CRANBERRY TWP — The township is working on three walkway projects that will create connections to the core of the township and to Graham Park.

There are two sidewalk projects; one project is taking place along Powell Road at the western entrance to The Crossings residential area and the second is on Commonwealth Drive at Pennwood Place in the Thorn Hill Industrial Park, according to a release from the township.

The third project also is in Thorn Hill Park to finish a trail that will connect Commonwealth Drive with Marshall Township.

“They are exciting projects, we are actually going out and building infrastructure,” said Kathleen McCaig, planning specialist for the township.

The trail segment is a component of the Brush Creek Trail, McCaig said. That segment of trail coupled with the sidewalk network on Commonwealth Drive will allow someone to walk from Marshall Township into Cranberry along Commonwealth Drive and up to Freedom Road, and on to the Cranberry Township Municipal Center.

The sidewalk project on Powell Road will create a connection from Park Place Development to Graham Park.

Ron Henshaw, director of community development, said he thinks it is an exciting opportunity for the township to fill in some much needed gaps in the pedestrian network.

He said residents have told the township leaders that they want a “connected community,” Henshaw said.

“We know having a well- connected community is one of the keys to being a successful and happy place to live,” he said. “So I think these three little segments are a steppingstone for us toward building that overall pedestrian way and system.”

Henshaw said the township is looking for community members who would be interested in joining the Ad Hoc Community Connections Committee to help guide it on what new sidewalks, trails, bikeways, crosswalks and pedestrian connections should be installed next year.

McCaig said the citizens ad hoc committee, which will have 12 members chosen by the board of supervisors, is the next step in the township’s evolution to become more bike and pedestrian friendly.

Internally, Cranberry has a committee called the Community Connections Committee that is composed of members from administration, parks and recreation and community development, she said. It meets on a regular basis to talk about projects and what projects should be studied and analyzed. The citizens ad hoc committee is really going to guide the selection of projects that the township will build for 2016.

“The goal is really to have a final list that we can take to our planning advisory committee and then ultimately the board of supervisors, to say these are the recommendations we have with working with this group of citizens that are passionate about connections, this is what we recommend to build in 2016,” McCaig said.

Community members interested in being involved in this committee can send an e-mail to planning@cranberrytownship.org.