Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority Friends of the Trails The Ghost Town Trail ▪ The Path of the Flood Trail ▪ The Jim Mayer Riverswalk Trail
www.cambriaconservationrecreation.com Summer 2016 Jim Mayer Trail Expands 1.7 Miles
Thanks to the ongoing efforts of the Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority (CCCRA), the Jim Mayer Riverswalk Trail in Johnstown is adding on the miles. The new section of trail now extends 1.7 miles farther, from Bridge St. to Messenger St. The original trail stretches 1.4 miles from Michigan Ave. to Bridge St.
This popular urban riverside trail follows the Stonycreek River from the Riverside community to Sandyvale Memorial Gardens & Conservancy and now totals 3.1 miles. The CCCRA finished surfacing the trail last winter.
The Jim Mayer Family Fun Run marked the official grand opening of the extension with a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 14th.The trail was named and dedicated in 1992 in memory of James E. Mayer, hiker, explorer, attorney, and Jim Mayer Trail Extension Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: (L to R) Clifford Kitner magistrate who extended his concern for his clients and (CCCRA Executive Director), Kate Doyle (Jim Mayer family), Dennis Ritko (CCCRA his family to the environment. Visit our website for Board Member), Rob McCombie (CCCRA Board Member), President Commissioner trailhead locations. Tom Chernisky, Tom Kakabar (Chairman, CCCRA Board), Tom Fritz (CCCRA Board Member), Chris Brag, Becky Mayer, Mike Kane, Fritz Mayer, and Elizabeth Mayer (members of the Jim Mayer family). Photo by CCCRA Intern Erica Claycomb.
Cambria County Trails Series
The first-ever 2016 Cambria County Trails Series was created to promote awareness of the Cambria County Trails and to benefit the new Friends of the Trails program. Over 50 people came out for The Jim Mayer Family Fun Run 5K/Kids’ Trail Trot on May 14th. The 5k course featured the new 1.7 mile extension of The Jim Mayer Trail. Sponsors included The Jim Mayer Family, The EADS Group, Pet Zone Inn, and Family Dentistry Associates.
The Ghost Town Trail Challenge took place on June 18th, the longest Saturday of the year. The Challenge, which was to finish the event by sunset, included three distance options: the 50K (32 miles), 25K (16 miles), and 13K (8 miles). Over 100 people participated in the event from six different states and one other country: PA, MD, NY, VA, DE, OH, and Spain. Sponsors included Saint Francis University, First Student, Robindale Energy, Mount Aloysius College, Up-N-Running, Advantage Foot Care, Applebee’s, The Big Stone Inn, Ebensburg Area Running Club, Ebensburg Insurance Agency, Al’s Pizza, and Coca-Cola. Greetings from the Executive Director
It’s been a little over a year now since I Conemaugh River Basin. The removal began in started with the CCCRA, and a lot has been May and is expected to be completed within 3 accomplished in that time. First , The CCCRA years. has finished the Jim Mayer Riverswalk Trail 1.7 mile extension with the help of a National The CCCRA is also assisting Lisa Rager, Road Heritage Corridor Grant and funding Marlene Singer, and Tom Callihan (a group of from CamTran, as well as funding assistance residents from Oakland) in their efforts to and labor from our own organization. It was rebuild the Verna K. Blough playground. The the first section of trail we built ‘in-house.’ current playground was built in 1973 on the site of the former Oakland Elementary School; it The CCCRA also continues to work on the was renamed in 1977 in honor of Verna K. C and I section of the Ghost Town Trail Blough, a teacher at the school, upon her through a PennDot TAP Grant secured by the retirement from the Greater Johnstown School previous Executive Director Delores District. Columbus. The CCCRA recently secured funding assistance from the Community As you can see, we have been very busy as an Initiatives Fund and the Penelec Fund for the organization. We invite you to check out our Future of Greater Johnstown of the new website and encourage you to become a Community Foundation for the Alleghenies. Friend of the Trails, but most importantly, we The 9.34 mile extension will go from the end invite you to get out an use the Cambria County of the current Rexis Branch at White Mill Trails — just for the health of it. Crossing, past the Belsano Crossing, to North Clifford Kitner Clifford Kitner, Street in Cardiff. The project will include the Executive Director, CCCRA construction of two bridges and is expected to begin in Executive Director the spring of 2017. Cambria County Conservation & The Ehrenfeld Mine Reclamation Project is also Recreation Authority moving forward. The CCCRA is working with The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to remove the boney pile out of Ehrenfeld. This project is intended to eliminate public health and safety concerns arising from abandoned mine land features that are located within close proximity to residents. In addition to health and safety concerns, this project will help to mitigate environmental concerns associated with sediment and pollution loadings into the Little
