The best way to celebrate America’s past is to invest in its future. That’s exactly what students participating in the STARS (Students Together Achieving Remarkable Success) at Marywood University program did when they volunteered along the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail.

The group of shining STARS recently turned out for a volunteer planting project as part of LHVA’s America 250 Native Planting Initiative. Students representing Scranton High School, West Scranton High School, Scranton Preparatory School, and Holy Cross High School worked alongside LHVA staff and volunteers to plant native Rhododendron and Mountain Laurel along the trail corridor.

The project is one of several beautification and environmental stewardship efforts being undertaken by LHVA in recognition of America’s 250th anniversary. In addition to enhancing the appearance of the trail, the native shrubs will provide valuable habitat for birds and pollinators while improving the ecological health of the landscape for years to come.

The STARS program brings students from diverse backgrounds together for leadership development, educational enrichment, and community service. Their enthusiasm and willingness to tackle the work under the summer sun demonstrated a shared commitment to improving the communities they call home.

“Projects like this show how the next generation is helping shape the future of our region,” said LHVA Volunteer Coordinator John Morrow. “These students aren’t just planting shrubs—they’re creating a lasting legacy that thousands of trail users will enjoy for decades.”

LHVA extends its sincere appreciation to the STARS at Marywood University program, its staff, and the participating students for helping ensure that the trail continues to grow as both a recreational destination and a place where the region’s natural beauty can flourish.

 

In recognition of World Bicycle Day and America250 PA, Lackawanna Heritage Valley (LHVA) has unveiled a new mini exhibit at its headquarters titled From High Wheels to Heritage Trails.

Created in partnership with the Lackawanna Historical Society, the exhibit features two remarkable bicycles on loan from the Society’s collection: an 1880s Penny Farthing, known for its oversized front wheel, and an early women’s “safety bicycle,” a design that helped make cycling more practical and accessible to a wider population.

The project was made possible through the efforts of Ella Rayburn, a longtime member of the LHVA Board of Directors and a dedicated advocate for preserving and sharing the region’s history. Rayburn recently retired from the Board after years of service to the organization and the community. 

Through interpretive displays, the exhibit explores how bicycles evolved alongside the railroads, industries, and river valleys that shaped northeastern Pennsylvania during the late nineteenth century. Early cyclists often traveled the same transportation corridors that connected communities, moved goods, and fueled economic growth throughout the Lackawanna Valley.

Today, that legacy continues along the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail. Developed through the reuse of former railroad corridors, the trail welcomes thousands of cyclists each year who experience the region’s landscapes, communities, and history at a human pace.

As Pennsylvania participates in the nationwide commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary, From High Wheels to Heritage Trails offers a unique look at the innovations in transportation and recreation that helped connect people to the places they called home.

Trail users now have a new resource to help keep their bicycles in working order thanks to the efforts of a local Eagle Scout candidate.

Joseph Sandrowicz, a member of Boy Scout Troop 21 in Dickson City, recently completed the installation of a bicycle repair station and air pump at the West Lackawanna Avenue trail access point in Olyphant. The project was undertaken as part of Joseph’s requirements to earn the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest achievement in Scouting.

The repair station provides cyclists with a convenient location to perform minor maintenance and repairs while using the trail. Equipped with tools and an air pump, the station will help riders address common issues such as loose components or low tire pressure, allowing them to continue their journey safely and with confidence.

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The Lackawanna River Heritage Trail serves thousands of walkers, runners and cyclists each year, and trail amenities such as repair stations help enhance the user experience while promoting safe outdoor recreation.

“Projects like this demonstrate the positive impact that young people can have on their communities,” said Joseph J. Corcoran, executive director of the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority. “Joseph’s work will benefit trail users for years to come and is a valuable addition to the trail system.”

Eagle Scout projects are designed to provide meaningful service to the community while developing leadership, planning and project management skills. Joseph’s repair station is a lasting contribution that reflects both those values and a commitment to encouraging healthy, active lifestyles.

The Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority congratulates Joseph on this accomplishment and thanks him for helping make the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail a better place for everyone to enjoy.

SCRANTON — The Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority (LHVA) has been awarded a $1.35 million Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TASA) grant through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to rehabilitate and repurpose the historic Marvine steel truss bridge in North Scranton.

The project will transform the long-abandoned 317-foot bridge into a pedestrian and bicycle connection linking nearby neighborhoods directly to the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail and the region’s broader 70-mile trail network.

