A better way
A one-mile section of the Butler-Freeport Community Trail in Winfield Township will be paved through a state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant.
Chris Ziegler, president of the trail board of directors, said the $264,000 grant was applied for and received recently by the Buffalo Township supervisors.
Buffalo Township owns the 20-mile trail.
The stretch of trail to be paved is between the Cabot trail head off Winfield Road and the Marwood Trail head one mile to the north.
The red caboose was moved last year from Cellar Works Brewing on North Pike Road to a spot beside the trail that is along the area to be paved, Ziegler said.
“We planned it that way,” she said.
In addition to the presence of the World War II-era caboose, Ziegler said the section of trail was chosen because it is the flattest area along the entire trail.
The section is also close to a number of nursing homes and retirement communities, whose residents could more easily use walkers and wheelchairs on pavement.
“If the plan works, they can do field trips to the trail,” Ziegler said.
She said those recovering from surgery, as Ziegler did last year after an operation on her knee, can also exercise more safely on asphalt than the crushed limestone surface on the rest of the trail.
Also, the section between Cabot and Marwood is situated 15 minutes from Butler and 15 minutes from Freeport.
“It's just the perfect location,” Ziegler said.
She said only one other section of the trail is paved, near the Buffalo Township sewage plant.
Ziegler is adamant that no other sections of the trail will be paved.
“Crushed limestone is easier to maintain,” Ziegler said. “With asphalt, you have tree roots growing up into it.”
While she and the Buffalo supervisors wait to sign a grant agreement and then advertise the project for bids, drainage and large rocks known as “rip rap” will be placed along Little Buffalo Creek to direct water from heavy rains away from the trail and into the creek, Ziegler said.
She said the actual paving will probably take no more than two days, and the section of trail will be closed during paving.
The job may be scheduled after the Buffalo Creek Half Marathon in the fall, as the popular event is the trail association's largest annual fundraiser.
Buffalo Township Supervisor Michael Oehling Jr. said he looks forward to having a section of trail that will maintain a stable surface instead of the mushy conditions created in rainy weather.
“I think getting it paved will make it safer for people, especially small children,” Oehling said.
He is thankful the township received the grant during the disruptive pandemic year.
“We are certainly grateful for the money,” Oehling said.
He said the supervisors have not yet discussed when bids for the project might be advertised.
Ziegler said the paving project will make the trail even more attractive to those in Butler and other counties surrounding it.
“It's really to keep people on the trail and get people to the trail,” Ziegler said of the paving project. “We are super excited.”
