Police Dept.- 570-785-3453 *** Borough Office 570-785-3326
Outdoor Towns Grant Project
Forest City is pleased to announce its participation in an exciting new program - Outdoor Towns!
Outdoor Towns is a dynamic initiative that helps revitalize communities using outdoor recreation assets like trails, parks, and rivers. The approach is two-fold, the first is to attract visitors, seeking adventure and fun using our region’s outdoor assets to Forest City and then, enticing new businesses to serve visitors by providing services like restaurants, lodging, bars, and retail. Forest City will be a great fit for this program, with our "Mile of Hospitality”, the D & H Trail (recently named “Trail of the Year” by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources!), Kennedy Park, the Lackawanna River, and other great outdoor places.
Forest City was selected as one of two communities in Pennsylvania to participate in this pilot program that will explore the opportunities to improve our local economy and the Borough’s quality of life. The Outdoor Economy is big business in Pennsylvania, generating over $29 billion in consumer spending, $8.6 billion in wages and 251,000 direct jobs across the state!
The Outdoor Towns Program is designed to work with residents, local government, and business owners, to develop a vision for the community and create an Action Plan that will identify opportunities, set priorities, and tackle projects to make Forest City an Outdoor Town. As part of the process, community members will be invited to participate and provide input through meetings, a survey, and a walking assessment.
The program for Forest City is being funded through a grant from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the Rail-Trail Council of NE Pennsylvania, with additional funding provided by the Borough. The program was developed by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and is aimed at generating economic and environmental sustainability of Pennsylvania’s communities by bringing people together through nature and outdoor recreation.
Eastwick Solutions, a consulting firm selected by DCNR, will work with a Forest City Action Team to facilitate the program. For more information, contact Emmitt@eastwicksolutions.com or by calling 215.348.2266
MORE INFORMATION TO COME
Cindy Klenk
Program Manager
Rail-Trail Council of NEPA
PO Box 32
Union Dale, PA 18470
570-679-9300
2021 PA TRAIL OF THE YEAR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Cindy Klenk, Program Manager
Rail-Trail Council of NEPA
570-679-9300, www.neparailtrails.org
WHAT: Tail on the Trail Kickoff at the D&H Rail Trail, 2021 PA Trail of the Year!
WHEN and WHERE: Join the Rail Trail Council of NEPA and the Northeast Chapter of Get Your Tail on the Trail and celebrate with a Tail on the Trail Kickoff Winter Challenge…30 miles in 30 days. The event will begin with a celebration on Saturday, February 6th, from Noon to 3 PM, at the Union Dale Trailhead of the D & H Rail-Trail. Participants will then have until March 2nd to complete the challenge.
We will have a promotional table with information on how to sign up for Tail on the Trail and start logging your miles for the ‘30 Miles in 30 Days Winter Challenge’. YES YOU CAN! It’s a motivational challenge to get you outdoors and active…. get your tail on the 2021 PA Trail of the Year! The D&H Rail Trail Council will host a calendar of activities throughout the month of February including Walking Mondays, Second Saturday Trail Yoga, snowshoeing, xc skiing and winter hikes to help you achieve your 30 miles. You are not alone. Consider joining us for the XC Skiing Clinic that morning and/or a snowshoe hike in the afternoon. Please pre-register for these events by e-mailing trails@nep.net.
The fire pit at the trailside Caboose will be blazing, creating a cozy space for you to sit and enjoy some hot beverages and refreshments that will be available at Cables General Store. We encourage you to bring your children and grandchildren. A family challenge is always fun. Children are always surprised and enjoy getting outdoors on the trail, in the woods. Remember it builds health physically and mentally, AND it’s good for everyone. Once you have registered as a tail on the trail participant at www.tailonthetrail.org, achieved success and completed your 30 miles in 30 days, you will receive a congratulatory gift for your accomplishment.
