The D&L Blog

On Monday, a crowd of government officials and D&L Trail devotees braved grey skies and drizzle to dedicate a 2.7-mile section of trail between Cementon and Laurys Station in Lehigh County. The new section runs along a former Lehigh Valley Railroad bed and offers constant views of the Lehigh River. Although this was the formal dedication and there had been no previous publicity, the trail has seen heavy use from locals eager to get out on their bikes or walk their dogs. On weekends, the trailheads are filled to capacity-the kind of problem of which most trail developers only dream.

The well-attended ceremony included brief speeches by DCNR Secretary John Quigley, Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham, and others, who spoke about the importance of regional, multi-purpose trails. “It takes a village to build a trail,” Cunningham noted, reflecting on the numerous partnerships that made the project possible. Secretary Quigley reminded everyone that, with budget cuts on the horizon and trail development funds in the crosshairs, those partnerships will become more important than ever. Fortunately, the D&L has a great partner in Lehigh County government and its staff, and we look forward to completing the county’s section of the trail in the near future.

If you haven’t been on this new section yet, be sure to check it out. Also, don’t forget that one June 5 the D&L will celebrate National Trails Day by dedicating another new section of trail between Jim Thorpe and Lehigh Gorge State Park. You won’t want to miss the ceremony or the bike ride through the gorge. The D&L Trail has really come together in the last few years, and you will continue to see key projects and new sections, as we work on completing all 165 miles.