Mike Kane, President and Executive Director CFA Presents Check for Ehrenfeld of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, presented the Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority with a Coal Pile Removal to CCCRA Board $25,000 check to help finance the Ehrenfeld Coal Refuse Pile Removal Project. Pictured (L to R) are CCCRA Board Members Larry Custer, Rick Bloom, Jim Panero, John Strittmatter, Brad Clemenson; President Commissioner Tom Chernisky; Board Member Chuck Gironda; President and Executive Director of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, Mike Kane; CCCRA Executive Director Clifford Kitner; Solicitor George Gvozdich Jr.; Tom Simmons, Aid to Sen. Wozniak; CCCRA Board Chairman Tom Kakabar; Board Members Ray Gorman and Dennis Ritko; CCCRA Program Specialist Leanna Bird, and Board Member John Hurley. 2016 CCCRA Board Members not pictured include Tom Fritz, Rob McCombie, Steve Mikesic, Renée Daly, and Andy Kaza. Photograph taken by CCCRA Intern Erica Claycomb at the YPCC in Ebensburg. ‘Friends of the Trails’ Funds Art Murals
The Friends of the Trails program, launched by The CCCRA in April 2016, funded its first trail enhancement project in June, which consists of two art murals on the old trolley bridge walls , near the Bridge St. Trailhead, along The Jim Mayer Riverswalk Trail in Johnstown. The CCCRA and the Bottleworks Ethnic Arts Center partnered together to bring nature-inspired art to Johnstown's most popular urban trail. Community volunteers, along with CCCRA and Bottleworks staff, spent June 24-25 prepping the site for the artists by clearing back brush, power- washing the walls, and priming the walls. Artists Richard Hower, John Shook, and Todd Stiffler, with help from community volunteers and trail users, then painted the murals on June 27th. Richard and John are cousins who collaborate together in mediums ranging from watercolor to stone carving. Additional Friends of the Trails projects that the CCCRA is currently working on include increased directional signage for the Path of the Flood Trail and a new trailhead parking lot at the Portage St. Trailhead of the Path of the Flood Trail. To become a ‘Friend’ and support projects like these, see below. A trail user enjoys a morning run past the new art murals on the Jim Mayer Trail.
2016 Friends of the Trails Membership If you believe that great trails make great communities, we ask for your support to enhance and expand our regional treasures, the Cambria County Trails. The three major community trails that we manage include The Ghost Town Trail, The Path of the Flood Trail, and The Jim Mayer Riverswalk Trail, which collectively total nearly 40 miles.
With your tax-deductible membership donation, we can deliver projects that will enhance and expand our trails, making them even better for generations to come.
All tax-deductible membership donations include these standard benefits: Quarterly CCCRA newsletter. Oval sticker with Cambria County Trails logo. Discounted Cambria County Trails Series registration fees. 2016 Annual Report (includes member recognition).
NAME Friends of the Trails - Membership Levels ______Please check one:
ADDRESS Senior/Student ($10) - Standard
______ Individual ($20) - Standard CITY STATE ZIP Family ($35) ______Standard + 4 stickers
EMAIL______ Friend ($50) Standard + 5 stickers
*Please clip and mail form with a check (made payable to Patron ($100) Cambria County Conservation & Recreation Authority) to: Standard + 5 stickers Cambria County Conservation & Recreation Authority 401 Candlelight Drive, Suite 240 Silver Business Sponsor ($150) Ebensburg, PA 15931 Standard + 5 stickers
You can also become a Friend of the Trails by visiting our web- Gold Business Sponsor ($250) site: www.cambriaconservationrecreation.com. Standard + 5 stickers
Standard Cambria County Conservation & Recreation Authority U.S. Postage 401 Candlelight Drive, Suite 240 PAID Ebensburg, PA 15931 Johnstown, PA
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