CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – The Clarion County Trails Association has grown dramatically over the last four years and is now partnering in the development of a new Clarion River Park at Ebenezer Spring.
(Photo: Sue Giering and Greg Faller review a Clarion County Trail Map that highlights the progress of trail development in Clarion County. Both are also part of a group that wants to establish a new Clarion River Park at the site of Ebenezer Spring near the Clarion River Bridge in Clarion Township.)
“We were pretty much nonexistent four years ago,” said Clarion County Commissioner Greg Faller. “In four years, we now have a trail map, we have a brochure, and we have a working Clarion County Trails Association that is promoting the county for what it has to offer like The Clarion River, the Allegheny River, Cook Forest, and outdoor amenities. These thing attract people here to enjoy the outdoors or visit their camp and they’ve been doing that for years.”
Walking and bike trails in the Clarion County and nearby trails now include the Allegheny Valley Trail Association, Armstrong Trail, Baker Trail, Cook Forest State Park Trails, North Country National Scenic Trail, the 4.3 mile Rail 66 Country Trail, Redbank Valley Trail, and Water Trails.
Faller also pointed to work on the acquisition of the rails from the junction near Dairy Queen and the old railroad from Knox to Kane.
“If that acquisition goes through, it will be 70 miles of usable trail from the Shippenville junction clear up to Mt. Jewett.”
The trail closest to the Clarion River is North County, but there are now efforts to increase access to the river.
“The only one we have that is the closest is the North Country Trail, part of a national trail from Michigan on up to New York,” said Faller. “If and when the Knox to Kane Acquisition happens that will be the next closest for hiking and bicycling.”
All of the trails are restricted to foot or bike traffic in some cases, but Faller said DCNR is working on a private thousand acre location and more places for four wheelers and atvs to run. DCNR provides funding for trails, but registration fees for ATVs to DCNR. The closest location for public trails is the Allegheny National Forest where there are miles of trails.
“Probably the biggest issue is just to make trails accessible to everyone and education about why some aren’t open to ATVs,” said Sue Giering. “Educate the four wheelers why and not just because I don’t want you, so that they don’t tear the place up but giving them the place to go, also not excluding them from trails. It just has to be a whole big combination, and it takes a long time.”
Faller, Giering, and a group called the Clarion River Partnership want to increase access to the Clarion River, and the group’s initial project is development of a small county park at the Ebenezer Spring located near the Clarion River Bridge. Many older residents remember the spring was a popular spot before the current bridge was built, and the road connected to an older bridge at the bottom of the hill.
“The Clarion River partnership has a vision where the Clarion River Park Ebenezer spring will offer a boardwalk for just gazing at the water or for fishing, a launch for canoes and kayaks, picnic tables in the pavilion,” states a written proposal for funding from Brookfield Energy, operator of the Piney Dam. “In the future, we see trails that traverse the hills of the Clarion River upward toward Clarion Borough. We also envision a primitive camping area where the boy and girl scouts/hearty citizens can enjoy a campfire s’mores and a sing-along in the evening before bedtime.”
The Clarion River has two public access points, one at Millcreek and one at Toby, according to Faller.
“Those are boat launch areas, and if any of you go to those areas to do boating or take your family, with the car traffic and loading and unloading of boats, they don’t lend themselves very well to someone taking a family and enjoying a nice peaceful time at the river,” said Faller.
The recreational activities will help promote Clarion County, according to Faller, and emphasize the many positives in the area.
“There are a lot of things going on, but it’s a shame that with the history, we have in this county we’re lacking someone to take ownership and bring it back into a condition,” said Faller.
Ebenezer Spring (above), dedicated in 1927 to honor veterans, will be a central part of a new Clarion River Park located near the Frank James Walls Memorial Bridge over the Clarion River on Route 322. Neglected over many years, the new park will restore the spring and its stonework.
The Ebenezer spring memorial was a gift of former Judge Harry R. Wilson, under his direction, the spring was improved in the stone memorial erected.
The memorial was dedicated on Armistice Day, Friday, November 11, 1927, and given to the Clarion Craig M. Fleming post of the American Legion. The stone memorial was dedicated to the soldiers and sailors of World War I and “all other wars — who went through the carnage and suffering and live to return.”
Short-range activities listed in a scope of work include the need for Clarion County to have a controlling interest in the site to be developed.
“We are proposing that an appropriate conveyance be given to the County of Clarion for adequate acreage in the vicinity of the Route 322 parking area to complete the proposed development project,” states the plans.
Other items include appropriate permitting as required from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Fish and Boat Commission, and any other appropriate authorities; a recreational access which is open to the public will be developed; a 10′ x 120′ boardwalk will be built; two picnic tables will be located on the boardwalk for added enjoyment on the boardwalk; and a dock of approximately 8′ x 12′ for kayak and canoe access only will be built.
Clarion Township will provide road maintenance.
It will take time for completion of the project, but Faller sketched out a time frame.
“In two years it will be 90 years since Ebenezer Spring was dedicated, and by its 100th year anniversary, we should be able to have completed the things in our proposal,” said Faller.
