Uniontown, PA - Fayette County officials broke ground Friday on a new walking trail at Dunlap Creek Park in Menallen Township.
Part of the county’s 2022 Parks Master Site Development Plan, the 8-foot-wide trail will span the 9,800-linear-foot perimeter loop around park’s lake. Fayette County Chief Community Development Specialist Art Cappella said the walking trail was the “overriding commitment” supported by county citizens when preparing the plans.
“It’s an exciting day for Fayette County. The commissioners have sustained this wish for a walking trail around the perimeter of the park. It really has been a process getting to this point; there have been countless meetings over the years, and it has been a tough grind for the various committees who have participated and helped,” Cappella said. “We certainly thank them, too, for all of their pursuits. All in all, the county commissioners have put together a great team, and we are now seeing the results of those efforts.”
Phase I, which primarily involved permitting and designs, was grant-funded and completed last year; around the same time the project received an additional $200,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) for Phase II.
Commissioners Scott Dunn, chairman; Vince Vicites and Dave Lohr also contributed $200,000 in matching funds for Phase II. Cappella said the county is currently pursuing additional grant funding for Phase III of the project, through the state Department of Community and Economic Development, which could be awarded this fall.
Dunn said the walking trail will be a “huge draw” for park-goers and should attract new visitors to Fayette County.
“We’ve dedicated a lot of resources to ensuring our parks are some of the most beautiful and family-friendly in Pennsylvania. We have so many natural resources that make it easy to highlight the many recreational opportunities Fayette County has to offer,” Dunn said. “By renovating our pavilions, adding a new boat dock, and, now, constructing the walking trail, we’re enhancing our local tourism and giving our residents and visitors somewhere to explore and engage in healthy activities. We want people to feel at home in our parks, and today is just the next step toward achieving that goal.”
Vicites said the walking trail will “advance recreation not only in Menallen Township, but throughout Fayette County.”
“Many citizens come to Dunlap Creek on a regular basis for fishing, picnics and countless other activities. This will give them one more recreational opportunity while enjoying our beautiful park,” Vicites said. “We look forward to implementing future phases of our master site plans at Dunlap, and throughout our other county-owned parks, as funding becomes available.”
For more information about Phase II of the Dunlap Creek Park project, email acappella@fayettepa.org or jambrose@fayettepa.org.
To learn more about Fayette County, visit www.fayettecountypa.org.
###
