An initiative six years in the making is entering its premier stage of development as crews broke ground on the first phase of the Diahoga Trail this past September. This two-mile trail located on the upper North Branch of the Susquehanna River will run from Riverfront Park in Sayre Borough along the banks of the Susquehanna River to the Valley Playground in Athens Borough, connecting two valuable assets and communities together.

“The intent of the project is to promote healthy lifestyles by providing a trail to safely connect these parks and communities to each other and the river, notes Futurescapes Vice Chair Linda Politi. [We also hope to] encourage retail support uses and small business opportunities by creating a place that becomes a destination for Valley residents and visitors.”

The Diahoga trail was born from a public visioning process in the wake of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011. Since then, a local nonprofit Futurescapes, with support from several community partners including technical assistance from the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership, have spearheaded the efforts to secure funding to transform this idea into a reality.

This past November they were able to do just that thanks to grant funding from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), as well as additional donated in-kind funding. This first phase of the trail is projected to be completed by November 2018.

When complete, the Diahoga Trail will connect to multiple other trails and area parks, providing a safe means for residents and visitors to travel between communities, view the river, and recreate in preserved public spaces.

Stay tuned for more updates on the trail. For more information on the trail visit futurescapes.org

Project Partners: Futurescapes, Susquehanna Greenway Partnership, Bradford County Conservation District, Endless Mountains Heritage Region, Bradford County Commissioners, Carantouan Greenway, Todd Babcock, PLS., Civil and Environmental Consultants, Stiffler McGraw and Associates, NTRPDC, Athens Borough, Sayre Borough, and the Valley Joint Sewer Authority.