We want to walk, run or bicycle on the MA & PA Trail
from Fallston to Forest Hill.
The MA and PA Trail (MPT)
currently consists of a 3.3-mile section in Bel Air and a 1.7-mile segment in
Forest Hill. The Harford County Department of Parks & Recreation has
long expected to connect these two trail segments and create a trail that extends
from Fallston to Forest Hill. In fact, when the Hickory Bypass was constructed,
the County included a walking tunnel underneath the road.
In the last 10 years, the County has secured all property rights of way with
the exception of an approximately 200-yard long piece of land that is behind a property located at 440 Franklin St. in Bel
Air. The Harford Sanitation Company formerly occupied this site.
Although the former HHS owners have sold the business, they continue to
own the land. County and MA & PA Trail
representatives have met with the family representatives on several
occasions, looking for a mutually beneficial way to purchase or otherwise
obtain the rights to the land so that the trail project can move forward. Currently,
no resolution of this issue has been reached.
Costs:
According to Harford
County Department of Parks & Recreation, a feasibility study (required)
would cost approximately $300,000. The cost for trail construction is approximately
$1 million per mile. The
county will not have planning money until July 2011.
At this time, there is no appropriated money for trail construction.
Support:
Harford County and Town of Bel Air officials
are both very interested in seeing the trail completed. The MPT is the most heavily
used park in the county.There are numerous trail supporters including over
100 members and 700 fans on Facebook.
An eight-mile trail
will serve as a tremendous tourism resource and help Harford County attract
local as well as regional visitors. These visitors will bring revenue by
spending money on gasoline, food and by visiting other local tourism
attractions. The completed trail will serve as an added boon to the newly
designated Arts & Entertainment district in downtown Bel Air.
Plan:
The MA & PA Heritage Trail is starting an educational
and awareness campaign to inform people about the issues that surround this trail
connection and to gather support for this connection.
In Spring, 2011, the Board of Directors of the MA & PA Trail will conduct a new survey to obtain updated information about
trail use. We will also purchase and install counters to obtain objective
measurements of trail use and times of day.
We also plan to continue a petition to gauge citizen interest in seeing the
trails connected in any way possible.
What you can do:
© Copyright 2008 MA & PA Heritage Trail, Inc. | Bel Air, MD 21014
