Press conference celebrates River Walk extension

State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn visited Williamsport on Wednesday to celebrate a $649,900 grant to Lycoming County that will support Phase 1 of the development of the Susquehanna River Walk Extension, a recreational resource that will benefit the community, including Pennsylvania College of Technology students and employees.

The 1.46-mile Susquehanna River Walk Extension will run adjacent to Penn College and allow easier access from campus to the River Walk.

At a press conference, held at New Trail Brewing due to rainy weather, Dunn delivered remarks, along with state Sen. Gene Yaw, Williamsport Mayor Derek Slaughter, state Rep. Jamie Flick, Lycoming County Commissioner Mark Mussina, and Poppy Breining, director of trails and recreation, Susquehanna Greenway Partnership. Yaw is chair of Penn College’s Board of Directors, and Flick is an alumnus.

Penn College President Michael J. Reed was on hand for the event, as well as a number of college staff and faculty who are well-known cycling advocates in the community, including members of the Susquehanna Valley Velo Club and coaches or support staff with the Lycoming Composite Mountain Biking Team.

"Penn College is proud to be a vital partner in this long-awaited project to extend a popular public works feature and eco-tourism attraction, one that already connects multiple municipalities and both local colleges,” said Patrick Marty, chief government and international relations officer. “The extension will provide public access through our beautiful main campus, commencing from its current Maynard Street terminus, and will travel along the southern edge of the Penn College campus to Rose Street. The new section will end at Susquehanna State Park near New Trail Brewing Co.'s tasting room, which is another important visitor attraction – and a key industry partner of Penn College's brewing & fermentation science program.”

At its October 2024 meeting, the Penn College Board of Directors approved an easement for an at-grade rail crossing of the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority line behind the college-owned 7.73-acre Bayard property – a key safety improvement that also allows the project to access PennDOT funds for the crossing signals and safety apparatus. The safety enhancements will encourage adoption of environmentally friendly transportation; promote active, healthier lifestyles among community members; and provide increased connectivity between Penn College and Lycoming College.

The improvements align with other significant developments occurring near campus, including those along Maynard Street and a multi-field youth baseball and softball complex under development between the college and the Susquehanna Beltway.

“This 1.46-mile Susquehanna River Walk Extension will provide both residents and visitors with a new recreational opportunity and will continue to position the area as a key destination in the Pennsylvania Wilds and Lumber Heritage Region," said Dunn in a DCNR press release. “This project aims to boost the outdoor recreation and tourism economy, improve accessibility, implement stormwater management measures, and enhance the overall quality of life for those living in and visiting the region."

Following the press conference, Dunn and a number of DCNR employees visited Penn College for a tour of campus facilities and academic labs. (Watch Penn College News for more coverage.)