Over the river and . . .

Path would ease route from Vairo Blvd. to University, town

At her College Park-Nittany Crossing apartment, Sarah Leichliter can enjoy the many advantages of being away from downtown. However, one disadvantage of living in her Patton Township apartment complex is its two-mile distance from campus.

That situation could change.

Supervisors from both Patton and Ferguson townships are attempting to make the commute of students such as Leichliter (junior-psychology) less troublesome.

A joint project is underway between the two townships to develop a bike/hike trail between Vairo Boulevard and Overlook Heights.

"There's an undeveloped trail system that was formed like an Indian trail would be formed," Kunkle said.

The trail will be widened and paved using funds from the two townships and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Kunkle said. Both townships will each pay 25 percent of the cost while the DCNR will pay the remaining 50 percent, said Patton Township Manager Thomas Kurtz. However, contracts between the townships and the DCNR are still being finalized.

The idea for the trail has been around since at least 1979, Kurtz said. He added that a brochure from that time shows a similar proposed trail that led from a former University Drive (now Vairo Boulevard) to East Aaron Drive.

The trail will follow the existing trail, which begins on Vairo Boulevard across from Marjorie Mae Street, and end at East Aaron Drive, which lies on the outskirts of the Overlook Heights housing development.

Kunkle said the project may be constructed by township employees or through a local engineering firm. If the project is done through the townships, Kunkle said the 30-day project could begin this fall.

If the townships decide to hire an engineering firm, Kunkle said the project will likely start during the spring of 1999.

Leichliter, who uses the trail during good weather, said she is excited to hear that the trail may become paved.

"After bad weather, the trail is muddy and I don't use it then, but if it's paved, I'll be able to," Leichliter said.

Leichliter also said that she may consider bringing her bike from home to her apartment in Nittany Crossing.

"I didn't like the notion of riding my bike on Atherton to get to campus, but now that there will be a paved trail for me to take all the way to campus, I could use that to bike on," Leichliter said.

Kurtz hopes this trail will entice bicyclists to use the trail in the spring.

"It is our hope that we see no bicyclists from Chi Chi's to the Nittany Lion Inn because now they have this trail that can keep them off of (North) Atherton," Kurtz said.