Trail plan aims to link sites

EILEEN GODIN Times Leader Correspondent

WILKES-BARRE – Already matching up his current bike route with proposed trail expansion, avid bicyclist Dr. John Koch of was excited about the concept of the trail and greenway expansion project unveiled on Tuesday night.

George White goes over proposed trails in the Kingston area Tuesday at Wilkes University. The Kingston Area Trail will run northeast into Wyoming and southwest into Larksville.

Don Carey/the times leader

An event titled “Celebrating Luzerne County’s Great Trails and Greenways” was held 7 to 9 p.m. in the ballroom of the Henry Student Center at Wilkes. It goal was to roll out two master plans, the Kingston master trail proposal and Wilkes-Barre master trail proposal, and celebrate the current trail systems.

Other trail organizations, such as the Anthracite Scenic Trails Association, the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, the Riverfront Parks and Wyoming Valley Riverfest among others were on hand to show off the current trails and amenities.

Koch, who said he can ride about 50 miles or more in a day, said the idea of linking trails together to give one safe path through communities is great.

“I know it will not happen overnight,” he said. “But it is nice to see the overall goal.”

George White, design consultant on the project, walked about 50 people through the Kingston and Wilkes-Barre master plans. There is no determined start date on the plans. The date depends on funding and volunteerism from local communities.

“The main focus will be the waterfront,” White said.

When planning out the routes, he said, he started with an old railroad map from 1892 and overlaid it with current maps.

“The coal era left behind railroad beds and canals,” he said. “You have some great opportunities to do some great things with trails. It could become a real destination for hikers, joggers and bicyclists.”

Examining the maps, White said, everything amazingly fits together. Through the connections, the trails can link parks, playgrounds, schools and colleges.

The Kingston Master Plan will consist of four main trail proposals, including the Back Mountain Extension, Kingston Area Trail, the Larksville Connector Trail and the Backroad Bike Route.

Starting with the end of the Back Mountain Trail in Luzerne, White said, the goal is to connect this trail to the Luzerne County Levee Trail.

This will be done by utilizing passages under the Cross Valley Expressway running parallel to Union Street. The trail will then pick up on an abandoned railroad reaching the Kingston Recreation Center.

Showing a map, White described how the levee trial will connect to the Kingston Trail and the Susquehanna Warrior Run trail, which extends into Shickshinny. The Kingston Area Trail will run northeast into Wyoming and southwest into Larksville.

The Larksville Connector Trail will run behind Romanoskey Park and link up to the Backroad Bike Route running parallel to Courtdale Avenue.

The Wilkes-Barre Master Plan consists of nine proposed trails that will utilize old railroad beds, smaller levee systems and sidewalks. White said the trail systems will link communities in a safe manner.

Wilkes-Barre resident Allen Kotansky, formerly of Hazleton, said he has not used the trail systems yet, but after seeing the information, is anxious to get out there and enjoy them.