ARCHBALD - A 3-mile stretch of walking trail connecting two municipalities in the Midvalley represents only a small portion of the project to connect 31 municipalities, including 16 in Lackawanna County.
But for Natalie Gelb and officials from the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority, the new section signifies hope and the culmination of several years' worth of work.
"It's a huge step forward for this project," said Ms. Gelb, executive director of the LHVA. "It's the largest segment of land we've completed at one time."
Led by Ms. Gelb, the group held a groundbreaking ceremony Monday at the Laurel Street Trailhead to celebrate the opening of the Powdermill Trail, which runs from Delaware Street in Jermyn to the trailhead in Archbald.
The new stretch of trail, which completes an 8-mile section and cost $2.7 million, is part of a project to connect 70 miles of land along the Susquehanna River from Pittston to the New York state border.
Ms. Gelb said the project is more than 50 percent complete, but she didn't want to give an estimated end date, knowing just how quickly things can change.
"We started this entire project just as the economy crashed, so that certainly delayed things," Ms. Gelb said. "We've been very fortunate to find sources of funding for the project."
A supervisor with the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Dennis Demara, said the extension will provide both economic and recreational benefits to those in the area.
"This trail allows residents to enjoy what Northeastern Pennsylvania has to offer and also gives them a chance to venture out to other municipalities," Mr. Demara said. "It also fuels the local economy. For every dollar invested in the trail, it's $12 realized."
Having grown up in the area, state Sen. John Blake, D-22, Archbald, reminisced about the times he played baseball just down the road from the trailhead. Now, he said, he'll be back in the area to exercise - this time, though, he will be riding a bike instead of running around in a field.
"This trail will bring a lifetime of memories to those in the community," Mr. Blake said. "I think it's an extremely rewarding project, and I applaud Natalie and the other officials for their continued efforts."
"The goal of this project is to connect the communities," Ms. Gelb said. "We're getting there."
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