Constructed in the early 1900s, the Marvine bridge once served the area’s anthracite mining operations and remains an important reminder of North Scranton’s industrial heritage. Through this investment, the structure will gain new life as a safe and accessible community asset focused on recreation, transportation alternatives, and neighborhood connectivity.

The bridge project represents a major step toward the long-term vision for the proposed Lower Leggett’s Creek Greenway, which seeks to expand trail access and connect more residents to outdoor recreation opportunities throughout North Scranton.

“This project is about reconnecting neighborhoods and creating safe, practical access to one of the region’s most important recreational resources,” said Owen Worozbyt, Director of Operations for LHVA. “The Marvine bridge serves as the catalyst for future trail connections that will allow more residents and families to reach the trail system directly from their neighborhoods.”

As part of the project, LHVA will rehabilitate the historic steel truss structure for public use and create improved trail access connections in the Marvine Dutch Gap area. The project also advances broader efforts to improve walkability, encourage healthy outdoor activity, and preserve historic infrastructure through adaptive reuse.

Funding was awarded through PennDOT’s 2025 Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside program, which is funded through the Federal Highway Administration’s Surface Transportation Block Grant Program. The statewide program supports projects that improve pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, community accessibility, and transportation alternatives.

LHVA thanked its project partners, local municipalities, and elected officials for their continued support of regional trail and connectivity initiatives throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Across the Lackawanna Valley, the story of our region continues to be written, not just in books or archives, but in communities, classrooms, trails, and shared public spaces.

This spring, the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority is proud to support that ongoing story through more than $29,000 in Partnership Grant funding, awarded to organizations that bring our heritage to life in meaningful and creative ways.

These projects reflect what makes the Lackawanna Valley unique: a deep connection to place, a respect for history, and a commitment to building something lasting for future generations.

From festivals and public art to education and preservation, this year’s grant recipients represent a diverse cross-section of partners working to interpret and celebrate our region’s industrial, cultural, and community heritage.

Among the projects receiving support:

• The Anthracite Heritage Museum and Iron Furnaces Associates will host the “Arts on Fire” Industrial Arts Festival 2026, bringing history, craftsmanship, and community together in a dynamic public setting.
• Anthracite Trolleys Inc. will continue the restoration of historic trolley car 790, preserving a tangible link to the region’s transportation legacy.
• The Dunmore School District will engage students through a summer camp program, “Exploring the History of NEPA,” fostering place-based learning for the next generation.
• Lackawanna County 4-H will host “Clover Games,” encouraging youth participation and community connection.
• The Marywood University STARS Program will present “Raices y Voces,” (Roots and Voices) empowering young people to honor and share their cultural heritage through creative storytelling.
• Moosic Borough will highlight local identity through “Moosic – An All-American Borough.”
• The North Pocono Cultural Society will document regional stories through “Stories of North Pocono: An America 250 Community Heritage Project.”
• The Scranton Municipal Recreation Authority will host “Celebrate America, Happy 250th,” connecting recreation with national heritage.
• Scranton Tomorrow will bring the city’s narrative to life through “Song of the City.”
• The United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA will enhance community access and identity through the “Pine Brook- Green Ridge Community Gateway at Capouse Center.”
• The Northeastern Pennsylvania Educational Television Association (WVIA) will produce “A Collector’s Story in Pictures: Art of the Anthracite Coal Industry,” capturing the visual legacy of the coal era.

Together, these projects demonstrate the power of partnership. They connect people to place, strengthen communities, and ensure that the heritage of the Lackawanna Valley is not only preserved, but actively experienced.

At LHVA, this work is at the heart of our mission. Through the stewardship of the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail and the broader Heritage Area, we are not only preserving the past, we are creating new ways for people to experience it. From trail corridors built on former rail lines to community programs that bring history into the present, every project we support helps connect people to the places, stories, and landscapes that define northeastern Pennsylvania.

Because in the Lackawanna Valley, heritage is not something you just learn about. It is something you can walk, ride, and experience every day.

SCRANTON — The Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority is accepting applications for the first round of its 2026 Partnership Grants, offering up to $5,000 to support projects that celebrate the region’s heritage, arts, culture, education, and community life. The application deadline is March 6, 2026. Grant awards require a matching cash contribution.

The Partnership Grants Program is open to nonprofit organizations, schools, civic groups, and municipalities with project ideas—big or small—that bring local history, culture, creativity, and community stories to life across the Heritage Area.

