Weatherly Borough is another step closer to connecting itself to the Lehigh Gorge Trail.

Borough officials envision a 5-mile trail along the Black Creek, giving cyclists and pedestrians a direct trail link from the Lehigh Gorge to the borough.The borough is set to receive $20,000 in state funding that will go toward a feasibility study on the trail. State Sen. John Yudichak, D-Luzerne/Carbon, and state Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-Carbon, announced the funding earlier this month. Borough officials hope that it will make the trail for pedestrians and cyclists a reality."We've been working on the rails to trails project in Weatherly 10 years. Sen. Yudichak has been a big help to us, as well as Rep. Heffley," said Thomas Connors, mayor and council president.Connors said that the study will serve as a basis for the borough to make future applications for grant money to fund the trail. Also, it shows that the trail is a viable project worth investing in."We expect it to be a big financial boon for our community as well as surrounding communities," he said.The funding for the grant came from the Department of Community and Economic Development's Act 13 Greenways Recreation and Trails program. Yudichak and Heffley said in a statement that the trail will benefit locals as well as tourists.Last year, the borough acquired easements to use two properties along the proposed route. Connors said that he believes the path will provide an alternative for cyclists who have come to love the Lehigh Gorge trail."It's going to be a little different from a normal flat trail, we expect a lot of people to use it, and we're really excited about it," he said.