Today we’d like to introduce you to Lynn Conrad.
Hi Lynn, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began as a long-term substitute for high school sciences for over 8 years. When full-time positions were difficult to get locally, I began volunteering for the Rail-Trail Council of NEPA (in 1993). I organized the first Trail Day event. That led to a part-time position as a project manager. The RTC was attempting to purchase an old railbed (the 38- mile Delaware and Hudson) for development into a recreational public trail.
After applying for trailhead funding with the Northeastern PA Urban and Community Forestry program, I was asked to be it’s administrator. The program funded tree plantings and tree care in municipalities across five counties. I became a certified arborist to further assist municipalities and nonprofits take care of their street and park trees. The program lasted 10 years until funding was lost.
In 1993, I began work full-time for the RTC. My duties included writing grants to improve trails and trailheads, decking railroad bridges, organizing trail programs, enlisting volunteers, writing the quarterly newsletters and encouraging memberships and fund-raising.
With so much of the history of Rail-Trail evolving around railroads, I began researching the history of
the railroads and towns it went through. I made it a priority to keep that history and its effects on the birth, growth and history of our area alive with interpretive signage. Right now we have 23 interpretive signs and a few more planned.
As the RTC celebrates 35 years as an organization, we are nearing completion of all 38 miles of railbed. We have funding for 7 more miles, which will take us to 37-miles improved. The last mile is under design and includes beautiful wetlands. What’s left is to find construction funding for that last mile. And a big celebration!
I have been a ski instructor for over 40 years at Elk Mountain Ski Resort. I began the Women’s Ski Program and conducted Women teaching Women clinics. I belong to the Professional Ski Instructor of America, Certified Level 2. I am a lector at St. John Vianney Parish, part of St. Pius Church, Royal; a current member of the
recently formed Forest City Outdoor Action Team, and since I enjoy gardening, an active member
of the Mountain View Garden Club.
As an avid bicyclist for many years, I join friends yearly on international bike tours: Albania, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Netherlands.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been difficult raising funds, as all grants require a 20-50% cash match. We also need funding for trail maintenance, which is not grant-funded. Seems that there are more and more violent storms that take down trees and damage the trail with erosion.
Early on, many locals were against the trail, not knowing what improvements would bring to their rural, quiet atmosphere. Slowly, many have seen the improvements in a more positive light, as it took years to clean up what was used as a dumping ground for many years.
Another struggle is with ATVs, as they have been using the abandoned railbed for many years. Our first focus was to raise money to gate the trail….and their are 65 gates We have found that the more good and respectable people using the trail (bikers, walkers), the less the ATVs and the less the vandalism and less damage. We are also working with the local snowmobile/ATV club to allow ATV usage on a parallel railbed.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Being the executive director of a nonprofit rail-trail organization is not something that you would typically go to school for.
I believe my education at a liberal arts college allowed me to become a good communicator and writer. Later, my focus as a science educator (Master of Art in Science Education), put me in touch with a more focused and determined group. It put me in front of classroom and in discussions with professors and peers.
I am proud of the many grant applications I wrote and was successful at receiving and administering. Grants were from state and federal sources.
I am determined to ‘get us to the finish line’ and will be leading the charge over the next year in a campaign to get this trail finished.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
what city are you refering to?
Pricing:
- The trail is open to all free of charge
- We ask for donations and have a membership
Contact Info:
- Website: https://neparailtrails.org
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/railtrailnepa
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/railtrailnepa
