Trailblazers: Firefighter’s Memorial Trail officially opens
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PATTON -- The Firefighter's Memorial Trail is officially open, connecting Patton and Carrolltown boroughs by trail through the Cambria County Regional Firefighters Association's fire training academy in East Carroll Township.
Officials gathered at the training academy site Friday morning to cut the ribbon and formally open the trail, a moment that was several years in the making.
Matt Barczak, executive director of the Northern Cambria Community Development Corp., the organization responsible for building the trail, said he met with Jim McCann about a decade ago to discuss an old idea of building a trail from Carrolltown through Patton to Prince Gallitzin State Park. McCann is the city of Johnstown's current fire chief, but at that time he was a Carrolltown Borough councilman and the fire association's president.
Barczak said he then spoke with his Northern Cambria Development predecessor, Jerry Brant, who confirmed the project was mapped and laid out in the 1990s, but it never came to fruition.
Barczak and McCann then dug through the corporation's vault, found the drawings and slowly brought the project to life -- overcoming several hurdles along the way.
"That was 10 years ago, and here we are today," said Barczak, who is also a firefighter with the Hope Fire Company of Northern Cambria.
Barczak said the Northern Cambria Community Development Corp. tried numerous times to get state funding to build the trail, but in doing so, the corporation was ultimately competing with the Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority for funds that could "only be split in so many ways."
Thankfully, the Cambria County Commissioners had the foresight to know the trail's potential and what it could do for northern Cambria County, Barczak said, thanking commissioners Scott Hunt, Keith Rager and Tom Chernisky for their support. He also recognized William "B.J." Smith and Mark Wissinger, who are former county commissioners.
Now that the trail is built, it will soon be turned over to the Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority to own and maintain, Chernisky said.
Cliff Kitner, Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority's executive director, said the Firefighter's Memorial Trail is a good example of what happens when "good minds," like Barczak and McCann, think alike and partnerships between the groups and local government officials are formed.
"This project is 10 years in the making. It's finally come to fruition," Kitner said.
The trail extends along Little Chest Creek throughout East Carroll Township -- from Sunset Road, near the Carrolltown Dollar General store, to Ashcroft Road, near the Patton Borough border. From there, people can walk through downtown Patton, into Patton Park and connect with the Highlander Trail, which extends up to the Cambria Heights middle and high school campus in Clearfield Township.
Cambria Heights Superintendent Ken Kerchenske said the Firefighter's Memorial Trail is neat because it essentially connects the district's elementary campus to its middle and high school campus.
"Several years ago, we contributed some money to complete the Highlander portion of the trail from Patton Park to the high school, middle school campus. So, this is very exciting to finally have the rest of it completed," Kerchenske said.
Brant, a Cambria Heights school board member who is also the Patton Fire Company No. 1's first assistant fire chief, said seeing the Firefighter's Memorial Trail finally open is "an idea of dreams actually becoming reality."
After McCann jokingly alluded to a set of chairs remaining empty, as everyone stood for the ceremony, Brant said he saw things a little differently.
"I don't see empty chairs. I see Dean (Smith), Ted (Lallemand), Bucky (Lutch), John (Bem) and Steve (Unger), and I could keep going," Brant said, adding they were all instrumental in helping the fire association acquire the land to build and expand the fire training academy site, which is used to train firefighters in 10 counties -- including Bedford, Blair, Centre, Clearfield and Huntingdon.
The site was acquired in 1985 when it was nothing more than a bunch of weeds, and it now contains a state-of-the-art training tower, a 1,250-gallon-per-minute water pump system, an on-site pond and a multiclassroom building, said Tony Sestrich of the regional fire association.
Brant started talking with fire association leaders in the mid-1990s about developing the trail, he said.
At that time, as Barczak pointed out, they mapped out the trail along the same route, with it eventually extending all the way out to Prince Gallitzin State Park.
"Take today to enjoy the trail, but tomorrow, let's start working on this Prince Gallitzin idea," Brant said. "We have to get a trail to Prince Gallitzin and we have to get it now."
Prince Gallitzin State Park Manager Jessica Lavelua said she thinks that's a great idea, adding it's a beautiful park with lots of different amenities that attracts millions of visitors each year.
"We have about 30 miles of trails out there, so we would love to work with the county or NCCDC or anyone else interested to connect the two," Lavelua said.
Barczak said Prince Gallitzin has more visitors each year than the total 2024-25 season attendance of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Penguins combined.
"It's an amazing number, and you have that asset right here," Barczak said.
"Our leaders need to figure out a way to access these funds," he added, referring to the funding needed to connect Cambria Heights to Prince Gallitzin by trail.
McCann said he believes the trail system will one day extend to Prince Gallitzin.
"I assure you that will eventually happen," McCann told the group of attendees.
State Sen. Wayne Langerholc Jr., R-Cambria, said the trail and fire association's fire training academy are good examples of progress being made in the region.
"The training that's done here is second to none," Langerholc said, telling everyone involved they should be proud of the work they do. "The legacy that you all are leaving here is tremendous and will carry on for generations; not just fire training, but health and wellness."
Chernisky also thanked firefighters for what they do, noting firefighters aren't always at the top of mind for people until they need them.
No matter if it's a flooded basement, a vehicle accident or a structure fire, when the 911 call comes, firefighters always answer, even if they're with their families on Christmas Eve or New Year's Day, Chernisky said.
"When you're at an accident scene and hear those sirens in the distance, there is a sense of relief because you know help is on the way. That's what our firefighters do; they show up," Chernisky said. "This trail is a lasting tribute to that service and sacrifice."
Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.