by Dan Glass
Recently, Governor Wolf announced that the Heritage Rail Trail in York County was selected as the 2015 Trail of the Year. He said, “It helps make an important point that trails provide our citizens with nearby opportunities for affordable outdoor exercise, and play an important role in the economic vitality of nearby communities attracting visitors who stay, eat and shop. Congratulations York County!”
This designation is coordinated by DCNR’s Trails Advisory Committee to elevate public awareness of the thousands of miles of trails available for public enjoyment in Pennsylvania.
DCNR Acting Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn noted, “The Heritage Rail Trail stood out because of its importance to the health and fitness of residents in nearby communities; its connection to the history of the surrounding area; and as a rare example in Pennsylvania of a rail trail with nearby active rails.”
The 21.5-mile Heritage Rail Trail runs from the City of York to the Maryland border, and includes seven railroad structures on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as an operating tourism train. The trail has been the catalyst for the formation of local history organizations and community festivals along its length. The Heritage Rail Trail connects to Maryland’s Torrey C. Brown Trail to create more than 43 miles of rail trail. Trail visitation in 2013 exceeded 311,000. The trail corridor is maintained as a county park by the York County Department of Parks and Recreation. For more information about the Heritage Rail Trail, visit www.yorkcountyparks.org or www.yorkcountytrails.org.
We at Keystone Trails Association extend our sincerest congratulations to those that manage and maintain this trail.