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LEWISTOWN - The Juniata
River Trail project
continues to advance, with
county planners exploring
new links between Lewistown's
riverfront and
nearby parks while confronting
a stalled section
west of town.
Phase 2 of the project,
finished in late 2024, created
roughly a half-mile
of paved, ADA-accessible
trail along the former
Pennsylvania Canal towpath
from Crystal Springs
Avenue to State Street. The
extension tied Lewistown's
existing paths into a seamless
three-mile network
that now includes the R.H.
Rothermel Trail, Victory
Park, the downtown connector
along Water Street,
the Kish Riverwalk, and
the loop around Rec Park.
County Planning Director
James Lettiere said
the new link has helped
unify what had been scattered
stretches of trail into
one connected experience.
"Phase 2 of the Juniata River
Trail connects to a continuous
loop of over three
miles of trail in one direction,
including the R.H.
Rothermel Trail, Victory
Park, the Downtown Connector
along Water Street,
the Kish Riverwalk and the
walking loop around Rec
Park," Lettiere said.
With the asphalt laid and
wayfinding signs installed
earlier this year, officials
have shifted their focus to
Phase 3, a more complicated
step that would push the
trail west along the river.
But progress there has hit
a wall--literally and figuratively.
"Plans to extend the trail
west along the river from
the termination point of
Phase 2 are at an impasse,
since the private property
owner is not receptive to
allowing easements to traverse
this property," Lettiere
said. He added that
buying the land outright
isn't feasible. "Purchasing
the property to develop the
trail further is cost-prohibitive,"
he said.
That obstacle has county
planners re-evaluating
their next move. "The next
practical trail to develop
would connect Victory
Park, the Kish River Walk,
Rec Park in Lewistown
Borough and Kish Park in
Derry Township, and from
Victory Park to Stone Arch
Bridge," Lettiere said.
Such a route would extend
the system east and
north instead of west, linking
several heavily used
recreation areas into one
continuous corridor. County
engineers are reviewing
rights-of-way, while
planners coordinate with
borough and township officials
on potential funding
applications for design and
construction.
The Juniata River Trail
has evolved gradually over
the past decade, shaped by
grants, land access, and
community partnerships.
A 2020 state grant from the
Department of Conservation
and Natural Resources
provided $295,000 for
design and construction
within Lewistown. Since
then, local governments
have added smaller matches
to keep the project eligible
for new rounds of state
assistance.
What began as an idea
in the county's 2010 Greenways
and Open Space Plan
has become one of central
Pennsylvania's quiet success
stories. Residents use
the flat, paved path daily--
walkers, runners, cyclists,
and anglers share the same
stretch of riverbank that
once carried canal boats
and freight.
The paved surface and
ADA-compliant features
have opened access for
residents who couldn't
navigate gravel or dirt
trails. The addition of ADA
parking at Riverside Drive,
benches, and clear signage
has made it easier for seniors
and families to enjoy
the riverfront without difficulty.
Local officials say that
accessibility is drawing
visitors from outside the
borough as well. During
borough meetings this
spring, council members
noted increased foot traffic
near downtown restaurants
and coffee shops on
weekends.
Environmental agencies
have also supported the
trail's careful placement.
Portions run close to the
Juniata's floodplain, so
planners worked with the
Department of Environmental
Protection to stabilize
embankments and
maintain wildlife buffers.
Future construction will
follow the same standards,
using drainage systems
that limit runoff and protect
native vegetation.
Even with the impasse
west of town, Lettiere
said planners remain optimistic.
Negotiations with
property owners can take
years, and in the meantime,
smaller connections,
like the proposed Victory
Park-to-Stone Arch Bridge
segment, can still move forward.
"We're focusing on
what's practical and keeps
the momentum," he said.
Each phase, he added,
builds both recreational
and economic value. The
river corridor offers scenic
access for families and visitors
while complementing
downtown revitalization
efforts already underway
in Lewistown.
County officials are expected
to submit another
DCNR grant proposal later
this year, aiming to fund
design work for the Victory
Park link. If awarded, bidding
could begin as early as
2026. Maintenance crews
will continue to monitor
completed sections
through the winter, ensuring
the asphalt surface and
signage hold up under cold
weather.
For now, Phase 2 stands
as proof of concept: a trail
that connects history and
modern recreation. On any
afternoon, it's easy to spot
kids on bikes, retirees on
scooters, and anglers resting
along the guardrail, all
sharing a space that didn't
exist a few years ago.
As Lettiere put it, the
project's steady progress reflects
more than engineering.
"It's really about connection--
connecting parks,
people, and the river itself,"
he said. "Even if we have
to adjust our path, the goal
remains the same: giving
residents better access to
the Juniata and linking our