{"id":149648,"date":"2026-05-27T23:34:42","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T03:34:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/?p=149648"},"modified":"2026-05-27T23:34:42","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T03:34:42","slug":"dlnhc-asta-break-ground-on-improved-dl-trail-section-in-luzerne-county","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/?p=149648","title":{"rendered":"DLNHC, ASTA break ground on improved D&L Trail section in Luzerne County"},"content":{"rendered":"

EASTON, Pa. (May 27, 2026) \u2014 Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (DLNHC), in partnership with the Anthracite Scenic Trails Association (ASTA), Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) and Hanover Township, broke ground on an improved section of the D&L Trail in Luzerne County. The project will transform a previously undeveloped trail segment from Oliver Mills to Mountain Top, commonly known as the Black Diamond Trail.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

The effort marks a significant step toward completing the 165-mile D&L Trail from Bristol to Wilkes-Barre, expanding recreational access and strengthening regional connectivity.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are very excited about the progress made here in Luzerne County,\u201d said Tony Pierucci, executive director of DLNHC. \u201cThis milestone reflects our ongoing commitment to stewarding the D&L Trail as we work to make this vital resource fully connected and accessible for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Projects like this highlight the importance of continued investment in trail infrastructure to support tourism, economic development and quality of life across the region.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe D&L Trail is an important investment in Northeastern Pennsylvania\u2019s future. This project will expand outdoor recreation, connect communities, preserve our region\u2019s history and support local tourism and economic growth,\u201d said Representative Rob Bresnahan.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m proud to support continued investment in infrastructure that enhances quality of life and drives economic growth throughout Luzerne County and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n

Construction began March 23, 2026, near the Mountain Top Hose Company along Lehigh Street and the Sterling Street crossing, continuing north into Laurel Run Borough. The initial phase focuses on tree trimming and clearing to prepare the corridor for trail grading. This section is currently undeveloped and sees limited use. Once completed by the end of 2026, it will become an improved unpaved trail suitable for public use.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Anthracite Scenic Trails Association is pleased to see this long-anticipated and much-needed trail segment come to fruition,\u201d said Richard Cochrane, treasurer of ASTA. \u201cWhen ASTA founder Judith Rimple secured funding to purchase the Black Diamond Trail property in 2001, she had a clear vision of this moment. We are grateful to Judith and to the many supporters over the past 25 years who helped make this milestone possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

The trail segment will pass through wooded mountains south of the city of Wilkes-Barre, offering a quiet, shaded experience. The recreation area will be accessible via a hiking-only spur trail; bicycles will not be permitted.<\/p>\n

Once complete, the Oliver Mills to Mountain Top section will be an improved unpaved surface designed for hiking, biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, helping to enhance quality of life by expanding access to outdoor recreation, supporting wellness and strengthening connections to the region\u2019s natural landscape.<\/p>\n

\u201cHanover Township is proud to partner with the Anthracite Scenic Trails Association, Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor and PennDOT on the construction of the Black Diamond Trail,\u201d said Samuel Guesto, township manager. \u201cThis project will help attract a wide range of activities that promote health and wellness, support economic growth and tourism, and strengthen communities by fostering a shared sense of pride and connection.\u201d<\/p>\n

For questions or additional information, contact ASTA at HappyTrails803@comcast.net or visit anthracitescenictrails.org. To plan your trip or view an interactive map with trail information, closures and maintenance updates, visit delawareandlehigh.org\/map.<\/p>\n

Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that preserves the historic pathway that carried coal and iron from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol. Today, the DLNHC connects people to nature, culture, communities, recreation, and our industrial heritage through programs like the National Canal Museum, the D&L Trail, D&L RaceFest presented by St. Luke\u2019s, Get Your Tail on the Trail, and more. For more information, visit delawareandlehigh.org\/.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Information provided to TVL by:
\nDaniel DiBella<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

EASTON, Pa. (May 27, 2026) \u2014 Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (DLNHC), in partnership with the Anthracite Scenic Trails Association (ASTA), Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the Pennsylvania Department … Continue reading DLNHC, ASTA break ground on improved D&L Trail section in Luzerne County<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":149649,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[69,482],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-149648","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-in-the-valley","category-press-release-2"],"acf":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/dl-ground-breaking.jpg?fit=672%2C372&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149648","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=149648"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149648\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":149650,"href":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149648\/revisions\/149650"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/149649"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=149648"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=149648"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=149648"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}