saving Pennsylvania's Horseshoe Trail

“10/19/2007


Preserving the Horseshoe Trail in Berks County
A Brecknock Township man with an eye to the future sells development rights to the 140-mile hiking and equestrian path that crosses his farmland to ensure it remains accessible for generations.
By David Mekeel
Reading Eagle


When Richard K. Burkhart finds people wandering through the woods on his Brecknock Township property, he doesn’t chase them away.

He doesn’t call the police, or even ask them why they’re there.

In fact, he’s thrilled to see them.

That’s because Burkhart’s farm along Maple Grove Road, which he says has been in his family forever, is home to a piece of the Horseshoe Trail.

And Burkhart, a Brecknock supervisor, is doing what he can to make sure hikers feel welcome on the property long after he’s gone.

He’s sold development rights for the land, ensuring that the piece of the trail will remain untouched forever.

“I just thought the trail is something that should be kept,” he said. “It should be around for as long as possible.”

The Horseshoe Trail is a scenic 140-mile hiking and equestrian path built in 1935. It runs from Valley Forge to the Appalachian Trail north of Harrisburg.

About 29 miles stretch through southern Berks County, starting in French Creek State Park and winding into Lancaster County near Adamstown.

But in several places, new developments have forced the trail to be rerouted, sometimes ending up running along roads.

Burkhart and other Brecknock Township officials want to prevent that from happening in southern Berks.

“We want to keep the trail off the macadam,” Burkhart said, standing on a hill affording a picturesque view of his property. “I think hikers would much prefer this view to roads and houses.”

Fellow Supervisor Jeffrey M. Fiant agreed.

“I realize we can’t protect everything,” Fiant said. “People have their property rights, and you can’t stop everything. You can’t stop progress.




“But walking the trail, it’s really a treat. It gets you away from the hustle and the bustle.”

According to Fiant, a lot of Brecknock residents feel the same way. He said an informal recreation survey was done a few years ago, and township residents overwhelmingly expressed their interest in hiking trails.

“We thought the easiest thing would be to use a jewel we have in our backyard, and that’s the Horseshoe Trail,” he said.

Township officials decided that the best way to preserve the trail would be through buying easements. If they could convince property owners to sell development rights to land surrounding the trail, they could make sure it was never disturbed.

Burkhart was one of the first to step to the plate.

He has sold easements — at $2,000 an acre — to the township for 25 acres, where the trail runs through his property. He also donated easements for the rest of his 79.5-acre property to the Berks County Conservancy.

“We wanted this to always stay a farm,” he said. “Now we know it always will.”

Along with Burkhart, three other township residents have begun the process of selling easements. Another two have expressed interest, he said.

Brecknock is using a $100,000 grant from the county to pay for the easements, Fiant said. The grant was available for recreation projects in the municipalities near the Conestoga Landfill.

But more money will be needed to secure the entire trail.

“Now we’re busy scrambling around trying to find grants to buy more of the trail because we have other people who are interested in selling,” Fiant said. “I don’t think anything of this magnitude is going to happen quickly. It’s going to take years to raise money and buy easements for the whole thing.

“But you have to start somewhere.”

•Contact reporter David Mekeel at 610-371-5014 or dmekeel@readingeagle.com.




©2007 Reading Eagle Company

http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=64494
last edited: 10/19/07 9:17:08 AM”

“the trail's homepage

http://hstrail.org/

Personally, I have hiked only little bits of the trail.”

“Thanks. Good news indeed. Yes, I've only hiked small sections, but it's good to know that it's there and being protected.”

“Very cool --- !

We need more people in the world like that; that's all there is to it!”

“I smell a hiking trip.”

““I smell a hiking trip.”
MarkOTheBeast
1:23:45 PM
10/19/07

Oops, sorry, that was just me. I knew that bean burrito was bad news when I ate it.”

“You in?”

“Great news, it's nice to read some good news in the newspaper for a change. I've never been on that trail, but it's nice to know people that own the land care about preserving it for hiking.”

““You in?”
MarkOTheBeast
1:27:12 PM
10/19/07

Hmmmm, lets see, only 8.5 hours away.”

“The section in the game lands of northern Lancaster County is a nice walk, very pretty.”

“Do you mean Northern Lebanon County??? Rausch Gap and Yellow Springs?”

“Northern Lebanon County is the most rugged section of the trail.

But no, I did mean northern Lancaster County. A very pretty area of wooded hills, some good climbs and views. Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area is nearby.”

“Rugged indeed. Old inclined planes for the mines go straight up and down. But it has an interesting history.”

“Great story!”

“the most interesting thing about the Horseshoe Trail is that it bisects such an urban area of PA. It is probably most urban of all of PA's trails. It's amazing such a trail has lasted for as long as it has.”

“The Conestoga and Mason Dixon Trails also being in similar situations, these trails together form a network in southeastern PA.
last edited: 10/20/07 6:38:20 AM”

“The current Backpacker magazine, Northeast regional edition, has a featured hike on the game lands and nearby Governor Dick land in southern Lebanon County.”