The Lackawanna Heritage Valley recently opened an additional section of the Lackawanna Heritage Trail in the Marvine Section of the City of Scranton adjacent to the Lackawanna River between East Parker Street and Boulevard Avenue. The trail project involved constructing a 1-mile section of paved shared use (pedestrian/bicycle) trail along the Lackawanna River.
Trail-goers will see some Lackawanna County coal mine history in the Marvine Colliery Area. Visitors who enter the Parker Street Landing pass by a stone foundation from a long-gone rail bridge over the Lackawanna River.
Traveling about a half-mile north along the trail, a pair of century-old bridges cut off from the colliery land that still stretches over the waterway and looms over part of the new trail. The workers from the colliery used to walk across one bridge; the other span transported coal cars by rail.
The trail consists of new fencing, freshly planted trees, and new pavement making the course welcoming to trail users. The path also has an at-grade railroad crossing and passes over a culvert.
Future improvements planned by the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority for the trail include creating river access for canoes and kayaks and adding parking spaces for disabled visitors at the Parker Street Landing.
Additional access to the trail and river will continue to attract interest while creating a beautiful, year-round, family friendly attraction that spans 30 communities through Lackawanna, Luzerne, Susquehanna and Wayne counties.