Mckean County Community Foundation Grants MJ2KB $5,000
The MJ2KB (Mount Jewett to Kinzua Bridge) Trail Club has been awarded $5,000 from the Mckean County Community Foundation Grant to be used toward the 24' x 24' pavilion project on the Knox & Kane Rail Trail near the Kinzua Bridge State Park's Skywalk. Wolf Creek Race Management is funding $2,000 towards the building of the pavilion. The Club recently agreed to have concrete flooring for the pavilion, hence a re-evaluation of the total price of the construction of the structure and concrete to determine how much additional funding will be needed.
A new Board of Directors will soon be elected with Karen Benson and Darlene Mosley as the nominating committee. If interested in being a board member, you can email the Club at mj2kbtrail@gmail.com. Please specify your interest before the end of December.
The Club applied for DCNR'S "Trail of the Year Award". The winner will be announced in early 2023.
The portable toilet funded by the Women's Giving Circle that was at the MJ Trailhead has been removed for the winter. The Club would like to continue having a portable toilet accessible from spring to fall each year.
The Kiosk maps have been updated. Two maps include "you are here", placing one at the kiosk at the end of the trail at the Kinzua Bridge State Park and another one in the kiosk at the Trailhead on Center Street in Mount Jewett. Points of interest such as pavilions, benches, mile markers, and the six interpretive signs are marked on the maps. These maps may be available at the Trail Club's events.
New flyers/brochures have been updated and will soon be available to the public. Matt Benson helped with the flyers and the maps mentioned above.
The interpretive sign frames and signs have been installed. A special thanks go out to Angela Cornelius, Matt Benson, Heath Cousins, and Jack Forquer for the creation and installation of the interpretive signs.
Anyone wanting to use their artistic skills to design or help create a new design for the Club's t-shirts is asked to email the Club or come to a meeting to present their work.
The Club is seeking volunteers to help with the wild/natural flower box to be built near the pavilion on Hacker Street. Volunteers can help by offering plants, helping with planting, and helping upkeep the flower box.
Still in discussion, the Club is looking at options for a lock box design specifically for donations and where they will be placed.
The Club is working on an Act 13 Greenway grant application. If the Club is awarded this grant, the Board of Directors said a portion of these funds could go towards the concrete for the new pavilion.
Recently one family and two individuals joined as members.
This past month, the Club's maintenance crew maintained the trail including tasks such as setting out three benches, installing the interpretive signs, putting seat covers on the newly purchased golf cart, cleaning up the trail where the vandalism occurred by off-road vehicles (ORVS) between Center Street and Lantz Corners.
Members and the Board of Directors talked about the vandalism that occurred on the trail in the month of November. ORVS have been an ongoing issue on the Knox & Kane Rail Trail. Many individuals using the trail and who are following the rules have submitted complaints about dirt bikes and four-wheelers on the trail that sped past them, reported Club President Carolyn Stroup. The Board talked about the surface of the trail and how it will not withstand the abuse of an ORV. With the safety of rule-abiding trail users in mind, the Club members said individuals using an ORV on the trail will be prosecuted once caught.
Members began a list of goals for the year 2023 that include the new pavilion, acquiring additional members, and an equipment wish list.