ARTinCC Update 10-13-2025
Allegheny River Trail in Clarion County was formed in 2018, dedicated to building the non-motorized public bike trail from Foxburg to Emlenton. ARTinCC also took on a plan to build a Community Park in Foxburg adjacent to the bridge over the Allegheny River. Massive efforts by volunteers, generous donors, local businesses, foundations, local and State politicians and State funding agencies have supported our efforts to achieve the results summarized below. ARTinCC respectfully requests that at this time all interested parties consider a round of tax deductible giving. All construction estimates from the past are now short of actual costs today. And, we need matching funds for grants we are seeking for Community Park amenities. Please be as generous as you can. It’s easy to donate on our website at:
artincc.org/donate
Or you can send a check to:
ARTinCC, PO Box 325, Foxburg, PA 16036
If you have any questions about our plans or your donations you may call our President, Bob Jennings at 412-721-7615
Status Report:
ARTinCC has secured the funding to begin construction in early 2026 of 3 major aspects of the park. First, a 60 spot parking lot to serve Foxburg, the bike trail, and a boat launch. Second, elaborate environmental and stormwater controls to protect the river from runoff. Third, an asphalt loop road from Railroad St down to the river to access a new non-motorized boat launch. The engineering and bidding documents are completed and will be put out for construction contractor bids in Jan 2026. Construction could be started as early as March and the parking lot could be completed for next fall’s Foxburg Festival.
When this phase of the project is completed, ARTinCC will focus on professionally designed amenities for the park, as funding becomes available. Under consideration are park benches, picnic tables, pollinator gardens, playground, bike racks, kayak racks, rest room, pavilion, educational kiosks, vendor facilities and an artistic component such as wall painting or sculpture.
The first mile north of Foxburg is controlled by ARTinCC and we have a State DCNR grant of $533,000 for which we secured our 20% match largely from our local generous donors. Our army of volunteers logged over 2,000 hours of labor clearing trees and brush and several volunteers donated use of their excavators and skid steers to prepare the trail for final grading and paving. Volunteers installed six 18” cross drains to move stormwater from the hillside underground to the riverbank. We expect that our professional engineers will complete final drawings and specs for the trail by the end of this year. Once approved by DCNR, the contract will be put out for bids. Certain features of the trail, such as safety fences and signage may be outside the construction grant and will need to be funded by and possibly completed by ARTinCC.
On the north end up to Emlenton ARTinCC Purchased the first property going south from Emlenton and cleared and paved the first 680’ of trail including an access road for the landowners who have easement agreements, all with volunteer labor. We held a ceremony at our new trailhead in August with Allegheny Valley Trail Association, Oil Region Alliance and North Country Trail. AVTA and ORA partnered to refurbish the Ritchey Run Bridge and build an ADA ramp from River Rd up to the bike trail.
The remaining 2.2 miles of trail are 10 parcels, privately owned. We have signed commitments to easement agreements with 7 of the 10 landowners. The current appraised value of easements of the 2.2 miles is $300,000. PA agencies will cover at least 50% with ARTinCC having to cover the other 50%. If agencies balk due to one or more holdouts, the PA agencies are hesitating to award the grant. Consequently, the 7 cooperating landowners will not receive their share of the compensation, nor will they be able to access their properties either from Emlenton or Foxburg due to the three holdouts. We currently need $100,000 committed toward easements before April 1, and we have no idea where we will get such a commitment. ARTinCC has devoted enormous time and energy to generate negotiations with the holdouts. And we will continue to try to find ways to encourage them to come along.
ARTinCC will persevere in trying to get the last 2.2 miles of trail completed. This will open up access from Parker and Foxburg to Franklin, Titusville, and eventually to Erie completing the northern section of the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail. We welcome suggestions as to how to bring the holdouts on board. And, once again, we ask for your continued support, financially, and volunteering time, labor, talent, materials and equipment for the first mile of trail and the Community Park. You keep us going and able to maintain what we have accomplished to date. Thank you for your interest and support.
Please consider volunteering work or materials. All donations and members are welcome.
Our Facebook GROUP has connections to other trail groups, trail users and friends. It is a friendly place to meet, to share experiences and photos along the trails.
Our Facebook PAGE is designed specifically to inform followers about our current projects, progress and immediate needs and to provide information and links to our website for volunteers, membership, sponsorship and donations. We encourage you to take a few minutes to check us out. If you like what you see, get involved. VOLUNTEER DONATE. Become a member. Become a Sponsor. Welcome everyone! Let’s do this!
