EAST BRADY, Pa. (EYT) — The East Brady Trail Town Initiative, a committee under the East Brady Area Development Corporation, (EBADC), has aligned itself with the newer, broader Towns & Trails Regional Coalition. This alignment has proven beneficial as there is strength in numbers.
Several small towns along the Armstrong Trail — East Brady to Rosston — and the Redbank Valley Trails — directly accessible from East Brady running east to Brookville — are currently working together on similar projects and being guided by Cathy McCollom who has spearheaded such projects on the Great Allegheny Passage, a 180-mile bike trail from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, MD, and along river towns in western Pennsylvania.
Planning and design for a comprehensive Trail Town Brochure for East Brady and the Brady Area is complete with 2,000 copies currently being printed to be available in early November. Kittanning and Templeton are in the planning stages for a similar brochure, and New Bethlehem along the Redbank Valley Trail has their brochure in circulation. All brochures have a similar look and layout, but each is unique to its region. A “Faster, Quicker, Cheaper” grant was received from the Towns & Trails Regional Coalition for this project, along with additional funds from the First Presbyterian Church in East Brady, EBADC, and Brady’s Bend Township. The brochure has a full map of the trails, and the town and lists businesses in the area. Businesses critical to trail users are keyed to the town map. The brochure also outlines local attractions, events, and services.
Future joint efforts with the Towns & Trails Regional Coalition include trailhead and gateway signage. Trailhead signs will include large-scale maps, a community bulletin board, and a panel highlighting local history. Gateway signage will welcome visitors to town at multiple locations along major highways. Some funding through Towns & Trails is available and additional funding sources are being researched.
The Chicora-East Brady Rotary Club has provided funds for signage on the Armstrong Trail directing trail users into town and noting amenities available. Part of this project also provides infoboxes in multiple locations for Armstrong Trail maps and East Brady Trail Town brochures.
In other EBADC news, volunteers have painted the façade of a vacant building in the downtown area. Arrangements have been made to use window space in this building to display information regarding EBADC’s past, upcoming projects, and events. The EBADC sign for this location has also been funded by The Chicora-East Brady Rotary Club.
Planning is underway for the annual We Believe Light-up Night on December 2. Volunteers are constructing large cone trees to be placed at the Veteran’s Memorial Park. Watch for more information next month. EBADC is committed to supporting the recreational facility project in Brady’s Bend and for enhancements to the Riverfront Park in East Brady. Volunteering opportunities exist for those who want to be apart of these projects or who have ideas for new projects.
If you haven’t seen it yet, the Playground of the Allegheny mural was installed in June and bike route signage was completed the same month.
EBADC strives to enhance the quality of life for local residents and to increase tourism by focusing on our natural resources and our abundant recreational opportunities. Monthly meetings are held on second Wednesdays at the Allegheny Hills Retirement Residence at 6:30 p.m.
The annual meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 8. All are welcome to attend. For additional information, email [email protected].
