The public meeting to discuss the Chestnut Ridge Greenway Trail Feasibility Study set off on the right foot Tuesday night, but then hit a rocky path.

The conservancy owns a four-mile section of the former Chestnut Ridge Railway from Little Gap in Lower Towamensing Township to Eldred Township and Kunkletown. The proposed trail would also be extended into Palmerton.

Held at the Stoney Ridge P.A.R.C. in Lower Towamensing Township, the meeting was held to explain the project and get feedback.

Ashley Eichlin from engineering firm Barry Isett and Associates in Allentown, said mapping has been started, and the next step was to find out the public’s needs, wants and desires for the project.

Isett and Associates, along with the architecture firm Campbell Thomas and Co. in Philadelphia, have been hired as consultants by Wildlands Conservancy, to work on the project.

The next step is to draft a plan of the preferred trail alignment, as well as the trail width, surface materials, safety features and environmental considerations.

In the first quarter of 2024, they would develop a management plan with estimated costs and a phasing plan. After that, they plan to draft a report, and hold a second public meeting, Eichlin said.

Not long after Eichlin gave the group instructions on how to use their cellphones to participate in the questions, the slow Wi-Fi sparked the smoldering embers of discontent for the trail.

As people grumbled about not wanting the trail in their backyard, Lower Towamensing Township Brent Green stepped up to the front of the room and addressed the crowd.

“The purpose of today’s meeting is to get more feedback. Like we said at the beginning, there is no final trail design,” he said,

It didn’t stop the comments and questions about eminent domain.

Green told the crowd to be respectful.

“We are basically looking at a design potential of a trail with no definitive location,” Green said. “That’s why we are here today to get your feedback, so that we can figure out how this trail/walkway/path would use either Little Gap Road or another way from Kunkletown to Palmerton.

“There’s no definitive route, so that’s why we can’t answer if there’s going to be eminent domain, which I can’t imagine any of the three communities that are with this would use eminent domain. I think that would be a total waste of eminent domain powers.”

Specifics not set

Green explained this is called a greenway because they are looking at the overall area. There is an ideal area for the trail, but the location is not decided.

The crowd calmed down and many others said they were supportive of the trail and wanted to hear more.

Robert Thomas, from the architecture firm, said the trails would be used for walking, biking, and maybe even horseback riding. They are looking at alternative routes and possibly networking the trail with the D&L Trail and the winter trail section of the Appalachian Trail.

The meeting broke into groups where people could look at maps, and make comments on the maps.

Palmerton Borough council member Bill Gallagher said he is supportive of the trail, but the opposition has him questioning its future.

“I’m usually an optimist, but not in this with the multitude of obstacles that have to be overcome,” he said.

Resident Gerry Madden, who lives in Little Gap, said he likes the idea of the trail, because the area along the Aquashicola Creek is beautiful. He also thinks the trail could be good for business in Palmerton, because people would stop there.

“I’m all for it, but it has to be OK with the people whose property it passes,” he said.

Opposition

One of those people is Kay Phillips, who also lives in Little Gap. She has a property that backs the creek and was vocal at the meeting about her opposition to the trail.

“I’m not for this because I moved out of town to have seclusion,” she said.

Phillips said she grew up in Palmerton, and she moved out of town to get away from congested neighborhoods.

“Now, they’re bringing people to my backyard,” she said.

Phillips said if the trail goes through, she isn’t moving. “I’ll put up a big fence,” she said.

Phillips likes her neighbors, and has a sentimental attachment to the property adjacent to hers. It’s where her grandparents lived.

Dawn Gorham, director of land preservation for the Wildlands Conservancy, said, “There’s a lot of supporters for the trail, and people who are concerned.”

Gorham explained that most of the land owned by Wildlands Conservancy are preserves that have trails within in them. This section of land is surrounded by private and municipal property.

“We’re trying to find out if it is feasible to connect it,” she said.

The public is welcome to take the survey about the trail. It is accessible at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ChestnutRidgeGreenwayTrail or by picking up a paper copy at the Palmerton, Lower Towamensing Township or Eldred Township offices.