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Trail would double equestrian paths
Sunday, April 02, 2000 By Antoinette Fitch
Pat and Barry Torpey moved three years ago from South Park to a 10-acre farm in Smith so they could have room to ride their horses. Now the land surrounding their farm is being acquired by developers and converted into housing plans, and trails once open are off limits.
"We moved to Washington County to get away from the development. But this area is growing too," Pat Torpey said.
Many horse owners are finding no place to ride. And equestrian groups, concerned about dwindling trails, suddenly are speaking up for access to public lands. "Keeping spaces open is a big issue," said Torpey, a member of the Pennsylvania Equine Council who recently began coordinating trail-riding activities for the Washington County chapter.
The fruits of those lobbying efforts can be seen as plans unfold for the Panhandle Trail. The trail is a former Conrail train right-of-way that runs from Weirton, W.Va. across northern Washington County to Oakdale in Allegheny County. If all goes according to plan, in two years riders will have the 29-mile trail for their mounts.
It will be heaven for many horse enthusiasts.
"We are very much looking forward to the opening day of that trail," Torpey said. Washington County parks and recreation director Andy Baechle said the creation of the Panhandle Trail will double the equestrian trails in Washington County's park system. The trail will traverse nine municipalities.
Mingo Park, with 17 miles of trails, is the only other Washington County park with designated areas for horseback riding.
Nearly $600,000 of state funding is in place to pay for design and development of the riding trails.
Development of the Panhandle Trail is being studied as part of a comprehensive county plan on recreation, conducted by Pashek and Associates of Pittsburgh. Baechle said Washington County probably would follow the design of the trail in West Virginia, in which two paths of crushed limestone will be laid. The equestrian trail will double as a right of way for emergency vehicles.
"Fortunately the right of way is wide enough to accommodate all the interests of walkers, bicyclists and horseback riders," said Debbie Chilensky, president of the Burgettstown chapter of the Panhandle Trail Association.
But in some cases, interests clash. Last year 800 miles of walking trails were closed to riders because of complaints from hikers who said horses eroded the trails.
According to Pennsylvania Equine Council secretary Sandy Forster, recreational riding is the fastest growing segment of the horse industry. About 4 million people in the U.S go riding.
Forster said her group favors multi-use trails and is working with state agencies to develop new one. The council is also helping organizations such as Rails to Trails construct and maintain trails and keep them horse friendly.
Antoinette Fitch is a free-lance writer.
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