Lackawanna Heritage Valley's Heritage Explorer Bike Tour returns

May 7—The Lackawanna Heritage Valley's Heritage Explorer Bike Tour returned in-person to the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail on Saturday, May 7, showcasing the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail from Carbondale through Fell Township.

The Heritage Explorer Bike Tour has become an annual tradition to promote the development of the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail (LRHT). After more than a year of uncertainty, this year's event was made extra special, proudly bringing the community together once again along our region's favorite recreational asset.

Cyclists embarked on a 20-mile stretch of a newly-debuted scenic path linking the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail to the D&H Rail Trail this spring.

The event is a fun, family-friendly and non-competitive event — offering riders of all ages and abilities the chance to ride along the Heritage Trail from Carbondale, past the Stillwater Dam in Uniondale, and to Ararat Township.

The event began at the John Street Trailhead in Carbondale. From kids on tricycles to octogenarians and longer distance cyclists, more than 100 people enjoyed breakfast treats at the YMCA Community Park in Carbondale before heading out on the trail.

After completing their ride, lunch was provided as families joined in on other fun and interactive activities.

All proceeds benefit the ongoing maintenance and development of the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail.

The Lackawanna River Heritage Trail was designated one of the "2021 Great Places in Pennsylvania" by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association.

The thriving, revitalized Lackawanna River was named "Pennsylvania's 2020 River of the Year" by DCNR and POWR.

The D&H Rail-Trail was designated "Pennsylvania's 2021 Trail of the Year" by DCNR.

New addition: 'I AM

Adaptive Cycling Expo

In conjunction with this year's Heritage Explorer Bike Tour, Individual Abilities in Motion (I AM) hosted an Adaptive Cycling Expo at the park.

I AM is a local non-profit that supports individuals with mobility impairments in achieving the highest possible level of life satisfaction by discovering, celebrating and developing individuals' abilities.

The event gives people the chance to learn about adaptive cycling opportunities in NEPA and check out different equipment.

Bike-On, an adaptive cycling dealer from Rhode Island, was at the event with recumbent bikes, handcycles and even some innovative, off-pavement products to try.

$61M announced to increase

outdoor access in urban spaces

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Shannon Estenoz this week visited Minnesota to announce $61.1 million in grant funding is available to communities in 26 cities across the United States to create new parks and trails, or substantial renovations to existing parks, through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program.

The ORLP program, established in 2014, enables urban communities to create new outdoor recreation spaces, reinvigorate existing parks, and form connections between people and the outdoors in economically under served communities. Secretary Haaland announced the list of selected cities invited to submit final applications for their proposals during her visit.

"Access to the outdoors is essential to the health, well-being and prosperity of every family and every community in America but not everyone has the same equitable opportunities to enjoy green spaces," said Secretary Haaland. "Funding from the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership will continue to expand our communities' connections to urban green spaces, where children can play, families can connect, and a love and appreciation for the outdoors can be nurtured."

"So much of the work of the National Park Service takes place in local communities through programs like the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership," said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. "Now in its eighth year, the program leverages federal funds to provide economically disadvantaged communities with the means to create and improve parks, trails, and recreation opportunities. We look forward to providing more grant opportunities like this to states across the country."

Priority is given to projects that are targeted to meet the needs of under served communities; provide opportunities for employment or job training; involve and expand public-private partnerships; and rely on a high degree of coordination among all levels of government, to expand and improve recreation opportunities for all.

Since its inception in 1965, the LWCF has funded $4 billion worth of projects in every county in the country. Last year, Congress permanently funded the LWCF at $900 million per year with wide bipartisan support. At no cost to taxpayers, the LWCF supports increased public access to and protection for federal public lands and waters — including national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and recreation areas — and provides matching grants to state governments for the acquisition and development of public parks and other outdoor recreation sites.

Pennsylvania

Connell Park (Scranton)

Connell Park Revitalization — $381,594

The City of Scranton will revitalize the deteriorating Connell Park, the only park within walking distance of the upper Southside residents, with a new wellness loop trail, progressive bike/hiking trails, playground, and dog park.

The project will also update the sports venue concessions stand and make infrastructure and ADA accessibility improvements.

Pa. working with Chesapeake Bay

Commission to address water quality

Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding this week joined members of the Chesapeake Bay Commission to plant a streamside forest buffer in Lancaster to improve the water quality of Landis Run, and eventually the Chesapeake Bay.

"Streamside buffers are a best management practice that slow down flooding caused by severe weather and improve water quality, require less mowing, cool the water, hold and store carbon, and provide food and shelter for pollinators and wildlife, Dunn said. "We welcome commission members from Pennsylvania and our partner states in this hands on effort with a big impact."

The commission and the commonwealth are signatories to a series of agreements with the other five states in the watershed, the District of Columbia and the federal government.

The latest version of the agreement from 2014 set a goal of restoring 900 miles of buffers each year. Statewide, Pennsylvania has a goal of planting 95,000 acres of forest buffers along waterways. The Lancaster buffer includes planting 1.2 acres of forest buffers at a private property.

The buffer planting kicks off two days of meetings and educational opportunities in Pennsylvania for members of the Chesapeake Bay Commission, a tri-state legislative commission advising the general assemblies of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia on state and federal policy to restore the 64,000 square mile Chesapeake Bay watershed.

The planting was facilitated by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay with DCNR grant funds, and tree tubes and shelters provided by Keystone 10 Million Trees. Commission members helped to plan, layout, and plant the buffer.

"Forested buffers in a farming county are just one facet of the conservation efforts the Wolf Administration is supporting to make our water cleaner and our soil healthier," Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. "On top of leading the nation in conservation easements, funding farm conservation practices and equipment, and investing more than $4 million in new Conservation Excellence Grants that empower communities to take ownership of conservation, Governor Wolf has proposed investing $450 million in federal American Rescue Plan dollars to boost Growing Greener III. Planting trees along our streams and feeding new dollars into a diverse package of loans, grants and incentives funding the stewardship of Pennsylvania farmers is the catalyst Pennsylvania needs to feed our future."

DCNR and Ag are working with many partners to plant trees and shrubs along streams for water quality, with accomplishments including:

—Creating a watershed forestry team, an advisory group with more than 60 members and partners, and holding an annual summit.

—Providing almost $7 million dollars in grant funds for streamside forest buffers.

—Conducting Buffer My Stream landowner outreach.

—Attracting more than $4.45 million in federal grants and allocating more than $2 million in federal funds for projects.

—Collaborating on a reporting and tracking tool that allows the commonwealth to report successes to the federal government.

—Working with the corrections system and other partners to train workers to plant and maintain buffers.