EASTON, Pa. — A report published Tuesday that looked at equity and accessibility of the Delaware & Lehigh Trail found a 2.3-mile section in Easton is “in fair condition,” but included recommendations to increase accessibility.
- The Appalachian Mountain Club on Tuesday released a report on equity and accessibility on a 2.3 mile section of the D&L Trail
- While it was graded in fair condition, accessibility could be improved, researchers said
- Local trail managers said they look forward to working with the AMC to improve access
“The most common deficiencies between both trailheads and along the corridor included benches, picnic tables, wayfinding, signage, exceeding slopes and a lack of resting intervals along the trail,” Caitlyn Handlin, mid-Atlantic trail coordinator for the Appalachian Mountain Club, said.
Published by The Appalachian Mountain Club of the mid-Atlantic region, the report focused on a section of the D&L Trail between trailheads at Hugh Moore Park and Forks of the Delaware.
While researchers gave the trail a fair rating for its condition, the 68-page study included suggestions to make areas more welcoming, comfortable and accessible for all.
"The most common deficiencies between both trailheads and along the corridor included benches, picnic tables, wayfinding, signage, exceeding slopes and a lack of resting intervals along the trail."Caitlyn Handlin, mid-Atlantic trail coordinator for the Appalachian Mountain Club.
Liz Rosencrans, director of trails and conservation at the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, which manages the trail, said the report is “a great resource for helping trail managers identify locations where aged infrastructure could be enhanced to improve accessibility.”
“The DLNHC looks forward to working with AMC and the city of Easton to explore next steps for improved access,” Rosencrans said.
‘Implement what's feasible’
Compared with the trailhead at Hugh Moore Park, the trailhead at Forks of the Delaware lacked many features outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act, Handlin said.
She, along with Cathy Poppenwimer, held a webinar Tuesday to review the results of the report.
“There were no bathrooms, no water fountains," Handlin said. "There was a general lack of shade, [a] semi-accessible parking lot that could be improved.
“And AMC’s recommendation is, again, to work with community residents to add amenities they would want to see and to try and implement what's feasible.”
"Annual or more frequent trail maintenance and surveying of conditions could be important to report trail damage or areas of concern."Caitlyn Handlin, mid-Atlantic trail co-ordintor for the Appalachian Mountain Club
Handlin said most surprising to her were the many changes in slope along the trail. There were 14, she said.
“And they weren't long, gradual changes,” she said. “They were short. They were steep — a couple of feet going up. So that was definitely surprising.”
While the report’s findings were common issues many trails face, the cost and time for resurfacing the slope would be expensive, she said.
"But annual or more frequent trail maintenance and surveying of conditions could be important to report trail damage or areas of concern,” she said.
Other proposed improvements included adding or updating benches, increasing shade coverage, adding fencing between parts of the trail adjacent the river and at a slope, repositioning trash cans and others.
‘Gathering input’
Researchers also found “varied and diverse” residents living adjacent to the D&L Trail.
The majority of residents were non-white, and there is a higher percentage of older adults in areas along the riverfront on the opposite side of the trail, according to the report.
There are several limited English-speaking households, as well as residents with low incomes and disabilities.
"The data has helped AMC to identify communities for outreach for public input and the recommendation process for improved amenities and to see how potential interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage might be present in the city of Easton."Caitlyn Handlin, mid-Atlantic trail coordinator for the Appalachian Mountain Club
“The data has helped AMC to identify communities for outreach for public input and the recommendation process for improved amenities and to see how potential interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage might be present in the city of Easton,” Handlin said.
“Gathering input from each group would inform a holistic set of recommendations to make this portion of the D&L Trail more inclusive. It also helps understand potential barriers in accessing the trail.”
Both Handlin said Poppenwimer will meet with municipal officials to discuss the report’s findings and collaborate on proposed improvements.
The report is part of an ongoing effort as researchers try to better understand which parts of the Highlands Trail in Pennsylvania are ADA accessible.
The Highlands Trail, which overlaps with the D&L Trail in Upper Bucks and Northampton counties for 25 miles, is a 300-mile route that stretches across 13 counties, connecting Easton, Bethlehem, Quakertown, Green Lane, Phoenixville and Pottstown.
