Trailheads
The construction of the trail system will be complemented by the development of three trailhead and/or the construction of stream, floodplain and wetland restoration improvements, as follows:
Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Trailhead and First Trail Section
Funds have been awarded for the trailhead and its related trail by the PA-DCNR. It is anticipated that construction for this segment of the trail and the trailhead will commence in Fall of 2024. The trailhead and the trail will be constructed on the Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Suburban Pavilion Campus on Good Drive and West Roseville Road.
Using several existing parking spaces at this location, trailhead improvements (including benches, trash receptacles, signage, mapping and landscaping) will anchor the south end of this first section of the trail. From this trailhead, the trail will extend north to Harrisburg Pike, cross both Good Drive (to connect to the existing trail system on the Suburban Pavilion Campus) and Harrisburg Pike (onto lands of Mennonite Home/Woodcrest Villa) and conclude at the Landis Mill Covered Bridge.
It is anticipated that construction of this trailhead and trail section could begin in Fall 2024. When completed, this trailhead and 0.5-mile trail section will bear witness to the collaboration among Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, Mennonite Home/Woodcrest Villa and East Hempfield Township, which have provided necessary easements and, in the case of the hospital, matching funds.
Marietta Avenue/Lancaster Township Trailhead and Second Trail Section
Upon the receipt of funding and following the construction of related stream, floodplain and wetland restoration improvements, the second section of trail improvements are currently planned to connect Dorwart Park (in the area of the Norfolk Southern overpass) south to Marietta Avenue, cross Marietta Avenue, and continue east to the trailhead at Marietta Avenue and River Drive.
While the 0.9-mile trail improvements will be completed by the Little Conestoga Creek Foundation, the Lancaster Township Board of Supervisors approved and executed a 2021 Intergovernmental Agreement and a subsequent separate agreement in November 2022 to build the trailhead on land donated to the Township by the Little Conestoga Creek Foundation.
This Trailhead will anchor the southern terminus of the trail. This trailhead will consist of 0.2-miles of trails and walkways, automobile parking (12 spaces), bicycle accommodations, pavilion, benches, signage, mapping and landscaping. It is anticipated that this trailhead and trail section could be under construction in 2026 and, like the Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health trailhead, this trailhead bears witness to the collaborative nature of Lancaster Township and its shared vision for the Blue/Green Corridor Project.
Dorwart Park Trailhead and ADA Trail Section
Planning is underway with officials from East Hempfield Township about utilizing a portion of Dorwart Park for a trailhead for the Blue/Green Corridor Project. Using both Township and PA-DCNR funds, East Hempfield Township will make improvements to Dorwart Park, including a pavilion, playground area, picnic benches and other amenities. In conjunction with these improvements, and its current trail system and parking area, additional parking will be provided by the Blue/Green Corridor project. As a result the Dorwart Park Trailhead will be located midway between the Penn Medicine/LGH trailhead and the Marietta Avenue trailhead.
This Dorwart Park Trailhead will be connected to an ADA-compliant trail that will lead to the overall Blue/Green Corridor. This ADA-accessible trail will travel through lands of the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority (LCSWMA), who are also cooperating with both this trail section and the overall Blue/Green Corridor.
Like the previously described trails/trailheads, the construction of this Dorwart Park Trailhead and trail depends on securing grant funding and matching funds. It is anticipated that construction of this Dorwart Park trailhead and trail section could begin in 2026.