WAYNE COUNTY, Pa. — A project years in the making is helping to connect people to nature in Wayne County.
The Lackawaxen River flows through the Honesdale area of Wayne County. For more than a century, the waterway was used to transport coal down to New York City.
Now, people use the Lackawaxen River for outdoor recreation, such as kayaking and canoeing.
On Friday, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Fish and Boat Commission, and local leaders cut the ribbon at the new White Mills access park in Texas Township.
"It makes it a lot more of a public space. It makes it more approachable and safer to get in and out of the water, which is great. We have been paddling on the Lackawaxen for years, so to have a formal access makes it more approachable and user-friendly," Dan Corrigan said.
The new access point to the river sits between Honesdale and Hawley, complete with a concrete boat launch, restrooms, ADA-accessible parking, and other amenities to make it the first handicap-accessible public access in the county.
Members of the Lackawaxen River Trails Commission say making the river more accessible to more people has been years in the making.
"There is a bench here, you can just sit, you don't even have to paddle. You can just enjoy the peace of the river, and it's something for everyone of all ages, from young children to senior citizens," said Molly Rodgers, a commission member.
The project was made possible by state grant money and fundraising efforts by the Lackawaxen River Trails Commission.
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