The Susquehanna Warrior Trail began as a project of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC). In 1995, PEC received grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation of Natural Resources and Luzerne County to prepare a Trail Feasibility/Master Plan (PLAN) for 18.5 miles of the former Delaware, Lehigh and Western railroad right-of-way located between the PPL Riverlands Park and Larksville Borough that was owned at the time by a Trusteeship of UGI, Sunoco, and PG&W.

I was hired by PEC to prepare the Plan. As part of the project scope of work, I formed a steering committee with representatives from the local municipalities and local residents to assist me in the development of the Plan and to determine if the local communities wanted this old railroad bed converted into a trail. We had active municipal representatives on the steering committee from Shickshinny Borough, Union and Hunlock Townships and Plymouth Boroughs. Salem Township and Larksville Borough provided information but did not actively participate in the project. The steering committee named the potential trail, the Susquehanna Warrior Trail and worked with me to decided that a new non-profit should be formed to develop and manage the trail. Several of the steering committee members became the first Board members or became organization members of the Susquehanna Warrior Trail Council. The Trail Master Plan was completed in 1998 and the Brian Caverly assisted us with the creation of the non-profit organization shortly thereafter.

I continued on with the SWTC as a volunteer after my job as a PEC staff person to complete the Plan was done, The SWTC went on to submit numerous grants to PADCNR, PADOT and the Berwick HWF to funding to design and construct the trail. At the same time, the SWTC negotiated an easement agreement with the Trusteeship for the legal ability to use the surface of their right-of-way as a trail. Again, Brian Caverly assisted us in this process. It was a very long process and finally resulted in our Lease agreement with the Trusteeship. Brian also assisted us with several smaller easement agreements for sections of the trail or trail heads that are owned by other parties, including PPL, SCI Retreat, Shickshinny Borough and Plymouth and Hunlock Townships. The rest you are probably familiar with.

Lance Kittelson

As a couple without kids, Sandy and I liked to ride bikes. We've enjoyed riding in Honolulu, and Columbus Ohio when we lived there. Each had established bike paths along the city streets. We eventually moved to rural Shickshinny with two young kids. Naturally we bought them bikes when they were old enough. One major problem was that our country roads with no shoulders are just wide enough for cars. We spent most of our time diving for the ditch when attempting a family ride. After discussing this problem one day with friends Tom and Cathy Hofher, Cathy who worked for Representative George Hasay told me of PECs trail initiative. I attended a meeting chaired by Julie McMonagle and decided to stay.

People have come and gone, but a small core group of the originals still remain active and enthusiastic. It's been a long but rewarding haul. Each seemingly insurmountable hurdle has been somehow removed or climbed throughout the years. New people have joined our group with needed skill sets at what has turned out to be the right time. Our webmaster Dean Leimbach along with running enthusiast and event coordinator Max Furek are two people of note.

The first eleven miles of actual trail is now open providing us with a manageable maintenance training ground so we will be ready when the whole 18.5 miles are built.

Our children had grown up and were riding bicycles on paths in Philadelphia and San Francisco by the time our first section of trail was built, but it gives me pleasure when I see young families with kids on bikes with training wheels enjoying their time safely on the trail.