May 19, 2016
Here is Joe addressing an impressive crowd of over 60 people!
In his words:
Good morning everyone.
Keystone Trails Association, the Mid State Trail Association, DCNR [Department of Conservation and Natural Resources], the PA Game Commission, and the PA Fish and Boat Commission share many common goals. Our mission statements converge here on this Pennsylvania footpath. Our organizations protect the wilderness, waters, and habitats that surround these paths.
The Mid State Trail epitomizes the wild character of Pennsylvania. Its ridges, hillsides, vistas, and ruggedness all add to its unique character. This tunnel, trestle, and trail brought our organizations together to provide access while protecting the bats we share the environment with and improving access for fishermen, hikers, and others who use the trail.
Our jobs would be much easier if every postal customer, every visitor to our Web site, had gone on a trip to a place such as the Mid State Trail as a kid and learned how spectacular and fragile our natural environment is. That experience plants the seed in our memory so that when we see a flyer about fracking or hear the headline about the oil spill, we remember our love of the outdoors and feel compelled to help out.
Providing infrastructure such as what we see here today makes creations of those memories so much easier to accomplish.
On behalf of KTA, I’d like to thank all of the partners involved in this amazing project.
photo credit: Sara Haxby
Read more about the Poe Paddy Tunnel Dedication Ceremony for the grand Re-Opening!