Sep 20, 2016 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – A rugged trail once blazed by early homesteaders in Waynesburg is being transformed into a pathway for learning at Waynesburg University.

The university recently received a $20,000 grant from EQT Foundation to improve and expand its Urban Forest and Walking Trail that borders the campus and includes 1.5 miles of rudimentary trails.

The idea to transform the 2 square miles of forest near Thayer Hall came from Nathan Ribar, who recently graduated from Waynesburg University, while attending Janet Paladino’s field biology class last year.

Paladino, an associate professor of environmental science, said they made some improvements to the trails last year so they’re passable, but the grant will allow them to buy tools, remove invasive species, install a bridge over a deep drainage area and build an outdoor classroom for students to learn in the field.

“It’s kind of an interesting place, both from an environmental perspective and sustainability perspective, but also a historical perspective,” Paladino said.

That history can be found in two stone foundations Paladino said the students discovered in the forest that indicate a farm once was on the site, most likely before Waynesburg University was founded in 1849. She hopes the trails can inspire interest in more than just biology and environmental studies, with students researching the history of the site and who lived there.

More importantly, though, the project is an opportunity for current students to leave their own legacy behind, Paladino said.

“We have a lot of students interested and using it as a legacy project,” she said. “What’s really nice about this is it’s a sustainable project. You don’t just build a trail and quit. You have to constantly maintain it.”

That includes removing the numerous invasive species there that took over when, Paladino suspects, the early farmers there removed native plants. That will be a long-term process, Paladino said, along with building an outdoor classroom, creating usable walking trails and marking them for visitors.

“We hope to make signage and interpretive education trail with points to stop for part of it and other trails branching off of that,” she said. “We’re going to make it as accessible as possible for everyone to enjoy the trail. At least a half-mile will be interpretive trail with signage and an outdoor classroom to make (students) feel connected.”

EQT Foundation President Charlene Petrelli said in a written statement the Urban Forest and Walking Trail project was a natural selection for the grant.

“This trail will create an inviting space on campus that will educate our region’s students, and connect them with the environment in a way they haven’t experienced on campus before,” Petrelli said.

Paladino said she and her students hope the trails will inspire younger generations to learn and experience the outdoors and their surroundings.

“We’re very excited about it and hope to host community members and grade school students,” she said.