Jim Thorpe Area School District’s board of directors on Wednesday approved a memorandum of understanding that allows Penn Forest Township to build, maintain and operate a non-motorized public trail across school district property along Route 903 near Bear Creek Lakes.

Penn Forest officials described the trail as “a non-motorized public recreation trail similar in design and function to a sidewalk.” It said the surface will be “similar to the D&L Trail,” tapered into the surrounding terrain with “no tripping hazards” and no need for railings because the location does not border cliffs or roadways.

“Safety is a major priority for us,” the township wrote in its request to the district. Officials stated they have been consulting with “multiple state coordinators” on required specifications and plan to follow “the most stringent standards for safety, for longevity, and to be eligible for grant funding.”

The memorandum of understanding states the township will be responsible for all construction, maintenance and repairs on the trail. It also affirms that the school district assumes no liability under the Pennsylvania Recreational Use of Land and Water Act.

Penn Forest must indemnify the district and may be required to remove the trail if the school board later needs the land for educational purposes.

The board reviewed the proposal at a workshop last week, where Penn Forest trail committee member Talon Fogal explained how the project developed.

Fogal told the board the issue began with children riding bicycles directly along Route 903.

“Kids are basically forced to ride their bicycles along 903 to go to their friend’s house, to go to the park, to go basically wherever they want to go up in the township,” he said. “We’re trying to do a simple trail that connects the developments to the park and to the points of interest around Penn Forest Township, so kids and adults have a safe alternative method of transportation without getting in their car.”

He described the work as underway for about a year and a half.

When asked whether there had been pushback, Fogal said most property owners along the proposed route have been supportive.

“Some people love it. Some people don’t like it,” he said. “If they don’t want it, there’s nothing we can do about it. We just try to go a different direction or work with them. Most people are pretty excited about it and see the need for it.”

Fogal said bicycle traffic along 903 is common.

“It’s not uncommon to see kids riding their bicycle,” he said, adding that committee members want to avoid a serious accident. “It’s a matter of time before somebody gets hit, and we don’t want that to happen even once.”

District officials noted at the workshop that the long-term goal for the township is to eventually expand the trail into Jim Thorpe, though that may take decades.

Fogal told the board the initial focus is connecting Penn Forest Park to the entrance of Bear Creek Lakes.

“We would love to have it done in a year, but if it takes five years, then we’ll spend five years doing it,” he said.

A second segment leading toward Bear Creek Plaza would wait until the township secures permission from the water authority for access across its land.

Board members also raised questions about crossing Route 903. Fogal said there is no perfect solution but noted that children already cross the highway. He said the township has discussed crosswalk dimensions with PennDOT for another section of the proposed route and believes a similar approach could eventually be used near the district property.

“Sometimes the trails have to come first, and then you can say, ‘There’s a problem here. Let’s get this taken care of,’” he said.