x
Breaking News
More () »

Students Help Clear Brush, Build Benches on Rails to Trails

HAZLE TOWNSHIP — The Greater Hazleton Rails to Trails has become a popular place in this part of Luzerne County over the last decade. The trail in Hazle T...
haz rails to trails

HAZLE TOWNSHIP -- The Greater Hazleton Rails to Trails has become a popular place in this part of Luzerne County over the last decade.

The trail in Hazle Township  spans six miles to Foster Township and gets a lot of foot traffic each year.

"We're up to over 40,000 visits every year right now at the parking lot and a lot of people want to come and sit around," Bob Skulsky said.

That's one reason why those who oversee the trail are continuing to find ways to improve it, like putting down new mulch.

Students from MMI Preparatory School in Freeland gave the trail area a little TLC. Eleventh grade student Ali Aijav didn't mind getting a little dirty to help his community.

"We're just trying to help make the community better for everybody else. So that they can better enjoy this really nice park. This is my first time down here, and I'm happy that I got to discover this little gem and that I'm helping to make it a little better, Aijav said.

Students spent the morning working on a future picnic area. One of today's jobs was to build six new benches.

"This is really great because Rails to Trails is a part of our community and it's such a nice day out. The trails are just nice and clean and we want to keep it nice and clean," Katie Eschenbach said.

The Greater Hazleton Rails to Trails has been around for 11 years now.

Members of the organization say today's work by the kids is just one way of making this place even better.

Bob Skulsky who helps oversee the trail is happy to get the help. He added that most members of the Greater Hazleton Area Civic Partnership are older, some help from the kids is welcomed.

"It means so much because there's always so much work to do on a trail we're strictly a volunteer trail," he said.

Before You Leave, Check This Out