Goals for Rail 66 Country Trail
In November of 2019, we received funding to complete Segment 4 of the trail. Those living in proximity to the trail will be able to use the trail to access Cook Forest State Park, the sports field in Lucinda as well as the park and sports field in Leeper.
The Trail serves as a conduit for both local and out of town users to access the environment and history of the region. The Rail 66 Country Trail is bordered by farm lands, animal husbandry areas, and forests. The trail also connects existing parks, ball fields, and sites such as the railroad station in Lucinda. Rail 66 plans to further restore and develop the station as a key attraction for the trail. A six-acre site in Marianne, at what was once called Clarion Junction, is proposed as the trail head for the southern end of the trail.
The economic benefits from the completion of segments 1, 2, and 3 are evident. A new restaurant is being opened in Lucinda close to the trail that will feature a rail 66 sandwich. There is also a craft brewery under construction adjacent to the trail near Marianne. Additionally, other shops and stores along the trail have seen increases in trail driven sales as more people from out of town come to experience the trail.
The completion of Segment 4 was an urgent requirement for the organization. The Marienville trail group has secured funding to construct a portion of the rail trail in Forest County. Their initial plan was to proceed North from Marienville; however, the success of the Rail 66 Country Trail group has altered their planning. They now plan on proceeding South from Marienville to the Clarion County line and connecting to the Rail 66 Country Trail thereby creating a 28-mile continuous trail from
Marienville to Route 322 in Clarion.
2020 Construction Update
Paving was completed from Leeper to the Clarion/Forest County line this year. The 8.1 mile project, funded in part by a DCNR grant. Matching funds for the grant were provided by cash and equipment donations and in-kind labor from many highly skilled volunteers. Additional ADA parking and trail access will be constructed at the Farmington Township Park on Rt 36.
Donations are being solicited to resurface the original 4.6 mile tar and chip section of the trail located in Knox Township. Once this is completed, 20.1 miles of the Clarion County’s section of Rail 66 trail will be a smooth, asphalt surface.
Future development of the trail will include additional parking across Route 322 from the Marianne trail head and extension of the trail to this section.
