The D&L Blog

Seasonal Announcements

Summer is here and we’re all ready to get out on the D&L Trail! 

The summer months can be the busiest on the D&L Trail. Follow a few tips below to make sure you have the best trip in the Corridor this season.  

• Trailhead Parking Fills Up Early – be sure to plan ahead and have a backup parking area in mind.   
• Know Before You Go – do your research and have an itinerary in mind before heading out for the day. Double check the rules for the trail section(s) you’re visiting and see if there are any special concerns for the area (air quality, severe weather, fire risks, large trail events). Always have extra water, food, and sun/bug protection on your person and keep a spare change of clothes in the car in case of changing weather. 
• Mind Your Manners – dust off the cobwebs and take a refresher on Trail Etiquette. Stay alert as others may be new to the trail and its rules- pass along knowledge wherever you can to make the D&L Trail an enjoyable space for all.  
• Keep Lassie Leashed – all pets must be leashed when on the D&L Trail and their waste properly disposed of- this includes horses. Additionally, Lassie may be as sweet as can be, but other dogs may not be and some people could be allergic or afraid of dogs or horses. Keep your animals safe and by your side.  
• Have Fun! Tag us on social media when you’re out on the trail with #DLTrail, #DLNHC or #GetYourTailOnTheTrail. We are on Facebook @DelawareandLehigh and Instagram and Twitter @DLNHC.  

Staff Announcements

In June the Trails & Conservation Department welcomed Alice Wanamaker to our team as the new Economic Development Manager! Alice will manage the Trail Towns, Trail Friendly Businesses, Event & Amenity funding and Visually Speaking Signage programs. Our team has worked with Alice on multiple projects prior to her joining the DLNHC, and we’re so glad to have her on board! 

Get to know Alice a little more by reading her “About Me” section at the end of the newsletter. If you have any questions for Alice, you can reach her at [email protected].  

Join Us for A Walk Audit

Forks of the Delaware D&L Trailhead Walk Audit- June 28^th 

The United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and AARP are working with the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and multiple partners, including DLNHC, to conduct walk audits throughout the Valley this Summer as part of the Age-Friendly Lehigh Valley plan. 

What is a Walk Audit? They aren’t as scary as they sound! A Walk Audit is a way to assess the walkability of a place- it could be your local street, a downtown district, or in the case of the June 28^th walk, access to a Trail. Some things to look for are connected and level sidewalks, sidewalk ramps to easily cross the street with a stroller or in a wheelchair, painted crosswalks, streetlights, welcoming buildings, benches, and comfortable bus stops. This helps local communities identify areas that need improvements so folks can age in place without needing to move due to mobility issues. Not to mention these improvements benefit people of all ages by making spaces safer and more accessible for walkers, bikers, strollers and pets to all fit together alongside the roadway! You can participate in these walk audits or plan your own by visiting the LV Walk Audit page. 

Want to join the DLNHC for a Walk Audit? We’ll be at the Forks of the Delaware D&L Trailhead on Wednesday June 28^th at 9:30AM for a Community Walk Day. The day will start with a walking audit of the access from the D&L Trailhead to Larry Holmes Drive. Groups will then split up to cover multiple audits throughout the City of Easton.  

Hope to see you there! 

Map Updates

IMPORTANT NOTE: Our Interactive Webmap is updated regularly with information provided by landowners. Please note, an update will remain posted with the original posting date for as long as the incident is relevant.  

The below list includes new trail closures or openings only. Please check our Web Map for a full list of closures and current updates before planning any excursions on the D&L Trail.  

• White Haven – Lehigh Tannery- Complete, open and improved – the D&L Trail is OPEN again from Middleburg Road (MM 132) to the Lehigh Tannery Trailhead (MM 128.6). This means D&L Trail is connected from Black Diamond Trailhead (MM 140.0) all the way to Catasauqua (MM 80.4)! 
• Durham Aqueduct – Tinicum Park- Obstruction within trail section – two new closures at Farley Wastegate (MM 39.4) and Lock 20 Narrowsville Vehicle Access (MM 46.73)  
• Virginia Forrest Recreation Area – New Hope- Obstruction within trail section – the towpath is CLOSED from Solebury Canal Park Bridge (MM 25.74) and Philips Mill Bridge (MM 26.14) 
• Morrisville to Bristol Lagoon – Obstruction within trail section – the Bridge Street Pedestrian Crossing project between MM 9-10 restarted construction on June 20. 

Written by Liz Rosencrans, DLNHC Director of Trails & Conservation

Liz leads the Trails & Conservation Department and is responsible for the progression of trail projects from concept to completion, handling everything from grant writing to technical plan reviews and construction oversight. She also oversees several D&L Trail volunteer programs.