Teach, and I made plans to do something fun. She recently pulled the trigger on a new kayak, and we hoped to make a trip to Little Pine State Park. Her purchase caused some division within the house. I suggested she borrow from one of our friends but no- she just had to have her own. Teach gets two votes. Jensen and I each get one, and the tiebreaker goes to Mom.

The threat of thunderstorms forced us to change our minds at the last minute. Perhaps it was a good thing, because I couldn’t figure out how to mount this dual kayak rack from Amazon. Another totally random impulse buy. I proposed an excursion to Rickets Glen or World’s End, but Teach recommended a stroll on the Susquehanna instead.

The River Walk is a four-mile paved walkway along the banks of the Susquehanna between Williamsport and South Williamsport. It includes multiple views, interpretative signage, benches, and sculptures showcasing our region’s timbering history. She provides easy walking, recreational biking, and jogging opportunities for everyone in the community. The trail is built primarily atop the levees that protect our cities along the shores of the West Branch of the Susquehanna. Gradual grades on the entrances and exits of ramps under the bridges provide easy access.
Active railroads continue to border both sides, with the short-line Lycoming Valley Railroad to the north and the Norfolk Southern mainline to the south.

Our River Walk was first envisioned in 2000 and was opened in the fall of 2009. It was a gigantic project that required several years of planning and a unique collaboration between our local, state, and federal authorities. The walk was designed to incorporate our existing levees, electric utilities, inlets, railroads, highways, and bridges. The County Planning Commission took the lead and developed the Susquehanna River Walk. The $2.5 million expansion was primarily funded using a combination of Federal and state grants administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The Lumber Heritage Region, Lycoming County, the Williamsport-Lycoming Community Foundation and many other local contributors also helped with the project.

Teach is a regular and walks or jogs the Market and Maynard Street loop on a daily basis. I was told to keep pace and wasn’t allowed to talk to any strangers. Being married to a school teacher definitely has it’s perks, but when she is home for the summer, my honey to-do lists are the only thing she seems to care about. Our hike was cut short by a heated discussion. I only lasted twenty minutes and stopped to read the informative display on the local birds of prey. Teach got frustrated, and then she was gone. She was now in full sprint towards the Market Street Bridge. I felt bad but decided to do more research.

The Susquehanna River Walk is also with the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership, and someday she will be part of a larger network intended to link up with the Pine Creek Rail Trail in western Lycoming County. Eventually, we will even connect with our friends to the south in Union County. The Susquehanna Greenway vision and goal is to join 500 miles trails and greenways from the Susquehanna River headwaters all the way to the Chesapeake.

Lycoming County officials are currently working on a three-mile extension from the Maynard Street Bridge west to Susquehanna State Park. This project would run entirely along the north side of the Susquehanna and could meet up with the biking trails of Lycoming Creek that start near Elm Park.

The Susquehanna River Walk is an excellent asset for our community. It demonstrates the good that comes from the hard work and cooperation of many different entities. Kudos to my friends who helped make this happen.

I am looking forward to many more strolls along the River. I am also hoping that we can find the means of connecting with other trails along the Susquehanna. Cheers.