Township to Seek Grant For Feasibility Study For Greenway Project

South Whitehall officials will seek a $30,000 state grant to help figure out a way for hikers to safely cross Cedar Crest Boulevard, as the township joins a larger, ambitious plan to create a lengthy trail system across eight municipalities.

The commissioners, at their Wednesday night meeting, were unanimous in giving the go-ahead to apply for the grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The grant would pay for a "Covered Bridge Park Master Plan/Jordan Creek Greenway Connector Feasibility Study."

"It's a very preliminary step," township Manager Jon Hammer told the commissioners.

While a critical component, it's also just a portion of the Jordan Creek Greenway project, led by the Wildlands Conservancy. The Greenway would create a 12.8-mile trail system -- from the Trexler Nature Preserve to South Whitehall's Covered Bridge Park to Allentown's Jordan Creek Meadows Park -- as it follows the Jordan Creek toward the Lehigh River.

The overall project, expected to cost at least $4.6 million, aims to preserve open space and protect wildlife while also providing outdoor recreational opportunities.

Months ago, South Whitehall officials received a report from the Urban Research and Development Corp. in Bethlehem that identified six potential places to connect the trail across Cedar Crest Boulevard.

Estimated costs ranged from $250,000 to $1.7 million. One option included a pedestrian overpass bridge, south of the intersection at Iron Bridge Road. 

Cedar Crest Boulevard presents a formidable obstacle to the Greenway project. About 15,000 vehicles travel the road each day, a study showed.