“Every year, we’re inspired by the creativity and passion of our partners,” said LHVA Executive Director Joseph Corcoran. “These grants help turn good ideas into meaningful projects — from public art and cultural events to educational programs and heritage celebrations that strengthen our communities.”

In recent years, Partnership Grants have supported initiatives led by organizations such as the Lackawanna Historical Society, Everhart Museum of Natural History, Science & Art, and the Electric City Trolley Museum, along with community-focused projects with Lackawanna County Parks & Recreation and the Dunmore School District. Funded projects have included exhibits, cultural programming, educational initiatives, community events, and public-facing activities that engage residents and visitors alike.

Organizations interested in applying or learning more about Partnership Grants are encouraged to contact April Rogato at arogato@lhva.org. Additional information and application materials are available at www.LHVA.org.

SCRANTON — This spring, the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority (LHVA) is planting more than trees — it’s planting a legacy. As part of America 250 PA, LHVA, in partnership with the Lackawanna County Conservation District, is launching a native tree and habitat restoration project along one of the most heavily used sections of the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, between the 7th Avenue and Broadway Trailheads.

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250 Native Trees and Shrubs for America 250

The project will bring  250 native trees and shrubs to the trail corridor, symbolizing the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding and reflecting the forested landscape that would have existed in northeastern Pennsylvania at that time.

Planned plantings include mountain laurel, rhododendron, eastern white pine, and American chestnut — a once-dominant species that was nearly wiped out in the early 20th century by chestnut blight.

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Honoring the Past, Growing for the Future

“America 250 gives us a chance to think about what kind of legacy we want to leave behind,” said Owen Worozbyt, Director of Operations for the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority. “By restoring a native landscape along this trail, we’re honoring the land as it existed at the nation’s founding and creating something that will continue to grow and tell that story long after this anniversary year.”

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Powered by Volunteers and Community Partners

The effort will be powered by volunteers from the public and private sectors, along with participants from local educational institutions, underscoring the community-driven nature of the project.

“This is what stewardship looks like,” said John Morrow, LHVA Volunteer Coordinator. “People showing up, putting their hands in the soil, and leaving something behind that will outlast the day.”

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Environmental Benefits Along the River Corridor

Beyond its symbolic value, the project delivers important environmental benefits. Trees and shrubs planted along river corridors help filter stormwater runoff, reduce erosion, and create essential habitat for wildlife.

By strengthening this natural buffer along the Lackawanna River, the project supports long-term water quality while enhancing the trail as both a recreational and environmental asset.

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A Living Legacy That Will Outlast the Anniversary

While not every tree planted will survive, many are expected to grow for generations. Some may still be standing when the nation marks its 300th anniversary, serving as a living reminder that heritage conservation is not just about looking back — it’s about caring for the future.

Located along one of the trail’s most active stretches, the project will provide trail users with a visible, place-based connection to the landscapes that shaped early American life. Additional volunteer planting days and educational activities are planned throughout the spring.

The Lackawanna River Heritage Trail is part of a national story of connection, renewal, and community pride in the latest edition of Heart & Soul, a publication of the Alliance of National Heritage Areas highlighting how heritage corridors across the country bring people together for the common good. Tracing a historic river and rail corridor, the LRHT follows pathways first used by Indigenous peoples and later shaped by the railroads that powered the region’s industrial rise. Today, those same routes have been reclaimed as a 70-mile multi-use trail, offering opportunities for walking, biking, running, and outdoor exploration alongside a river that tells a story of resilience and renewal.

As featured in Heart & Soul, the Trail reflects how National Heritage Areas transform historic infrastructure into vibrant public spaces. Once dominated by rail lines and heavy industry, the corridor now connects communities from Carbondale to Scranton through restored bridges, riverfront access, and scenic trail segments that invite residents and visitors alike to experience the landscape at a human pace.

The Trail also serves as a living classroom and gathering place. It links to nationally significant sites like Steamtown National Historic Site, where the region’s railroading legacy still comes alive, and supports educational programs, heritage tourism, and seasonal traditions that strengthen community identity. Each holiday season, the Santa Train builds on this shared corridor to unite communities in a celebration of Christmas in a Small Town—a reminder that heritage is not only preserved but lived.

By weaving together history, recreation, education, and stewardship, the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail embodies the spirit highlighted in Heart & Soul: places where past and present meet, and where local stories contribute to a broader national narrative. Along the Trail, the echoes of footpaths, rail lines, and river currents continue to guide new generations—proving that the journey of discovery is never truly finished.