Ghost Town Trail honored as a ‘great place in PA’

Area designated a ‘great place in PA’

The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association recently designated the Ghost Town Trail system in Cambria and Indiana counties as a great place in Pennsylvania.

Through its "Great Places in PA" program, the association's Pennsylvania chapter annually designates public spaces, greenways/trails and preserves that have "a sustainable vision for the future and serve as a model for other communities," according to a release.

The Ghost Town Trail was one of eight great places recognized this year, bringing the total number of designations since the program's inception to 72 places located throughout 38 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties.

The Ghost Town Trail system -- spanning from Ebensburg Borough, Cambria County, to Black Lick Township, Indiana County -- is maintained by the Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority and Indiana Parks and Trails, respectively.

A 20-mile C&I Extension connects to the Ghost Town Trail at two locations, providing for a 32-mile continuous loop, which is recognized as the second-largest looped rail trail in the nation. The entire trail system has more than a dozen trailheads and offers ADA accessible parking for a diverse array of trail users.

Other places designated this year include: Croydon Woods Nature Preserve, Bucks County; Armstrong Great Lawn, Butler County; Plum Street Plaza, Delaware County; Robert Porter Allen Natural Area, Lycoming County; Centre Square and Palmer Bikeway, both of Northampton County; and Sweet Arrow Lake County Park, Schuylkill County.

These "great places" demonstrate the rewarding results that occur through community partnerships, planning and dedication, said Pamela Shellenberger, the program's chair.