The D&L Blog

On Saturday, one of several Great Lehigh Canal Clean Ups took place at the Weissport Trailhead. Twenty people came out to clear invasives from the canal bank, pick up trash, and remove all sorts of debris. Most of the work was done south of Interchange Road, an area that has received less attention than the trailhead on the other side of the road but is an important access point to Parryville.

The clean up was truly a cooperative, community effort. The Carbon Service Corporation donated a dumpster to dispose of the collected trash and debris. The Borough of Jim Thorpe loaned a chipper-shredder and a skilled operator to grind up clippings. Members of Concerned Citizens of Weissport cooked hotdogs for the volunteers, which they washed down with bottled water donated by Aquafina. PennDOT provided safety vests, gloves, and garbage bags. Weissport even provided police coverage, pedestrian crossing signs, and orange safety cones!

Most important of all, this was the first organized event of the recently-formed Carbon County Trail Tenders. Under enthusiastic leadership and with lots of exciting trail developments in the county, this chapter should make significant progress in the next year. If you are interested in joining them, please contact chapter leader Doug Makofka at [email protected].