The seal for Bucks County. (Credit: LevittownNow.com)
Pennsylvania is working with municipalities and the September 11th National Memorial Trail Alliance to designate segments of a 1,500-mile trail that links the three memorial sites of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The effort, according to state officials, is underway ahead of the attacks’ 25th anniversary next year.
The trail connects the World Trade Center site, the Pentagon, and the Flight 93 Memorial in Somerset County. It also stops at the Garden of Reflection memorial in Lower Makefield Township.
PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources are working with local governments on the project, which runs through 25 Pennsylvania counties and 129 municipalities.
The trail includes parts of the Delaware Canal State Park towpath and Washington Crossing Historic Park.
The September 11th National Memorial Trail Alliance has been developing the route and working with PennDOT to identify locations for nearly 750 signs to aid navigation along roughly 900 miles of trail in Pennsylvania.
The state is focused on designating both on-road and off-road segments, and has doled out grants to improve parts of the trail.
“The September 11 National Memorial Trail represents the life my daughter, Deora, and I had — we loved spending time together in nature,” said Debby Borza, a board member of the 9/11 National Memorial Trail Alliance. “The trail gives families like mine the opportunity to walk the path and remember our loved ones that we lost on September 11, 2001, and enjoy the beauty of Pennsylvania.”
PennDOT has approved signage plans for several counties and is developing plans for the remaining on-road sections.
The signs, which have been provided and installed by the Alliance, range from 18×12 to 24×18 inches depending on location. They feature the National Memorial Trail logo, a bicycle symbol, and “9-11 NMT.”
Borza said she hopes the trail “continues to serve as a place of reflection and education.”
“With the signs we hope to place along the path, everyone who walks, hikes, cycles, or visits will be reminded of its significance and honor those we lost,” she said.
Gov. Josh Shapiro said the trail provides “a meaningful way for communities across our Commonwealth to connect, reflect, and pay tribute.”
“By completing this trail, we ensure that residents and visitors alike can walk, bike, and explore while remembering the courage, sacrifice, and resilience that defines our nation,” the governor said.
To see a full map of the trail, click here.
