big honor for our community. Lots of folks and lots of loving hands are fostering the trail," she said. "We are so thankful."
Thompson took over and said it was an honor to be with the people who have "worked so hard" to achieve the recognition.
"This is a county where people come together to get things done. What a difference that makes!"
Thompson proceeded by sharing his speech to the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives on February 8, 2023, congratulating the MJ2KB Trail Club for winning Pennsylvania
Trail of the Year. He had explained that the section of the Knox & Kane Rail Trail awarded is 7.8 miles long and that the entire trail spans four counties in Northern PA as a source of outdoor fun.
"The PA Trail of the Year Award is given by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to help build enthusiasm and support for trails across the state, and to raise public awareness about the value of Pennsylvania's land and water trail network."
He also explained that PA continues its tradition of being a leader in trail development by providing its citizens and visitors with more than 12,000 miles of trails.
"Congratulations to the MJ2KB Trail Club for its tremendous accomplishment," he congratulated.
MJ2KB Board President Carolyn Stroup said it was an honor to receive the award and an honor to have Thompson at the Trailhead and stated that it would not have happened without the volunteers.
"It's all about the volunteers," she added and acknowledged two people, Bud and Gwen Wills from the Pennsylvania Equine Council Trail Stewardship Program who also attended the gathering on Friday.
She said the couple encouraged her to get into trail building in 2005. She had attended a trail-development training meeting and then attended a hands-on training utilizing mules to haul material for the trail surface.
She then asked if any trail members, volunteers, or anyone would like to speak. "It's not all about me, it is about everybody in the group and their volunteered work."
HWCT Executive Director, Janie French, spoke up and touched on what Stroup had said.
"You talked about volunteerism, over the past from 2019 to 2022, there have been about 2,000 hours of volunteered time on the trail itself," French said.
She added that that last year alone the trail counters counted 102,000 people on the trail.
In 2022, Congressman Thompson provided an earmark to continue the road crossings. The road crossing will be completed in Mckean, Elk, and Forest County with Clarion County "pretty much done", French added.
MJ2KB member and volunteer, Ken Stroup, added that the volunteers saved $750K by completing the section of the trail from Center Street to Lantz Corners by themselves.
President Stroup,
Ken's wife, explained what he was referring to in regard to $750K being saved. When the Club developed that section of the trail, it was all through the volunteers' work and DCNR grants to pay for material and hauling.
"Thank you, DCNR! It was a really big difference in the cost from this point (Center Street) towards Route 219 than what this (Center Street to the Kinzua Bridge State Park) was done here." She added that the trail surface is just as good and the Club is proud of it.
French made an additional comment by saying this trail would not have occurred without the volunteers, especially the MJ2KB Trail Club.
"This is what it is all
about, local communities getting involved to make an asset a wonderful place to live, work, and play."
Mayor Howard also had an additional comment and said it is a wonderful honor for our community to be home to the newly awarded 2023 Pennsylvania Trail of the Year.
"Having Congressman Glenn Thompson in Mount Jewett to recognize the hard work and dedicated volunteers of the MJ2KB Trail Club is a reminder of how fortunate we are to have this trail in our town, she said. "I thank the Congressman for joining us for his recognition of the value and importance of our beautiful trail."