Letter to the Editor: Weatherly walking trail would be disruptive
To the Editor:
The borough of Weatherly plans to build a walking trail linking the former train station in Weatherly to the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Trail in Lehigh Gorge State Park. (Times News, Feb. 21, 2024).
According to borough officials, the area of the proposed trail would be on the south side of Penn Haven Mountain adjacent to Black Creek, on land bordering Pennsylvania Game Commission property. Black Creek Gorge is listed under the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program as a locally significant site with potential for sustaining a diversity of plant and animal life. The site includes rugged terrain that protects water quality in Black Creek and may provide habitat for endangered bats, nesting raptors, rattlesnakes, and other cliff-dwelling plant and animal communities.
Advocates for trail development in our region are under the mistaken impression that multi-use trails, which are typically shared with bicycles, including E-bikes, and in some cases equestrian traffic, are “environmentally friendly,” when in fact this is not the case. The typical shared-use trail in our region is between 10 and 14 feet wide, and could be dozens or even hundreds of miles long. New trail construction may involve excavation, grading, and installation of foundation materials - asphalt/gravel/crushed stone or otherwise - all of which result in damage to surrounding natural communities. Other impacts may include soil erosion, damaged vegetation, altered hydrology, widening of trails, and increased muddiness.
The D & L Trail is the most heavily visited tourist attraction in Carbon County. The proposed Weatherly extension trail would add a new access point to the D & L Trail, bringing more crowds to a region that is currently a haven for rare plant and animal communities that have nowhere else to go.
Just because there are land and funds available does not mean that every square inch of vacant property in our region should be appropriated for some “purpose,” whether it be recreational or otherwise.
Juliet Perrin
Albrightsville