The Allegheny National Forest (ANF) got some expert help in designing a new trail to run from Kinzua Beach to the Rimrock overlook.
The expert was Nicole Doverspike, a student in Dan Passmore's pre-engineering class at the Warren County Career Center.
Doverspike and Passmore, along with Pennsylvania Kinzua Pathways members Joe Colosimo and Ines Nelson, met Tuesday with Bradford District Ranger Tony Scardina, Bradford District Recreation Team Leader Tonika Goins, and Recreation Technician Jerry Dixon, to describe the plan for the 1.75-mile trail.
Passmore said Doverspike did most of the work, but credited Mike Tenney and Mike Swartz with helping along the way.
The nine-page plan includes an overview map, a page of existing ANF design element details, a plan for a handicapped accessible observation deck, photos of an example kiosk and tree house, and several pages of informational posters that could be utilized in interpretive areas of the trail.
The ANF officials were impressed with the body of work and suggested very few changes to the plan.
"It has a good mix of opportunities for different types of visitors," Scardina said.
The trail follows an existing road due to the presence of a water line. That the "disturbance" already exists is a big plus in terms of having the project approved by the Forest Service, Scardina said.
The proposal coincides with some work set for spring. "We're going to replace that entire water line," Scardina said. "If this is approved, maybe I can work with them to button it back up."
If everything goes as well as possible, the trail could be ready by summer and the special elements within two or three years, he said.
"I don't think any part of the project is so hugely unrealistic" that it would be impossible to fund, Scardina said.
During the three weeks of work Doverspike put into the project, she set out the handicapped accessible pavilion and the trail feature details. She also "figured out where the problems were and what had to go where," she said.
Finding existing trail specifications was a major help.
"We're going to duplicate them," she said.
"We were staring off into space until we found some existing details," Passmore said.
One change Scardina suggested was to simplify the description of the kiosk so as not to lock the Forest Service into something too specific, which was not a major setback to Doverspike.
The tree house was a point of particular interest.
"I think it's a good idea," Dixon said.
"It's something that's more attractive to younger visitors," Scardina said.
"Tonika immediately said, 'Absolutely, I can get a grant for that,'" Passmore said.
When Kinzua Pathways members introduced the idea of the connecting trail to Passmore and the ANF official, they hoped to eliminate the need for visitors and families enjoying a day in the outdoors to drive from the beach to the overlook.
"It's all about creating experiences in that area," Nelson said. "You don't have to get into the car at all."
The tree house was a bonus.
Colosimo said he had hoped for fresh ideas when Kinzua Pathways approached the students. "That's the perspective we were looking for," he said. "We just wanted to bring the students together with the ANF."
"I'm very happy to see the students working with the ANF and getting a step closer to seeing this part of the project become reality," Nelson said. "I'm extremely impressed by the level of work that Nicole has put into this."
The trail should not be high on a scale of technical challenge, but it's more than a walk in the park. "It's a neat hike," Colosimo said. "You can get a good workout on it, but it's not expert level."
According to the plan, the first portion of the trail, about a quarter mile from the proposed parking area at the beach, will be handicapped accessible.
Scardina said that portion of the path would probably be crushed limestone.
"The consistency of a tar and chip road," Passmore said.
The plan calls for a handicapped accessible observation deck at the end of that portion of the trail.
Scardina said he expects the proposal to go out for public comment in January.
Between now and then, in addition to making the minor changes suggested by the ANF officials, Doverspike has one additional task.
Although the officials cautioned that the final say would be theirs, they encouraged Doverspike to connect with her classmates and find an appropriate name.
