Volunteers keep project moving
Art Borland had always enjoyed using the Butler-Freeport Community Trail.
So when Hurricane Ivan hit Butler County in 2004 causing heavy damage to portions of the former rail corridor, the Cabot man began volunteering for the trail council.
“I decided to step up,” he said.
After the initial cleanup was complete, Borland stayed on the job.
He is one of the volunteers who clears the path of about 20 total miles, fixes drainage problems and trims encroaching trees.
Chris Ziegler, president of the trail council, praised Borland’s efforts.
“When Art believes in a worthy project, he gives of his time, his labor and his heart, and I feel honored to call him a dear friend,” she said. “And he is pretty good with a post hole digger,” she added.
Borland, 78, can’t think of a better way to volunteer his time.
“It’s giving something back to the community,” he said. “And it (the trail) is the best thing this community has to offer.”Along with daily usage by walkers and bicycle riders, the trail can be used by cross-country skiers.Borland said it’s an ideal spot for a less strenuous activity.“It’s a great place to watch for birds,” he said.Recognized by the National Audubon Society, the trail is the place to find the rare Cerulean Warbler.Fishing is a popular activity along the stretch as a significant portion of it follows Buffalo Creek, which has both native fish and stocked trout.Wildflowers, including Trilliums and Azaleas, are spread along the entire trail from early spring to fall.Benches, rain shelters and picnic tables are situated at scenic spots.The trail is home to various events, such as the Buffalo Creek Half Marathon. More than 400 runners from 11 states participated in the third annual race Oct. 18.The trail also is the site of the annual Freeport Flash 5K Run/Walk, which will be held May 30.The council holds wellness workouts noon Sundays at the Sarver trailhead and noon Wednesdays at the Monroe Road trailhead.
Geocaching classes also are held periodically. Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played by people with GPS devices. The idea is to find hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share the experience online.Other groups, including the Sierra Club and the Butler Outdoors Club, hold events along the trail.Borland also deals with fundraising. He heads up the council’s capital campaign to finish the last four miles of the trail.Being comprised of volunteers, the council has no set budget for the year. Fundraising pays for maintenance and projects costs.The council has raised more than $93,000, including a $40,000 grant, of its $250,000 goal.The northern end of the trail will be at a Kaufman Drive parking lot in Butler.Among the work to be done is the construction of a walking bridge from the trail over Coal Run to Father Marinaro Park in Butler.Following the extension into the park, the council is working on a proposed connection through the city, eventually stretching through township parks before reaching Moraine State Park and New Castle.“We could be an alternate route to Erie,” Ziegler said.Borland volunteers at least 10 to 15 hours a month, soliciting donations and working on the trail.A widower, Borland is a retiree who worked in Oberg Industries’ human resources department.Along with his volunteerism, Borland spends a lot of his time traveling.“I’m pretty much on the move,” he said.
Ziegler said the trail attracts people from the region and beyond.“We average about 110,000 annually,” she said. “In the summer time, it’s so busy.”Of the trail council’s 200 members, between 30 and 40 are active throughout the year.The trail is the corridor of the Buffalo Creek Watershed, stretching from Freeport to Butler.It initially follows Buffalo Creek for more than three miles. Then the trail picks up Little Buffalo Creek for another eight miles, crossing the creek seven times.Gradually, it proceeds through a forest, a broader forest valley with cliffs on one side and Little Buffalo Creek on the other, open woods, farmland and village communities before entering another stretch of forest.The trail, which has a crushed limestone surface, has a gradual uphill grade as it heads north.Originally used as a Western Pennsylvania Railroad route in the 1870s connecting Butler to the Allegheny River port in Freeport, the trail line was taken out of service in 1987.Buffalo Township in 1988 bought the rights of way to what would become the trail.Subsequently, the trail officially opened in 1992, coinciding with the council’s formation.For more than nine years, further development of the trail was delayed by legal challenges to the ownership of the corridor. The lawsuits were eventually withdrawn.The trail council encourages people, such as the Boy Scouts, to help with its projects. A project worksheet application is included on the trail Web site, www.butlerfreeporttrail.org.Borland said the council plans on reaching more people to either make donations or volunteer their time.Ziegler calls the volunteers an extended family, ever ready to expand.“Our arms are always open for more,” she said.The council meets monthly at King’s Family Restaurant on Route 356 in Buffalo Township.Those wishing to make donations for the completion of the trail may send checks to: Butler-Freeport Trail Council, P.O. Box 533, Saxonburg, PA 16056.Since the Butler-Freeport Community Trail Council is a 501c3 nonprofit corporation, all donations are tax-deductible.
<B>Butler-Freeport Trail Council</B><B>ADDRESS</B>: P.O. Box 533, Saxonburg, PA 16056<B>SERVICES</B>: Maintains about 20 miles of hiking and bicycling trail<B>PRESIDENT:</B> Chris Ziegler<B>MEMBERS</B>: 200 members with 30 to 40 who are active<B>WEB SITE</B>: www.butlerfreeporttrail.org
