RAIL
TRAIL IN SUNBURY MUCH MORE THAN A WALKING PATH
168 S. Vernon Street, Sunbury
When
he gave an abandoned rail bed in Sunbury to Preservation Parks
of Delaware County in 1990, Walter Sandel had a vision. He saw
how far a path just a shade over half a mile long could go.
He
saw passage for children on their way to Big Walnut Elementary
School. He saw a quiet corridor between tall maple and oak trees
standing on carpets of wildflowers. He saw a place for everyone
in the community to bike, walk or simply stroll.
In
2001 he saw this vision realized when the newly gravel surfaced
trail was opened to the public.
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The
.6-mile rail bed runs from the trestle across Old 3C Highway
to Big Walnut Elementary School.
What is there to experience on Big Walnut Community
Trail? A few excerpts from an article in the January
11, 1996 Sunbury News say it best.
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“Pristine.
That’s how I’d describe the experience of cross-country
skiing on the newly cleared trail....”
“There was silence...There were footprints of animals
- deer and probably rabbits and squirrels - and a few humans.
They decorated the otherwise pure white landscape. It was
a moment of pure escape....” |
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