In 2012, Wildlands Conservancy retained Barry Isett & Associates to perform survey, design and permitting for 1.8 miles of trail along the Jordan Creek Trail as part of the overall Jordan Creek Greenway initiative. The entire greenway will connect Jordan Meadows Park in Allentown to the Appalachian Trail along the ridge of Blue Mountain, allowing for the protection of lands of high conservation value, and establish a 13-mile trail for the public to hike, bike and bird watch.
South Whitehall Township obtained funding from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and PennDOT to construct 0.9 miles of the designed and permitted trail.
The trail begins at Covered Bridge Park and continues west along the north side of Jordan Creek to a terminus near Route 309. The paved trail, which is 10 feet wide, accommodates pedestrians, bicyclists, and joggers on an ADA-accessible surface. An elevated timber boardwalk permits the trail to cross two wetland areas, adding to the unique experience of this section of the Jordan Creek corridor.
Isett also provided bidding and construction management for these two sections of trail. Part of the trail was completed in the summer of 2019, with the second portion opened in the fall of 2019. As part of the trail project, hundreds of native plants were installed to provide seasonal interest and further enhance the riparian buffer.
To develop this intricate trail plan, Isett used a full range of in-house services—survey; wetland delineation; civil engineering; environmental permitting; landscape architecture; structural and geotechnical engineering; and construction management.
In 2019, the project was recognized by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission’s LV Awards as an honoree in the category of Outdoor Recreation.
