At the head of the West Virginia Northern Rail Trail Saturday, Preston County Parks and Recreation Commission hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the first mile of the West Virginia Northern Trail, also called the Tunnelton Mile.
With $12,000 in funds raised, the mile-long stretch was regraded and made walkable.
“The community of Tunnelton has put so much effort in raising their own funds, holding their own events, cleaning up the trail,” said Emily Carlson of PCPaRC.
Carlson said only a few weeks ago, volunteers cleaned 15 bags of trash off the trail.
The day of celebration was to commemorate the accomplishments of the community. Festivities at the Historic Tunnelton Depot included live music.
“Now they have somewhere to walk,” she said.
Earlier in the day, a group of people walked 10 miles from Kingwood to Tunnelton. Carlson said the trail is in decent walking condition: Recent construction has improved trail damage so that residents can now enjoy it.
Carlson said the trail project has been a work in progress since 2002.
Future plans for the trail include a collaboration with the Department of Highways and Transportation Alternatives Program through the Federal
Government.
The engineering designs for the first three miles of the trail from Kingwood are currently completed.
Carlson said the funding for the first mile and half have already been obtained.
The Tunnelton Trail Committee, a local volunteer group, has raised the money alongside the Tucker Community
Foundation.
“Kingwood itself into the Tunnelton Street crossing will have a rail trail-grade finished trail within a couple years,” said Carlson.
Though the long-term project includes raising the funds and construction, Carlson said the immediate project is getting people acquainted with the trail and connecting them with PCPaRC.
“The community of Tunnelton has been an amazing example of what a community can do when they work together and are excited about something,” she said.
